Library Art

By Edward McCarthy. Created in 2011.

"I prefer to build objects that provide an abstract image and viewpoint. “Cranes” is made of ship building hull wedges, a 5-pound scale weight, and pieces of scrap steel. The shape of the hull wedges provided me with the concept for the sculpture. My design objective was to combine the found industrial and somewhat weighty objects and create a natural form, longing for flight. I like the idea of contrasting the rustic industrial steel tools with a frail image of nature. In this composition, industry and nature are not at odds with one another."

On loan from the artist.

Location: Second floor.

By Vicki Mims. Created in 1984.

Gift to RTC from the Renton Annual Art Show.

Location: First floor.

By Steve Engle. Created in 1988.

"I made the "Sleeping Madness" sculpture in 1988, influenced by my study and love of Pacific NW Coast Indian sculpture and boat/kayak forms. It has constructed and carved areas of laminated pine which have then been painted. The carved head is done from imagination while the constructed body form is based on ribbed boat structures.  I prefer working in kiln dried wood versus green logs. The dry wood allows me to construct and carve my forms and make radical changes, adding and subtracting, throughout the building process which gives me a lot of freedom in my creativity." Steve Engle, 2004. Property of the Washington Arts Commission. RTC is the conservator.

Location: First floor, third building entrance alcove, across from room C100-Q.

By Jerry Scheideman. Created in 1978.

Property of the Washington Arts Commission.  RTC is the conservator.

Location: First floor, main corridor between restrooms and room C-112.                         

By Kay Louise Cook. Created in 2004.

Gift to RTC from the Renton Annual Art Show.

Location: Storage

By Joey Katzer. Created in 2002.

Gift to RTC from the Renton Annual Art Show.

Location: Storage.

By Candace Beardslee. Created in 1989.

"(P)art of the inspiration for this piece comes from living in the country and (especially during the late 1980's) finding boxes of kittens dumped on the sides of the roads near where I live. I would rescue these kittens and try to find them homes, usually keeping the ones I couldn't place. We ended up with quite a few cats in our household, all with distinct personalities and ways of interacting - not so very different from ourselves. I chose the tiara as the vehicle for this attempt at expressing diversity for a few reasons - you don't usually ignore someone wearing a tiara, tiaras fascinate me as a form of adornment and I was intrigued by making a contemporary tiara. I wanted it to be a diversion from the usual pomp and circumstance that surrounds the wearing of tiaras." Candace Beardslee, 2004. Property of the Washington Arts Commission. RTC is the conservator.

Location: Library, on counter between rooms C-205 and C-210.

By Lawney L. Reyes. Created in 1984.

Property of the Washington Arts Commission. RTC is the conservator.

Location: Library, on counter between rooms C-207 and C-208.

By Kim Batemen. Created in 1991.

Gift to RTC from the Renton Annual Art Show.

Location: Storage.

By Rita Luckman. Created in 1992.

Gift to RTC from the Renton Annual Art Show.

Location: Library

By Barbara Barnes Allen. Created in 1994.

Property of the Washington Arts Commission. RTC is the conservator.

Location: Library, across from Circulation desk.

By Dale Jones. Created in 1984.

Property of the Washington Arts Commission. RTC is the conservator.

Location: Library, south end in lounge seating alcove.

By Jim McLeod, Welding student, Renton Technical College Library. 2003.

"Love. A woman inspired me." The sculpture is made of low-carbon steel, heat treated, worked on an anvil, polished and finished on a grinder. Created in 2003 and on loan from artist to Renton Technical College Library.

Location: Library, on counter between rooms C-209 and C-210.

By Bruce West. Created in 2004.

This stainless steel and coated steel sculpture sits on the west side of the TRC. It is intended to be sat upon by students, to be a place for conversation or silent reflection. Property of the Washington Arts Commission. RTC is the conservator.

Location: In front of the TRC, between the north and south doors.

By RTC students, faculty, staff, and the public. Created in 2011.

Origami cranes folded by students, faculty, and staff at Renton Technical College during the 2011 Hands On! Festival. They are displayed on a decorative frame created by RTC welding students.

Location: Library, second floor, south end