Come celebrate new public artwork ‘Why We Have to Work’ at Burien Transit Center on Thursday, Oct. 10

4Culture and King County Metro are inviting all to come celebrate the new public artwork, Why We Have to Work, recently installed at the Burien Transit Center as part of the RapidRide H Line project.

A dedication event will be held at the Transit Center on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 4–6 p.m., with remarks at 5 p.m.

About the Artwork

In the Nigerian folktale Why Men Have to Work, the sky is still within reach and people nourish themselves by eating pieces of it. People also waste the sky, though, and after some years, the sky threatens to move far, far away. At first, people respond by taking only what they need—until one day someone grabs a huge piece of the sky and throws it on the ground, sending the sky so high above the people, they can no longer touch it.

This story inspired artist team Elisheba Johnson and Kristen Ramirez—working as Johnson|Ramirez—to create Why We Have to Work, which uses mirrored steel etched with lines of poetry to remind passersby of their own relationship to the sky and nature. They want the artwork to “spark people’s imagination about the power of environmentalism and how we all have a part in global health,” Johnson said.

Now permanently installed at the northwest corner of King County Metro’s Burien Transit Center (map below), the sculpture also references the area’s agricultural history and its evolution as a major link between Seattle and Tacoma.

Prior to devising this work, Johnson|Ramirez created the art plan for Metro’s RapidRide expansion program which includes six new lines (G–K). After submitting the plan in June 2020, they were commissioned to pursue one of the projects they had recommended. Why We Have to Work marks the terminus of the RapidRide H Line route that runs through Delridge, White Center, and Burien. Ramirez passed away after she and Johnson had conducted engagement activities with the community and finalized the conceptual development for the piece; Johnson continued formalizing the details of its implementation, ultimately manifesting a poignant way to remember and honor her dear friend and collaborator.

“Kristen and my art practice was iterative, and we would often text ideas throughout the day and night to each other,” Johnson said. “After landing on the concept for Why We Have to Work, Kristen texted me a photo of the clouds that read, ‘The sky is ours, just saying,’ with a note from her that said, ‘Merry Christmas Bae.’ This artwork is not only our gift to the Burien community, but a physical representation of our collective practice and shared love for each other. The sky belongs to all.”

About the Artists

Ramirez (1971–2021) was a printmaker, painter, and public artist who made work about place and our everyday experiences. Johnson is an artist, curator, and co-founder of Wa Na Wari, a Black arts space in Seattle’s Central District.

About 4Culture and Metro

This project has been managed by 4Culture, King County’s Cultural Services Agency, in close collaboration with Metro, the region’s largest public transportation agency. 4Culture stewards the King County Public Art Collection and oversees the county’s public art program. Metro provides bus, paratransit, vanpool, and water taxi services as well as Seattle Streetcar, Sound Transit Link light rail, and Sound Transit Express bus service operations. They have a long history of working together on projects.

Event Details

• WHAT: Artwork, music, poetry, cupcakes and more!
• WHEN: Thursday, October 10, 4–6 p.m., remarks at 5 p.m.