MEMORIES

East entrance of The Edmonds Waterfront Center
at 200 Railroad Ave, Edmonds
installed February 2026
by Ken Barnes

Installed and unveiled on Thursday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Edmonds Waterfront Center, Art Walk Edmonds celebrated the installation of a striking new sculpture titled “Memories” by artist Ken Barnes.

Carved from a 3,000-pound block of granite and shaped into the form of a whale’s tail, “Memories” is both visually commanding and deeply personal. Barnes created the piece in honor of his late wife, drawing inspiration from the waterfront—a place that held special meaning for both of them.

“After my wife passed, I found myself needing to make something,” Barnes shared. “Adele loved strolling along cobbled beaches, looking out over the water for whales and anything else that might surface. Knowing this sculpture now lives by a waterfront like the ones she loved feels incredibly meaningful to me.”  

Accompanying the sculpture is a haiku written by Barnes:

Breaching the surface
From the depths of my lifetime
Then slipping away

“Memories” has found a new home, at least temporarily, at the east entrance of the Edmonds Waterfront Center, where visitors can experience it up close in a quiet, contemplative setting.

The placement came together through a collaboration between Art Walk Edmonds and the Waterfront Center. Art Walk Edmonds Board Member Lynn Hanson connected with Julaine Fleetwood of the Edmonds Waterfront Center while searching for a home for the Barnes’ piece. Fleetwood and Waterfront Center CEO Daniel Johnson immediately envisioned the perfect location near the building’s east-facing doors.

“While the sculpture is technically on loan,” said Hanson, “we’re hoping it will grace the entrance of the Waterfront Center for many years to come.”

In addition to “Memories,” Art Walk Edmonds is currently working on several upcoming public art projects, including a utility box wrap near Highway 99, and a floral-themed mural in partnership with Edmonds in Bloom.

Funding for these projects comes primarily from the popular Summer Wine Walks, hosted twice each year by Art Walk Edmonds. Additional support comes from individual donations, grants, and business sponsorships.

Anyone interested in donating to the Art Walk Edmonds can do so online here. Companies or entities interested in sponsoring a new mural should contact Art Walk Edmonds.