View source for Waiting for the Interurban

{{Short description|Sculpture by Richard Beyer in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{infobox artwork
| image_file         =Waiting for the Interurban Closeup.jpg
| caption=Waiting for the Interurban, by Richard Beyer.
| image_size         = 250px
| title              = Waiting for the Interurban
| artist             = [[Richard Beyer]]
| year               = 1978
| type               = [[Casting|Cast]] [[aluminum]] [[sculpture]]
| height_metric      =
| width_metric       =
| height_imperial    =
| width_imperial     =
| metric_unit        = cm
| imperial_unit      = in
| city               = [[Seattle]]
| coordinates        = {{Coord|47.649467|N|122.349455|W|region:US-WA_type:landmark_scale:5000|display=inline,title}}
| museum             = 
}}

'''''Waiting for the Interurban''''', also known as '''''People Waiting for the Interurban''''',<ref name="SI">{{cite web|title=People Waiting for the Interurban, (sculpture)|url=http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!317204~!0#focus|publisher=[[Smithsonian Institution]]|access-date=December 23, 2015|archive-date=December 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151224054310/http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!317204~!0#focus|url-status=live}}</ref> is a 1978 [[Casting|cast]] [[aluminum]] [[sculpture]] collection in the [[Fremont, Seattle|Fremont]] neighborhood of [[Seattle]]. It is located on the southeast corner of N. 34th Street and Fremont Avenue N., just east of the northern end of the [[Fremont Bridge (Seattle)|Fremont Bridge]]. It consists of six people and a dog waiting for [[public transportation]] — specifically, the Seattle-[[Everett, Washington|Everett]] [[Interurban]]. While the interurban railway ran through Fremont from 1910 until 1939, it stopped on Fremont Avenue rather than N.&nbsp;34th Street, which the statue faces.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Seattle-Everett Interurban Railway, 1910-1939|work=Snohomish County History Series|publisher=Snohomish County, Washington|url=http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/County_Information/interurban_history.pdf|date=May 2000|author=Frederick Bird|access-date=April 7, 2012|archive-date=August 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819204126/http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/County_Information/interurban_history.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The sculptor, Fremont resident [[Richard Beyer]], included several subtleties in the sculpture which reward close viewing. The face of the dog was sculpted to resemble Fremont political leader and the city's "godfather of [[recycling]]" Armen "Napoleon" Stephanian, with whom Beyer had public disagreements in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramierz |first=Marc |date=June 2, 2002 |title=The face of Fremont. Wily. Inventive. Unrestrained. Showman. |page=L1 |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20020602/recycleguy02/the-face-of-fremont-wily-inventive-unrestrained-showman |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=August 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822134203/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20020602&slug=recycleguy02 |url-status=live }}</ref> People living and working in the Fremont neighborhood often dress the characters in apparel appropriate to a season or local event.<ref>{{citation |title= Richard Beyer's ''Waiting for the Inter-Urban'' in Fremont is a particularly popular artwork frequently used to celebrate events such as birthdays and bon voyages; celebrants often embellish the sculpture according to the occasion. |work=Landscape Architecture |issue=5–8|volume=78|page=57|year=1988|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=9Po4AQAAIAAJ}}</ref>

==History==

The statues were erected on June 15, 1978, and dedicated on June 17 during the [[Fremont Fair]].<ref>{{cite news |date=June 16, 1978 |title=A long wait to Everett |page=C9 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Concerns over damage to the statues from weather and automobiles led to the installation of a [[pergola]] by artist Pete Larsen in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 23, 1978 |title=Fremont statue will get protection |page=A7 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2023 |title=Pergola at People Waiting for the Interurban |url=https://seattlearts.emuseum.com/objects/2547/pergola-at-people-waiting-for-the-interurban |access-date=October 22, 2023 |website=Seattle Arts Emuseum}}</ref> Power, which provided lighting to the pergola, was not installed until almost ten years later.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ament |first=Delores Tarzan |date=May 10, 1988 |title=Lighted 'Interurban' Calls for Celebration |pages=F5 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=The Seattle Times |date=May 12, 1988 |title=Metro, South |pages=D2 |work=The Seattle Times <!--|access-date=November 7, 2023-->}}</ref>

