thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn

this sculptural walkway seeks to mark the 89 unmarked graves in a seattle cemetery, as it weaves down the topography of the site.

Nelson & Gunn edited by andrea chin September 7, 2013 3 min

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn
image © nelson + gunn
all images courtesy of site specific arts

seeking to mark the unmarked, collaborative american artists frances nelson and bradly gunn have created the installation ‘thresholds’, an acknowledgment to the final resting place of kent’s founding pioneers. located in the historic saar pioneer cemetery in kent, a suburb in seattle washington, there are approximately 200 burial sites, 89 of which have no existing head stones. burial remains from 1873 through 1949 include many infants, some suicides, a murder victim, as well as deaths from childbirth, drowning, disease, and old age. the unmarked graves are unable to inform visitors of their presence and give no indication to the public of the role they played in shaping kent’s history. hoping to change this, people can walk through the sculptural piece, giving them a chance to reflect and remember those who have gone before.

composed of 89 frames and constructed from 1x4s and plywood panels, the project explores the use of simple, straightforward materials in conjunction with manual and digital fabrication techniques. using a cnc router, the plywood panels (approximately 9 x 24 inches) are constructed as both skin and structure – with 18 different patterned panels deriving from contours of the site. the frames are spaced 1 foot apart, with the top of each threshold remaining completely level. as a result, the installation responds to the cemetery’s topography. as one moves through the installation, the ground starts to rise, compressing the height of the interior until an expansive of headstones comes into view beyond. thresholds is generously supported by 4culture’s site specific program and the university of washington college’s built environment’s digital fabrication lab, with additional support from mclendon hardware, dunn lumber and miller paint co.

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 1
most visitors begin the installation at this point, near the headstone of the cemetery’s first resident
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 2
the installation’s path turns around the only fruit-bearing tree on site
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 3
the light shifts and changes throughout the day
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 4
corner detail
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 5
the topography rises near the the exit/entry
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 6
each 1×4 frame is spaced at 1-foot intervals
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 7
detail of the construction and tree
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 8
the installation spans approximately 89 linear feet
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 9
view looking west toward one of the openings
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 10
the installation commemorates the 89 unmarked graves in the cemetery
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 11
(left) shifting light (right) the ground shifts upward as the installation turns the corner
image © nelson + gunn

thresholds cemetery sculpture by frances nelson + bradly gunn - 12
panel detail: each pattern is derived from the contours of the site
image © nelson + gunn

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