Public Art Installation Remembers Islanders During the First World War

The Nine – Graphic Art by Chris Minney

If you did not know it was there, you could easily miss Friday Harbor’s new public art installation tucked into the narrow alley between the Palace Theatre and the building next to it owned by Jeffery and Alicia Carnevali. In what is now called Breezeway Park, six photo-collage panels mounted in existing window frames commemorate the 100 year anniversary of World War I and islanders contributions to the war effort. Much of the source material used in the imagery is thanks to our local American Legion’s collection of wartime memorabilia. “I hope the exhibit will help younger generations understand WWI.” said American Legion member Peter DeLorenzi.

The Letter – Graphic Art by Peggy Sue McRae

I am not of the younger generation but I did appreciate learning about San Juan County during the first World War thanks to my involvement in the early stages of this project, the brainchild of Sandy Strehlou, Friday Harbor’s Historic Preservation Coordinator. I created the panel, The Letter. The other five panels were created by artist and graphic designer Chris Minney of tif and gif creative. Said Chris, “Being a part of the project was particularly meaningful to me. My relatives fought in WWI. I thought about them while working on the panels.” My hat is off to Chris who deserves a medal of valor for soldiering on and bringing this project home.

Enlistment September 1917 – Graphic Art by Chris Minney

The installation is temporary so be sure to see it while it is there and expect to see future exhibits in this new outdoor art space. While a considerable amount of text accompanies the imagery of the current exhibit to learn still more about islanders during World War I, link to: World War I: The San Juan County Experience by Lynn Weber/Roochvarg on HistoryLink.org.

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