A public Everett sculpture enchants those who pass by.

Published 9:00 pm Thursday, November 27, 2003

EVERETT — The new seal of the city of Everett is — what else — a seal.

The tiny harbor seal sits atop a granite slab at the entrance to the Wall Street building, home of the city’s administrative offices.

"We love our baby seal," said Gerri Delisle, who works in the Snohomish County Public Works office on the building’s first floor.

Like a fawn hiding in the bushes, the recently installed bronze sculpture of a baby harbor seal is often overlooked. Created by sculptor Gretchen Daiber of Leavenworth, at 15-inches in length, it is the smallest of the city’s sculptural pieces.

It sits on the edge of a low planting bed outside the building, making it difficult to spot.

Those who do glimpse the silvery-gray seal tend to be eye-level admirers, such as 17-month-old Sydney Pattison, who calls it "Jo-Jo — after her dog," said Sydney’s father, Scott Pattison, a city project manager.

"She points at it every time she’s here," Pattison said. "And then she has to pet it."

The sculpture, named "Yakutat" after an Alaskan fishing village, is one of seven acquired this year as part of the city’s rotating art project. They are on loan to the city from the artists, said Wendy Becker, the city’s cultural arts coordinator.

Everett’s seal may be the most popular, or at least the most pettable, art.

"I think people like it because they don’t have to figure it out," Becker said.

Originally, the sculpture was to be installed on a pedestal inside the Wall Street Building, Becker said. But a minor protest ensued. Art lovers lobbied for Becker to stick to her original proposal.

"When I was raising money for this project, I pitched this as an outdoor sculpture," she said.

Now the bronze seal greets some of the city’s most forlorn visitors as they climb the steps to pay parking tickets.

That was Debbie Powell’s demeanor after she left the building, having made good on a $10 ticket.

"That seal is really cute," Powell said, stopping to admire it, and then to pet it after being advised it was good luck to do so.

"I’m wishing for no more parking tickets," Powell said.

Petting the seal is allowed, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said. "We are strong believers that public art does soothe the soul," Reardon said. "We have many people who rub the seal’s head for good luck."

Reporter Janice Podsada: 425-339-3029 or podsada@heraldnet.com.

MICHAEL O’LEARY / The Herald