Sound Transit to host community meeting with Federal Way light rail plaza artist

Community members can virtually meet artist Donald Lipski, learn about his design processes and share thoughts about incoming artwork.

Members of the Federal Way community have an opportunity to share their thoughts with the artist of the incoming plaza artwork at Sound Transit’s future Federal Way Link Extension site.

The virtual meet-and-greet with artist Donald Lipski is from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. To access the online meeting via Microsoft Teams, you can register at at this link .

Hosted by STart, Sound Transit’s public art program, the meeting allows local community members to learn more about Lipski’s whimsical, large scale past projects, hear about his approach to designing pieces, and to share your thoughts about what artwork should be placed in Federal Way’s downtown station.

In addition to the meeting, residents are encouraged to share their perspective of Federal Way with Sound transit by taking a brief survey to help craft public art which fits the character of the city.

The previous sculpture idea of an elephant posed on a log as a blue heron sits atop its trunk garnered controversy over its alleged misrepresentation of Federal Way, community members and city officials said. Uproar over the elephant led to a retraction of the initial idea and brought Lipski back to the drawing board.

The Federal Way Link Extension light rail station is set to open in 2024, and is part of a 7.8- mile expansion including three new stations at Kent/Des Moines near Highline College, South 272nd Street and the Federal Way Transit Center.

To view his work and learn more about Donald Lipski, visit his website at donaldlipski.net.