In late 2003, a small group of sculptors and art supporters joined forces to put on On The Edge, the first sculpture exhibition on Harbor Steps in Downtown Seattle.
It was, and still is, an all-volunteer effort. The 17 artists chosen in 2004 included a wide range of emerging and established artists. The works on exhibit that year can still be seen by clicking on the artists' names (right).
Since that first year we have changed our name to the West Edge Sculpture Invitational as a result of the substantial sponsorship of the West Edge Marketing Committee. With their help, and the strong support of our other sponsors, including the Alexis Hotel and the city of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, we more than doubled the number of artists, tripled our venues and substantially changed the way Downtown Seattle looks in the summer.
In 2007, WESI went form being an invitational to a juried exhibit with our first year's jury comprised of Michael Darling, the Contemporary Art Curator at the Seattle Art Museum, Greg Robinson, the director of the Northwest Museum of Art and Barbara Shaiman, the director of the Seattle Art Museum's Rental Sales Gallery. In doing so, WESI also changed its name to the West Edge Sculpture Exhibition (WESE). 20 chosen WESE artists are exhibiting their work at Benaroya Hall, on the grounds of the Seattle Art Museum and on Harbor Steps. |
