Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Artwork copyright Wowhaus. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Ascent, 2019

Wowhaus
Ene Osteraas-Constable (American); Scott Constable (American)

Location: Pierce College - Fort Steilacoom, Lakewood

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

Ascent by Wowhaus represents a student's journey at Pierce College Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, Western Washington. The 26-foot-tall suspended sculpture moves subtly as students ascend and descend the four-story staircase. It creates countless compositions that shift and change, just as students’ perspectives evolve and grow as they pursue their education. The patterns, colors, and compositions in the artwork suggest the diversity of cultures, ideas, and perspectives that thrive at Pierce College. The sculpture's color palette of muted gray, yellow, and red symbolizes the balance of sky, sun, and earth.

The open, bent plywood, lattice structure of the sculpture reflects Scott Constable’s experience building boats. Each individual rib is composed of three thin layers of FSC-certified birch veneer that was molded by hand. This process is very similar to wooden boat-building.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Pierce College District.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Wowhaus is an art and design team whose work spans public art, social practice, architecture, and furniture design. Their artworks explore everyday life and the question of how things, places, and relationships acquire meaning and shape a sense of place.

Artists Scott Constable and Ene Osteraas-Constable founded Wowhaus in 1997. They are partners in life and work. They have worked in a variety of fields and media, including organic gardening, boat-building, woodworking, commercial fishing, photography, audio, digital art, and public art. They served as Peace Corps Volunteers in West Africa in 1990-91. Ene Osteraas-Constable received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1987. Scott Constable studied architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in sculpture from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1985.