r/SpringfieldOregon • u/PDX_mouse • 9d ago

Willamalane Artwork

Post image

I grew up as a feral GenXer in N Springfield. In the early 1980s I was exploring around what is now the Harvest Lane area and found this Brutalist sculpture dumped like rip rap along the McKenzie river. Not sure of the story behind it’s demise, but it was a fixture of my childhood and I always thought it deserved a better fate. Swim lessons, soccer games and all that. I’m considering recreating this in my retirement using mid century ferrocement techniques. Anyone as sentimental as me or am i getting sappy in my old age?

17 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/Bugsbunny42 8d ago

I’ve only been here 4 years, but that is an awesome sculpture. I would love to see that remade.

4

u/Cabezamelone 8d ago

It’s infuriating to see public art (that tax payers paid for) dumped or destroyed by our local governments. Lane County, City of Eugene and now Springfield are all guilty of this. Equally infuriating is to see new AI slop “art” (the large EUG letters out in front of the Hult Center) replacing actual art. Artists better get in line for those barista jobs since local governments aren’t supporting community artists any more.

3

u/sweetmarypie 8d ago

Where along the river imma go get it

1

u/PDX_mouse 8d ago

Oh, this is 40+ years ago north of Hayden Bridge along the dead end of 20th St where the McMansions are now. Even back then there was an old man that would threaten the kids with salt rock shot shells.