Swimming Stars Plaza

"Swimming Stars Plaza" is an art installation by Lezlie Jane in West Seattle's Whale Tail Playground.

Swimming Stars Plaza by Lezlie Jane
Photo: Greg Scheiderer

"Swimming Stars" depicts the constellation Cetus, often called the sea monster or the whale; thus Whale Tail Playground (which is actually at the north end of Alki Playground near the intersection of SW Lander Street and Marine Avenue SW) is a fitting spot. Glass stars in the concrete mark the shape of the constellation, and other marine critters linger about as mosaics or imprints as well, and there's a big octopus on the scene. Click the photo above to get a bigger version!

Cetus is the vehicle in a great story of mythology, sent by Poseidon in revenge for an insult when Cassiopeia, wife of King Cepheus of Ethiopia, claimed to be more beautiful than the Nereids. An oracle told Cepheus that he could stop the sea monster from ravaging his coast by offering up his daughter Andromeda as a sacrifice. Fortunately for her, the hero Perseus happened by and saved Andromeda in the nick of time!

The constellation Cetus is visible in the sky from the site of the "Swimming Stars" installation just four months out of the year, starting in October when you can see it in the south at around 10 p.m. Show up about an hour earlier each month through January to spot it.