Title: From Swords to Plowshares
Artist: John T. Young
Artist’s Current Residence: Seattle, WA.
Engineer: John Skilling
Dedicated: 31 May 1998
Artist’s Statement: "This artwork speaks to the idea of turning the ultimate weapons -nuclear submarines- into art. It represents an extremely important period in American recycling in an ecologically sound way, and it represents a significant amount of the national deficit being returned to the people for their enjoyment and appreciation."
Media: Decommissioned nuclear submarine diving plane fins: high tensile steel fused to syntactic foam; concrete footings, plantings.
Funding: A consortium of corporate, agency and private donors, including U.S. Navy for the donation of the diving plane fins
Dimensions: Varied fin height, maximum 12 feet; entire configuration spans 410 feet long and 90 feet wide.
Location: North loop trail below Sand Point Head (a.k.a. "Kite Hill") and north of swimming area, Warren G. Magnuson Park, Sand Point Way and NE 65th, Seattle, WA
Project History: In 1996, artist John T. Young was approached by Brian Zetlen. President of Seattle Scientific about finding an artistic use for the decommissioned diving plane fins from U.S. navy nuclear submarines. The artist developed a concept for "The Fin Project: From Swords Into Plowshares" and , working with philanthropist Max Gurvich formulated a fundraising strategy and offered the artwork as a gift to the City of Seattle. The artist reviewed a series of potential sites and consulted with City commissions and community groups in the process if refining the artwork and its location.
Project Description: The Fin Project is a major environmentally-scaled sculptural installation on the west shore of Lake Washington. Located on the north loop trail of Warren G. Magnuson Park, the Fin Project is built from the recycled diving plane fins from 22 decommissioned 1960’s United States Navy attack submarines. The artwork, which resembles a pod of Orca whales, consists of hydrodynamically-designed fins, placed at various angles and heights. It traverses a length of 410 feet and a width of 90 feet. Each fin is 10,000 pounds, and the donation has been valued by the U.S. Navy at $625,000.
Fin list
SSN 650 Pargo- "Faith"
Installation funded by Marleen and Ken Albadeff in honor of their children Aaron, Alison, and Andrea
SSN 597 Tullibee- "Rascal"
Installation created by John T. Young in honor of Winnie and their children Hayley and Eliza
SSN 595 Plunger- "Splash"
Installation funded by Randy and Bob in honor of their children Lexy, John, and Emma
SSN 638 Whale- "Baba"
Installation funded by Randy and Bob in honor of their children Lexy, John, and Emma
SSN 667 Bergall - "Raina"
Installation funded by Randy and Bob in honor of their children Lexy, John, and Emma
SSN 669 Seahorse- "Orcan"
Installation fundud by the Ruth and William True Family
SSN 641 Simon Bolivar- "Hugo"
Installation funded by Ruth and William True in honor of their fathers William Baird and Cecil True
SSN 673 Flying Fish- "Ophelia"
Installation funded by Patricia True in honor of her grandchildren
SSN 673 Flying Fish- "Lulu"
Installation funded by Jeanne Marie and Rhoady Lee
SSN 667 Bergall - "Wave Walker"
Installation funded by: R. Adm. Herb Bridge, U.S.N.R. Ret. Shirley Bridge, Capt. Jon Bridge, U.S.N.R., Judge Bobbe Bridge, Rabbi Dan Bridge, Jan Bridge, M.D. in honor of grandchildren Rebecca, Jacob, Donald, and Zachary
Even John Lynn was impressed when he visited in 1997!
SSBN 644 Lewis and Clark- "Taku"
Installation funded by Helen and Max Gurvich
SSN 669 Seahorse- "Lummi"
Installation funded by Becky and Jack Benaroya
SSBN 641 Simon Bolivar- "Kiska"
Installation funded by Joanne and Paul Schnell in honor of their daughter Samantha
SSN 652 Puffer- "Spock"
Installation funded by Dianne and John Simpson in honor of the College of Arts and Sciences University of Washington
SSN 615 Gato- "Scoter"
Installation funded by Samuel Stroum
SSBN 620 John Adams- "Sparky"
Installation funded by Barbara D. Young in honor of Arthur Young M.D., Lt. Jg. U.S.N. Ret.
SSN 615 Gato- "Grace"
Installation funded by their children and Grandchildren in honor of George and Barbara Norton
SSN 652 Puffer- "Nootka"
Installation funded by the Rosen family: Douglas, Deborah, Jonathan, Barbara, Adam
SSN 652 Puffer- "Oriana"
Installation funded by the Pruzan Foundation, Lucy and Herb Pruzan
SSN 597 Tullibee- "Victoria"
SSN 638 Whale- "Flash"
SSBN 644 Lewis and Clark- "Raggedy"
Major Contributors:
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, United States Navy Construction International, Essy Mohazzabfar,
President
Chad C. Carlson, Project Manager
Dodds Geosciences Inc.
Gull Industries
Robert Fisher
Seafirst Bank
Seattle Scientific Corporation
Donald Simmons
Dave Shaffer
John Skilling
Skilling, Ward, Magnusson, Barkshire
Jon Magnusson, Executive Officer
Ray Upsahi, Vice President
Louis Treiger
William True
The Zetlen Family