The Federal Way City Council considered three finalists with proposals on Dec. 2 for an art installation at the new Joint Operations and Maintenance Facility in Federal Way, but delayed the decision to invite public feedback.
The process of developing public art for the location has been a challenge because city code requires that 2% of the funds for the project be used toward public art. The funding for the project requires that it only be used on site, but the site itself is one that is not open to the public.
To find a solution, the city decided to locate the allocation for public art on the public-facing security wall that will run along the east side of 28th Avenue South near Steel Lake Park.
Over 140 artists submitted proposals after the call to artists was issued in July 2025.
Artists were reviewed by a Public Art Advisory Committee to evaluate them based on “creativity, relevance to project goals, public works/government experience” and also provided “extra points for being a Washington state artist.”
These submissions were narrowed down to a top three who were invited on a site visit to develop proposals for the council and advisory committee to consider.
While the agenda item on Dec. 2 was to award the final contract to a specific artist out of the three, council members decided to table the item after some discussion on the dais in order to allow more time to consider and to invite the public to share their thoughts.
Artist Steve Nagode shows off an example of how the metal Sasquatch sculptures will be crafted, standing next to a diorama of his art proposal for Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
One of the three artists is from Federal Way. Artist Steve Nagode and his team proposed an art installation that would invite visitors to travel through a story of a Federal Way Sasquatch family and Dzunukwa (the basket lady), who is a powerful figure from Northwest Coast First Nations cultures, according to the presentation.
This installation would include art on the walls that shows scenes representing creatures of the sea, land and air. It would also include placemaking principles to create a destination with pathways, seating, sensory immersion elements and more.
While this was a popular option at the dais, city staff warned that creating an art piece that was too much of a public draw would create a dangerous situation, especially for children.
“Bringing the public to an area where they would stay and walk and interact doesn’t fit well with a bunch of big trucks and pieces of equipment coming in and out of this facility every day,” Desiree Winkler explained in her presentation to the council about the artists.
While the committee really loved the interactive Sasquatch-themed proposal, Winkler said they decided that the concept would work much better in an area that is better suited for welcoming the public, like downtown or in a park, rather than somewhere that would invite safety issues.
Artists Ben Dye and Travis Pond show their proposal and examples of fabrication for their Stewards of a Living City art proposal for Federal Way. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
Artist team Ben Dye and Travis Pond are from Portland and had another of the top three proposals, which they described as a tribute to the city workers as “stewards of the living city.”
Dye and Pond told the Mirror that they were inspired by the way that complex human-made systems and natural ecosystems all work together within the landscape. Their proposal would feature a continuous city and nature scape crafted from metal sculptures and elements.
The third artist is Tsovinar Muradyan, whose proposal features a vibrant artistic representation of the year-round reciprocal relationship between the city staff and the plants, animals and people that call Federal Way home.
The city presentation describes how Muradyan’s proposal shows how “each season unfolds a story of its own — reflecting the people, the work they perform, the equipment they use, and the natural elements unique to that time of year, all connected through gentle transitions that carry the narrative forward. Together, the composition becomes a quiet symbol of belonging, celebrating the harmony between nature, human commitment, and the shared life of the community.”
Artist Tsovinar Muradyan shares her proposal for her all-seasons art piece, which will include glowing rock elements like the one she is holding. Her work was recommended by the advisory committee. Photo by Keelin Everly-Lang / the Mirror
The committee appreciated that the “artist strongly demonstrated understanding of facility purpose and work being accomplished by staff” and noted the large scale of the art that can be easily seen from the road and “beautiful use of color,” including solar powered glowing rocks woven into the work.
For now, the council simply tabled the decision, but directed city staff to share more about the artists on social media to invite the public to share their feedback with the council before they finalize the contract at a later date.
Over 140 submissions were considered by a Public Art Advisory Committee, which includes: Casey Coulombe, Parks Facilities Maintenance; Tony Collins, Parks Grounds Maintenance; Robert Collier, Public Works Fleet Maintenance; Miguel Lomeli, Public Works Surface Water Management Maintenance; Karen Brugato, Federal Way Arts Commission chair; and Vickie Chynoweth, Federal Way Arts Commission member.
Artist Steve Nagode (and team) propose art including a Federal Way Sasquatch family of four, and Dzunukwa (the basket lady) who is a powerful figure from Northwest Coast First Nations cultures. (Artist photo)
Artists Ben Dye and Travis Pond shared some examples of the type of metalwork techniques they would use for their art piece. This example shows a blue heron in flight. (Artist photo)
In artists Ben Dye and Travis Pond’s proposal, they share a vision to celebrate the “Stewards of the Living City” by creating a metalwork landscape of city and natural elements as well as images of the workers behind the wall. (Artist image)
This piece of artist Tsovinar Muradyan’s proposal highlights summer and autumn and features local plants and colorful representations of the relationship between the city and nature. (Artist image)
Artist Tsovinar Muradyan proposal for her all-seasons art piece that will celebrate the care and work done by the city staff in each season, like this winter panel that features snow/ice control, flood response and storm debris clearing while celebrating the beauty of the city’s ecosystems. (Artist image)