Sculptor Richard Beyer was selected in 1975 by the Fremont Arts Council to create ''Waiting for the Interurban'', in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Fremont's founding. The piece cost $18,210 and was financed mainly through private donations and the city's art fund.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rinearson |first=Peter |date=August 4, 1979 |title=Waiting for payment |page=A3 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> Beyer initially went uncompensated for his work, until private fundraisers raised enough revenue to cover the $6,000 he was owed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Daniel |first=Linda |date=October 25, 1979 |title=Interurban sculptor may wait no more |page=A1 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref> In January 1980, the [[Seattle City Council]] formally accepted the sculpture as a donation to the city.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rinearson |first=Peter |date=January 8, 1980 |title=Voting deadlocked for Council president |page=A14 |work=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Seattle City Council |author-link=Seattle City Council |date=January 14, 1980 |title=City of Seattle Ordinance 108769 |url=http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s3=&s4=108769&s5=&s1=&s2=&S6=&Sect4=AND&l=0&Sect2=THESON&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CBORY&Sect6=HITOFF&d=ORDF&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fcbor1.htm&r=1&f=G |publisher=Office of the City Clerk |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003105006/http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?s3=&s4=108769&s5=&s1=&s2=&S6=&Sect4=AND&l=0&Sect2=THESON&Sect3=PLURON&Sect5=CBORY&Sect6=HITOFF&d=ORDF&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fcbor1.htm&r=1&f=G |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the repairs of the [[Fremont Bridge (Seattle)|Fremont Bridge]] that began in February 2006, the sculpture was moved about {{convert|100|m|ft}} east of its original location to [[History House of Greater Seattle|History House]], at the corner of N.&nbsp;34th Street and Troll Avenue&nbsp;N., which runs up a hill to the ''[[Fremont Troll]]''. History House also has exhibits showing some of the most imaginative displays by people who have decorated the statues over the years.<ref>{{cite book|title=Seattle Stairway Walks: An Up-and-Down Guide to City Neighborhoods|author1=Jake Jaramillo |author2=Cathy Jaramillo |year=2013|publisher=[[Mountaineers Books]]|isbn=9781594856785|page=40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4YYVCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT40|access-date=October 21, 2021|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021160342/https://books.google.com/books?id=4YYVCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT40|url-status=live}}</ref> The sculpture was returned to its original site following the completion of bridge repairs in May 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=McNerthney |first=Casey |date=May 30, 2007 |title=It's back! The wait for 'the Interurban' is over |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/It-s-back-The-wait-for-the-Interurban-is-over-1239055.php |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011175652/http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/It-s-back-The-wait-for-the-Interurban-is-over-1239055.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 17, 2008, another sculpture was dedicated a block away on N.&nbsp;34th Street, known as ''[[Late for the Interurban]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Solomon |first=Cara |date=August 18, 2008 |title=Patches Pals, red noses and all, gather for statue's dedication |page=B1 |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jp-patches-pals-turn-out-in-fremont-for-dedication-of-statue/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011180120/http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/jp-patches-pals-turn-out-in-fremont-for-dedication-of-statue/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The statue, sculpted by Kevin Pettelle of [[Sultan, Washington]], portrays the 1970s Seattle TV clown [[J. P. Patches]] and his sidekick Gertrude.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Phil |date=November 12, 2008 |title=''Late for the Interurban'', a statue honoring Washington icons J. P. Patches and Gertrude, is dedicated in Fremont on August 17, 2008. |url=http://www.historylink.org/File/8841 |work=[[HistoryLink]] |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003023829/http://www.historylink.org/File/8841 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Switzer |first=Jeff |date=March 11, 2008 |title=Sultan sculptor's J.P. Patches statue |url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/sultan-sculptors-j-p-patches-statue/ |work=[[The Everett Herald]] |access-date=October 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003110126/http://www.heraldnet.com/news/sultan-sculptors-j-p-patches-statue/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception==
[[Andy Rooney]] included ''Waiting for the Interurban'' in a ''[[60 Minutes]]'' piece he did criticizing modern art.<ref>{{citation|title=When Did This Become Art?|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsfX6xqCBks |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211214/bsfX6xqCBks |archive-date=2021-12-14 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Visual arts}}
*[http://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=all&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!317204~!0#focus Save Outdoor Sculpture Survey]

{{Fremont, Seattle}}
{{Public art in Seattle}}
{{Richard Beyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waiting For The Interurban}}
[[Category:1978 sculptures]]
[[Category:Aluminum sculptures in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Fremont, Seattle]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Seattle]]
[[Category:Sculptures of children in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Sculptures of dogs in the United States]]
[[Category:Sculptures of men in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Sculptures of women in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Statues in Seattle]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in Washington (state)]]