A celebration for the unveiling of Crane in its Vigilance by artist Matt Babcock will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Dec. 15 at the Kirkland Justice Center. The metal sculpture is located in the rain garden located on the east exterior wall between the entrances to the Kirkland Police Department and Kirkland Municipal Court. Crane in its Vigilance stands 17-feet tall and is 11-feet wide and complements the rain garden design. Following the unveiling, guest are invited to enjoy refreshments in the Totem Lake Room of the Kirkland Justice Center, located at 11740 NE 118th Street.

“The Commission is delighted to add this incredible piece to the City of Kirkland’s growing public art collection,” stated Cultural Arts Commission Chair Dawn Laurant. “The crane represented in this art serves as the sentry of public safety which is what those working in the Justice Center serve.”

The Kirkland Justice Center opened in May of 2015 after the 102,000 square foot building was transformed from a furniture store into a public safety facility. Already installed interior pieces of public art are Sky Meets Water and Earth meets Air by artist Katy Stone and Blind Justice by artist Ellen Sollod.

According to legend, a family of cranes preparing for sleep would pick one bird to stand watch holding a stone in its claw. If the sentry fell asleep, the stone would fall and wake the bird up. In medieval Europe, the image of the crane holding a stone was a common symbol of watchfulness, known in heraldry as “Crane in its Vigilance.”

Crane in its vigilance represents the reliance the community places in the people and institutions we have appointed to stand guard for us and watch over our laws, and also our responsibilities as individuals to our neighborhoods and communities.

The Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission recommends to City Council 1 percent for art public art acquisitions.