We’re totally beaking out over the larger-than-life bird now perched in Highland Park. Is it a mutant? A visitor from an avian planet?
Nope — our feathered friend is a 17-ft-tall fiberglass sculpture from King County artist-in-residence Matthew Mazzotta . “Where’s the Party: Elevating Nature and Resilience” depicts a Steller’s jay , a blue-and-black-plumed species found along the coast between California and Alaska.
The project is a collaboration between Seattle’s Department of Transportation and Office of Arts & Culture. In 2022, a panel chose Mazzotta’s concept for its whimsical nature reflecting the area’s proximity to an urban forest.
It got its name in part because Steller’s jays are often referred to as a “party” — seriously, they’re that fun.
Look for the bird at the corner of Highland Park Way SW + SW Holden Street. You can also meet Mazzotta on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 4-6 p.m., during a community celebration .