"Swimming with Friends" and "Soaring with Friends"
Artist:  David Boyer
Location:  Seltice Way Roundabouts (Seltice/Grand Mill and Seltice/Atlas)


In 2018, the Coeur d'Alene Arts Commission issued a Call to Artists for the creation of outdoor sculptures or sculptural installations for a pair of roundabouts on Seltice Way, which mark a major egress in and out of the city.  The total amount of funding for the project was $160,000.  

"Swimming with Friends" and "Soaring with Friends," by artist David Boyer of Reno, Nevada, was one of five (5) finalists selected by the Selection Committee, which consisted of seven (7) voting members, including arts professionals, artists, citizens, and a council member.  Maquettes were displayed for public comment at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, the Coeur d'Alene Salvation Army Kroc Center, and Coeur d'Alene City Hall.  

In the artists own words: "'Swimming with Friends' and 'Soaring with Friends' are two similar, yet distinct, wind-enhanced sculptures.  The most obvious aspect of these sculptures is the connection to the bountiful rivers and sparkling lakes of the area.  With the Spokane River and Lake Coeur d'Alene just a stone's throw away, this duo of sculptures is designed to pay tribute to the wildlife that these waterways are home to.  The design for the abstract, sculptural fish has been derived from two of the local native species; the Westslope Cutthroat Trout, and the Bull Trout.  The abstract, sculptural birds similarly draw their inspiration from two local residents: the Bald Eagle, and the Osprey.  While the local wildlife depicted in the sculptures is most apparent, there are metaphoric aspects present here as well.  The use of native fish and bird forms is a reminder of our duty to promote environmental stewardship of the lake, rivers, and forests; guarding against invasive non-native species, maintaining water clarity, eliminating pollutants, and using the lake, the rivers, and the forests for recreation in a responsible and sustainable way.  The fact that the fish and birds are swimming and flying in unison, is also symbolic of the many diverse peoples of the Coeur d'Alene area and how they cooperate and work together to form a large cohesive community.  Additionally, the choice to depict ancient native species is meant to pay homage to the first residents of the area; the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.  Their time-honored tradition of site stewardship and cooperation with nature stands as a shining example of how all people should look after the environment in a responsible and sustainable way."

The artist further notes:  "While these sculptures are considered kinetic wind sculptures, they are different from most sculptures in that classification in that their movement is subtle and non-distracting.  The bird and fish elements do not spin or move constantly, but rather periodically adjust their orientation to point into the prevailing wind.  This motion is subtle, but will serve to keep the sculptures fresh, as they will be pointing in different directions throughout the day.  During the afternoon commute they may point in a completely different direction than they did during the morning commute.  Each of the individual birds/fish is actually a highly stylized weathervane made from modern industrial materials.  The birds/fish are mounted on the top of sizable steel poles.  The poles come in three different heights and the birds/fish come in three different sizes.  The birds/fish are made of steel and stainless steel.  All of the steel is coated with a special weathered patina powder coat.  The stainless steel has a brushed finish.  A fun aspect of the sculptures is the way they use a Hollywood visual trick called 'forced perspective.'  The fact that the birds/fish decrease in size as the poles get taller creates the illusion that there is a much greater amount of vertical separation between the birds/fish than there actually is."

The pieces were installed in July, 2019.