The following is a press release from Crystal Mountain:
Visitors to Crystal Mountain this season are greeted at the base by a new public art installation called the Circle of Life Tower, reflecting Crystal’s commitment to sustainability and the land, and highlighting the special relationship with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe.
As Alterra Mountain Company continues to invest in each of their resort locations across the country, they have gifted each destination in their portfolio the funds to develop a public art installation to capture the essence of the mountain community in each location. Alterra has named this project the ‘Forward Stance Studio’ as each destination’s art piece focuses on an element of social responsibility.
After receiving over 40 art submissions in August of 2022, Crystal Mountain selected Seattle-based artist, Mary Iverson, to bring her artistic vision to life on the mountain. Iverson’s piece celebrates the natural world and Crystal Mountain’s role in the environment.
Iverson, who is recognized for her landscape paintings, created the Circle of Life Tower from steel, wood, tile mosaic, and mixed media through collaboration with Muckleshoot traditional wood carver Keith Stevenson, Dillon Works Fabricators, and Tieton Mosaics. It was a priority for Iverson to work with a Muckleshoot artist to embrace the tribe’s historical significance to the region.
“When I saw the work of artist Keith Stevenson from the Muckleshoot Tribe, I was totally inspired,” said Mary. “He carved the red cedar Thunderbird on the top of the tower, and the colorful animals that encircle the base of the mosaic. Together, the sculptures tell the story of the land his family has stood on since time immemorial.”
The base of the Tower of Life is constructed with a recycled steel tower segment from a retired chairlift. The art represents the beauty of nature in its path through time, combining a beautiful mosaic, colored glass, steelwork, carved wooden animals, and a compass made of recycled skis. Every visual element wraps around the central tower, in a spiral that echoes the cyclical aspects of nature:
moon cycles, the changing seasons, the force of the wind, the four directions, the fleeting beauty of wildflowers, and the power of animals.
“This tower stands for joy and beauty. I hope that everyone who sees it thinks about their connection to nature, their friendships, and the ancient story of the land,” said Mary.
More information about the Circle of Life Tower and Mary Iverson can be found on the Crystal Mountain website.
