“Sun Lodge” at Pierce College, Puyallup, WA With Preston Singletary

Inspiration for New Sculpture collaboration “Sun Lodge” With Preston Singletary at Pierce College, Puyallup Washington

I visited Pilchuck Glass School for the first time with Preston Singletary on a rainy day in mid September 2020 during the pandemic. I was very excited to see this legendary glass blowing school. Visiting the school with Preston, who has been a part of Pilchuck, and the northwest contemporary glass community for decades, was an exciting prospect. The school was temporarily closed for covid so it was empty and quiet and the furnaces were cold.

We hiked up to the very top of the schools property to a meadow surrounded by evergreens. Near the top edge of the slope was a very simple structure made from bent boughs. Weathered, with bark peeling, this humble structure had a great impact on Preston’s life.

Preston’s experience as glass maker changed one summer when he was a Pilchuck with famed Nuu-chah-nulth artist Joe David. Joe built this simple sweat lodge structure to invite Preston and others to participate in a sweat during a school session. This turned out to be an experience that would shape Preston’s future and his relationship with his past. He began to incorporate and explore the stories, and imagery, of his Tlingit heritage into his work, and created an indigenous connection with glass that was something completely new and unique.

Looking to the Future

A few years later and a few years deeper into our collaboration, Preston was notified that he had received a commission at Pierce College in Puyallup, Washington from the Washington State Arts Commission. The commission was for a new STEM learning building on the Pierce College campus in Puyallup, WA. This Idea of science and math and multidisclipinary studies was an interesting challenge.

When discussing the project with Preston a lot of connections came to light. Insights from his funk musical inspirations born on waves of native futurism. Preston also wanted to reference indigenous intellectualism exhibited at sites like Chaco Canyon, where indigenous cosmology is on display through its ancient architecture. We wanted to make something that was active and uniquely related to our unique place in the solar system. We felt it should evoke both a scientific and multidisciplinary theme and indigenous values and expressions. This futuristic approach related to our past collaborations.

Sun Lodge, Pierce College Puyallup, WA

A simple structure inspired by the sweat lodge framework, made of green boughs laced together to make a simple structure, was the core of the idea. Finding a way to visualize our connection to the sun and seasons would activate the sculpture. I would also relate to sites like Chaco Canyon where these conspicuous alignments are monumentalized in art and architecture.

With a bit of research we discovered it would be possible to cast a predictable shadow at the summer solstice in mid June. If we could calculate that angle we could create something that would move with the seasons. It would also be uniquely tuned to work in its site specific location on the Pierce College campus.

Turning an idea into reality

Our idea was to create a simple framework with a glass sense suspended over a glass “fire pit”. It would be oriented in such a way that the Thunderbird image in the overhead glass lense would pass over the fire pit at the summer solstice. When the sun is out, the shadows of the Sun Lodge will travel daily from West to East. The shadow will lengthen toward the north as the year turns to winter. As summer approaches the Thunderbird’s shadow will move to the south and enter the lodge at mid day. Eventually, it will cross over the fire pit at the solstice.

The glass lens with the Thunderbird image is a ceramic printed piece of laminated glass. Using the latest glass printing technology. This method is a very colorfast and durable process. The glass fire pit stones were cast in by Preston’s Studio by Sean Albert.

Thunderbird and Raven Stories

The Thunderbird was chosen for the sun lens because of its connection to both Preston’s Tlingit heritage and the Salish stories of Preston’s adopted home. THunderbird’s famous ability to cover the sun with its wings and unleash lighting from its wingtips. This was the perfect creature to fly with the sun.

Preston often utilizes Raven Mythology old and new in his studio work. He currently has a traveling museum show Raven and the Box of Daylight. Abstract symbols of the story of Raven and the Box of Daylight are hidden within the sculptures structure for the keen observer.

Sculpture in Motion

When completing the installation it was interesting to observe the shadows slowly moving all day. It felt as if we had set something in motion, though what we are observing is our motion around the sun. Creating a space for this observation and also a place of rest and contemplation was our goal.

See you at Pierce College next summer solstice!

David Franklin and Preston Singletary