4/4/16 ink, colored pencils |
Driving home a slightly different way from usual, I came
across an unexpected sight in the Wedgwood neighborhood: a huge rock in front
of a house. With trees growing all around it, the rock looked like it belonged
in a forest, not an urban neighborhood. I came to a screeching halt
(fortunately, mine was the only car on this quiet, residential street) and
turned around to park on the wrong side of the street to get a good sketching
view. Though much smaller, the 19.5-foot-tall rock resembles the shape of Cannon Beach’s Haystack, which I have sketched so many times.
Technically the Wedgwood Rock is called a “glacial erratic.” According to Wikipedia: “Deposited
more than 14,000 years ago by the Vashon Glacier, it was a landmark
for Native Americans in what was once a dense forest.” The article
goes on to say, “Although surrounded by houses, the rock remained a destination
for picnickers, university students, climbers, and eventually hippies. In
reaction to the latter and their perceived drug use, the Seattle City Council
passed an ordinance in 1970 making it a crime to climb the rock, punishable by
a fine up to $100.”
The blue marks you see at the bottom of the rock and on one
of the trees are graffiti tags.
It does look out of place, but is an interesting object to document. Nice!
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