Gwynn Murrill ~ Coyote VI and others

Looking at Coyote Vi as it sits in the plaza and in the photo as it sat on the grass, I'm struck by what Gwynn Murrill has said about where she would prefer to see her sculptures.

You’re supposed to put them on the 24th floor of a building in the city. That’s where they should be because that’s where they would have industrial or straight lines around them – a minimalist environment. You have to look at the positive and negative form around them, and then it becomes real sculpture.

For me, Coyote VI is much more approachable as a sculpture when it sits in the plaza. If it were in the lawn as it was seen this photo, it would definitely look more like a lawn ornament.

As a side note, Coyote VI is joined on internet searches of "Portland coyote" by this creature. Back in 2002 this young coyote was chased off the tarmac at Portland International Airport. Tri-Met's Red Line to Beaverton seemed like a good place to take refuge. Evidently the fare checkers decided to enlist the help of some wildlife refuge workers and the wiley coyote was removed from the train and taken to the far reaches of the Port Authority property. His story about being new to town just didn't make the grade, busted for no ticket.