Walk the streets of downtown Bellingham, and you'll hear talk of a mystery.
"I don't know where they came from," said one passerby.
"They are colorful!" said a young girl standing in the shadow of a large sculpture.
The free-standing designs are part of a temporary exhibit. Fourteen sculptures are now a part of the downtown landscape. Each sculpture is its own solid color, shaped like a separate sign of the zodiac. They are on loan from world-renowned Mexican artist Sebastian.
"Sebastian is probably the most famous sculptor in the world today," said Dr. George Drake, a former Bellingham city councilman and community activist who helped bring the exhibit to Bellingham.
"This is the first time in the U.S. or Canada that so many pieces like this are shown," he said.
The exhibit is made possible by public/private partnerships, extensive volunteer efforts and a $25,000 state tourism grant. The City of Bellingham provides the installation of all 14 sculptures, but provides no direct funding.
Drake is a long-time friend of Sebastian, who has made a tentative plan to visit Bellingham while the exhibit is on display through September.
"Our goal is to let people know that Bellingham is an art destination" says Drake.
Like most art, the sculptures bring plenty of opinion.
"I like how simple the shapes are," said Bellingham resident Cherie Hosley. "It's like origami, which I like."
"I'll just have to get used to it," said another onlooker. "Not the best use of tax dollars."
"It's not a matter of whether you like or dislike," said Drake. "It's about making you think."
"I don't know where they came from," said one passerby.
"They are colorful!" said a young girl standing in the shadow of a large sculpture.
The free-standing designs are part of a temporary exhibit. Fourteen sculptures are now a part of the downtown landscape. Each sculpture is its own solid color, shaped like a separate sign of the zodiac. They are on loan from world-renowned Mexican artist Sebastian.
"Sebastian is probably the most famous sculptor in the world today," said Dr. George Drake, a former Bellingham city councilman and community activist who helped bring the exhibit to Bellingham.
"This is the first time in the U.S. or Canada that so many pieces like this are shown," he said.
The exhibit is made possible by public/private partnerships, extensive volunteer efforts and a $25,000 state tourism grant. The City of Bellingham provides the installation of all 14 sculptures, but provides no direct funding.
Drake is a long-time friend of Sebastian, who has made a tentative plan to visit Bellingham while the exhibit is on display through September.
"Our goal is to let people know that Bellingham is an art destination" says Drake.
Like most art, the sculptures bring plenty of opinion.
"I like how simple the shapes are," said Bellingham resident Cherie Hosley. "It's like origami, which I like."
"I'll just have to get used to it," said another onlooker. "Not the best use of tax dollars."
"It's not a matter of whether you like or dislike," said Drake. "It's about making you think."
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