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Buck Hunting in Bellevue - Summer 2006
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Bellevue, in the Summer of 2006, set out some bucks painted by local artisans, to raise money for the arts (Performance Arts Center Eastside)... So, the Shadow Lady and I went "buck hunting", to try and get a picture of them all...

I've listed all of the buck's descriptions, and when I "shoot" them, I'll replace the crosshairs with the picture of the buck.  The descriptions are paraphrased from the website set up for the displaying of the bucks (www.bucksforpace.org), and the auction that will follow.

Some of the bucks got damaged, unfortunately, and a couple were removed before I could find them because they were so beat down.  Its sad.  The Seattle Times did a story on it:  Damaged Bucks Story

 
Transformation
This was a couple's project.  The artists use fused glass in their artwork, and applied it to the decorations on this buck.

This was in the Mall.  It was pretty weird, actually... there was a layer of mortar that held it all in place, and it included some sort of chain necklace spirals that were spread around the buck's body, and come copper spirals, usually close to the necklace ones.  The glass inlays were quite striking.

Ancient Spirits Buck
The artist used the Lascaux Caves in France as the inspiration for painting his buck, one of the many animals drawn on the caves.

This was in the mall, too.  It was very nicely painted.  The 'cave drawings' were very well defined.

Sea Stag
A diver, the artist's love for the sea came out in her creation that depicts the wonders of the underwater world, in an effort to emphasize that everything is interconnected, especially when you consider that deer and elk eat kelp that is exposed at the shoreline at times.

Unfortunately, this one has its antlers broken off by the time I got to see it.  It was in front of a QFC, and apparently under video surveillance, but that didn't matter... some people just have no couth.

The buck was very smartly painted, with bright tidewater animals and plants... it looked very nice!

Golden Buck
This buck is covered in a mosaic of golden tiles, to make it brilliant in the sunlight.  Each miniscule tile is hand cut to fit by the artist, and applied with sillicone and grouted and sealed.  It must have taken a LONG time!

This one was BRIGHT!  Very shiny and very nicely done.

Autumn Woods
The inspiration for this buck is a Japanese Poem, "Deer in the autumn woods":

Lovely is the call of the stag
as he pads through the autumn leaves
in the deep mountains

Mt Rainier and the mountains are stand-ins for the "deep mountains" in the poem.

I liked the design of this one.  It was in a difficult location to get a good picture of, though, because it was on a "high traffic" roadway intersection on the back side of the new Bellevue City Hall.
Star Buck
The artist used the dark starry skies away from the cities as a backdrop for his buck design, and the icon of the city as the inspiration for its name.

This was fairly close to where I work.  It was a very striking buck, with nicely contrasting colors.

Buck Mythic
The grace and beauty of the deer has immortalized them through literature, myth and art.  The artist used symbols from stories and themes that star the mythic stag.

This was a weird one.  The face on the side of the buck's face was very weird.  On this side, it was a young woman, on the other side, it was an older man.  The eye is only on this side, while the other side has a grassy scene on it.

A Window into His World
The artist used the buck as a canvas to show the buck's world, and emphasize that it wouldn't be complete without the deer.

This buck had a very nice scene on it, and it really looked nice.

Wedgewood
The painter of this buck grew up in England, and wanted the buck to look like a fine china ornament... "Every problem, great or small, was settled over a cup of tea."

This one has a deep, clear polymer on the outside, which really does come off looking like its a fine china statue... it looked very elegant.

Mined and Ores
The artist "discovered" that copper was mined in Washington State (it still is), and that provided the inspiration for this buck.  Since we touch copper a lot, and most of us haven't touched a buck, the artist hoped to join the two experiences. "Mined and Ores" is a play on "Mine and Yours" - a sense of sharing in the community.

The copper on this buck really jumps out at you.  there were distinct grooves between the "metal" types, almost making them look like molded plates.

Buck Stops Here
This is based on Truman's Phrase.  It has road and highway signs all over it that deal with varying versions of STOP, and, of course, a STOP sign.

I THINK this one was removed because it was damaged (see:  Damaged Bucks Story)


STILL HUNTING FOR IT

 
Starlight Buck
The artist saw a deer walking on his property in the moonlight, which inspired his design for his buck.  The stars are stainless steel, and molded to fit and glued on.

This one is very strategically positioned so that when you take its picture, you create an add for the mortgage loan brokerage its in front of.

