The best form of discovery is to ask questions. Something fascinating about Bellinghamsters is they always seem to be on a quest for answers. Have you ever seen someone stopped in front of a random sign? It happens all the time, the people of Bellingham want to know what is going on in their area and what is happening in their neighborhoods. I’ve seen people go out of their way to cross busy streets just to read a construction sign.
Sometimes artifacts of this great city become status quo, an idea of complacency sets over and things that were fascinating become commonplace or maybe the desire to inquire becomes less important because it is no longer fascinating. In 2018, Bellingham was a buzz over what was occurring down by the waterfront. The 400,000 plus pound Acid Ball was being moved 1,000 feet to Waypoint Park. Check out some of the process the Acid Ball took to make it to its final resting spot:
Today this beautiful art installation has become a part of the scenery. The Acid Ball dates back to 1938 and was used to release pressure when breaking down wood chips with acid for the Georgia Pacific pulp-and-paper mill. The Acid Ball was moved to Waypoint Park to serve as a “powerfully authentic artefact, connecting the community to Bellingham’s mighty industrial past” according to Mutuus Studio, the company in charge of reinvigorating the Acid Ball. Saul Becker, a partner at Mutuus Studio stated “there’s a real desire to understand these objects and carry them into the future so that people can understand not just an industry but the movement of time itself”.
Mutuus Studio used the same coating used for highways to create a weather and vandal resistant coating while being durable and low maintenance. The location was selected so it would “become(s) a beacon from land and water and a visual terminus to the existing axis of the courthouse stair”. Without this backstory I never realized how much the Acid Ball is in fact an intersecting piece of art between downtown and the waterfront. I spent an evening taking pictures and felt a connection to the Acid Ball I had never felt before.
Lighting was added at the end to really make the Acid Ball a beacon between the waterfront and downtown. Mutuus Studio won the proposed contract out of 26 proposed plans decided on by The Bellingham Arts Commission. Below is a video of some of the ways the Acid Ball might have turned out:
Can you imagine if the Acid Ball would have been painted like a beach ball, or covered in mirrors? To me, it’s a shame the Acid Ball has become a dwindling draw. Maybe it’s the amount we have all had to go through during a global pandemic, but I think the excitement should still be here. If you still feel excited to see the Acid Ball, I hope you still learned some of the really exciting information about the Acid Ball. Either way, the Acid Ball is a beautiful beacon shining on Bellingham.
If you are looking for a really fun and family friendly event The Wandering ‘Hamster will be at the Dirty Dan Murder Mystery is happening this weekend. The event starts at 10:00 am April 24th and costs $20. If you haven’t heard about this event, please listen to our very own Arts & Entertainment Spotlight with Margaret Bikman: