Seal Sitters' educational outreach project Year of the Seal, made possible by a Seattle Department of Neighborhoods grant, is now taking shape in the studio of prominent Northwest artist Georgia Gerber. Following a public Call to Artists and Selection Panel review, Gerber was chosen to create a full-scale sculpture of a harbor seal mom and pup.

The sculpture will be installed near the Alki Bathhouse when completed. The site has already been prepped and signage alerting the public has been established.

Seal Sitter's Robin Lindsey said, "Harbor seals, year-round residents of Puget Sound, are considered by biologists to be sentinels for the health of our waters. If our water is polluted, so is our marine life, including the fish we eat. The harbor seals of South Puget Sound (including the seal pups of West Seattle) and our resident orcas are highly contaminated with toxins. Litter, storm runoff (pesticides, fertilizers, auto oil, etc), flame retardants and derelict fishing gear in our waters pose grave dangers to all marine life."

Seal Sitters' volunteers are doing outreach to the public as they did during the Celebrate Lincoln Park event last week, educating about the impact that humans have on our waterways and the conscious decisions we can all make that have a positive difference.

"We are talking to school kids about Puget Sound marine life and empowering them with ways they can help," said Lindsey."The sculpture will serve to remind us not only to Share the Shore with wildlife, but to keep our waterways clean and safe for all life that depends on its health."

Please attend a community meeting on Monday, May 13th, from 7-8pm (Alki Bathhouse). We will present the project and welcome input from the public at that time. Read more about Year of the Seal here on Seal Sitters' website. Seal Sitters needs to fundraise additional monies for the installation phase of the project. If you would like to make a donation, please click here.