Published June 11 2026
Ribbon-cutting ceremony June 18 at Crossroads Park
As part of the city’s commitment to supporting artists in their creative pursuits, the City of Bellevue is proud to celebrate and introduce “River,” by Anna Mlasowsky. This is the first artwork to be completed through the Emerging Artists Public Art Program. The public is invited to join in welcoming “River” as one of the newest artworks in the city’s Public Art Collection at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, June 18, 3:30 p.m. at the Bellevue Youth Theatre amphitheater at Crossroads Park.
Designed to support artists at all stages of their careers, the Emerging Artists program pairs artists who are new to public art with experienced public artists who provide enhanced support throughout the entire design, fabrication and installation process.
“River” is inspired by the intersection of nature and community. The artwork is comprised of three installations, with each installation constructed of steel and dichroic glass, featuring three distinct palettes of colored glass that change color depending on the viewer’s vantage point and the light reflected. Each artwork is mounted on an existing light pole in Crossroads Park, giving visitors an illuminated, unique perspective at night.
“My artwork uses the river as a metaphor for a community sharing time. A river consists of many individual drops of water that form a body, time is moving that river past,” Mlasowsky said. “The visual presentation of the artwork is an abstraction of a waveform recording of the phrase ‘It takes more than two to form a river.’ The pitch and frequency of the recording is translated into circular glass discs, each disc representing a single pitch, that strung together make up the words of the phrase. Each spine of the sculpture contains one part of the phrase’s words.”
“River” was made possible through the generous support of Amazon, reflecting a shared commitment to supporting the arts as a vital part of community life and enhancing Bellevue’s public spaces.
"Art has a unique power to bring people together,” said Keri Pravitz, community engagement manager at Amazon. "Anna Mlasowsky's installation captures the spirit of connection at the heart of Crossroads, a place where over 70 languages are spoken and countless cultures intersect. Amazon is honored to help make this community landmark a reality.”
The ribbon-cutting will feature remarks from city dignitaries and the artist, followed by a reception with light refreshments. At 4:30 p.m., Mlasowsky will lead a walking tour through Crossroads Park, inviting the public to visit the three installations. The ceremony will conclude with a recognition of Amazon’s support.
More information about current artist calls and program opportunities is available at Public Art.