Buck N Broncos
Horses are this artist's favorite subjects to paint, so she combined the two revered animals, the horse and the deer.  Each has a strong place in the history of our nation, and the Stars and Stripes are a symbolization of our national history.

A very brightly colored buck.  The horse images are largely lost in the bright blue and stripes of the flag.
Shared Spirits
Cheif Seattle said once "All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man."  The artist paints wildlife scenes, and decided that instead of painting a buck on a canvas, the buck would be a canvas for animals that share the buck's world.

This one is on a private dock in Medina... I'm thinking of renting a canoe... :-)


STILL HUNTING FOR IT

 
Ivan and the Firebird Buck
The Russian Legend goes like this: Ivan was sent on a long quest to acquire the firebird by his father, the Tsar.  On the quest he meets a gray wolf who serves him well and teaches him many lessons.  With the wolf's help, he wins over a princess named Helen, a horse with a golden mane, a golden and jeweled bridle, and the firebird, complete with golden cage.

This one's colors constrasted well, and the buck was very striking.  Its location, though, really prevents its close up inspection for most people.
 
In Times Like This
The poem "Deer Dust" provided the inspiration for this buck:

   Lets remember the deer with soft antlers
   Lets consider the forest inhabited
   Lets know that wilderness is lived in
   Lets see the deer live through the leaves it loves.

This buck was wierd.  It looks like a skeleton, or some rendition of a fossil crossed with the outline-type art of the Native Americans in the area.

Xing
Drawn from the feelings that an "Animal Crossing" sign evokes while driving, the artist made a point of mentioning that he painted "Make believe" roadways on the side of the buck.

The cars were a bit larger than Matchbox sized cars, and they looked glued down on the tracks, which were almost like belts on the surface of the green-painted buck. 

A couple days after I took this, vandals broke off one of the antlers.

Buck of all Seasons
The outlines on this buck are supposedly showing the muscle tone and strength of the animal.  It was done using paint, plaster, and acrylic, and it includes elements such as leaves, berries, eggs, and birds, evoking thoughts of the Northwest through the variety of seasons.

To me, the bird nest on its head was a bit much.  the buck was just plain weird.

Protector of Beauty
The artist created a layered collage by etching through layers of paint.  The flowers refer to the taste the deer seemed to have for the flowers in the Artist's yard as a kid.

I THINK this one was removed because it was damaged (see:  Damaged Bucks Story)


STILL HUNTING FOR IT

 
Planted by the Water
This artist used a painting that was included at the White House as the design for this buck... a tree planted by the water produces a lot of fruit.  The use of apples is her way of connecting it to the Northwest.

Brightly colored, it sort of jumped out of the shady location it was placed in.

Mega Buck
This one plays on Bellevue's Wealth... of diversity.  The artist says "Our community has such an opportunity to gain wealth of creativity and knowledge"... using depictions of international currency, and gold-encrusted adornments, and the phrase "To whomemuch is given, much is expected".

This one was in front of QFC.  Most of the money looks fake... the bills are photocopies, and the coins look like they came out of the dollar store.  But, there were some that looked real - quite a few, actually.  Some were missing, torn off by someone deviant.  I guess that's why the artist used play money.

Caught
The artist is convinced that stills of any kind capture information that will have a purpose later, and has transferred this thought to the surface of the buck.  He said he often uses compositions that can make him ill, then moves them around until he feels the work is complete and he can stop.

This one is just weird.  I think he should have moved stuff around more.  It sort of reminds me of a mudflap on a redneck's truck.

Rubber Buck
The artist who decorated this buck sees deer every day, and so used an every day substance such as rubber because it "is a humorous, malleable material and has a substantial sense of sculptural displacement".

It was difficult getting a picture of this one that balanced with its background so that you could see any definition: it was so dark.

Comet
The artist dedicated this artwork to the resilience of families, especially children.  Blending the never ending name of Santa's famous deer, and the interstellar body gives this buck a playful and energetic image.

Very birghtly colored, it was a very dazzling design in the sun.


 
Stars Buck Grande
This buck is supposed to reflect all that PACE will bring to the community - the past and present artists who have embraced creativity.  The title is a play on words to evoke thoughts of life in the Northwest.

Very distinct, this was the first buck I shot.
Swirling Twirling Buck
This one is right next to where I work.  Its painted with black and white swirls, which is what the artist is "known" for.  Its to promote the sense of being "primitive".

This buck moved around during the display period.  I caught it when it was right across the street of where I worked.
               

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