"Valentine", the well-known life-size bronze statue by Pacific Northwest artist George W. Lundeen, stands in the atrium of Evergreen-Washellis chapel, and is visible to people sitting in the chapel.
The statue depicts an elderly couple sitting on a park bench. The woman is leaning her head against her partners, and in her hand is a heart-shaped Valentine's Day card. It is clear that romance is still a rich part of this couple's relationship.
Fine art evokes emotion from the viewer, but it is the artist's creative and technical skill that allows the emotion to rise. There are so many beautiful artistic touches to enjoy as you view "Valentine": the glow of the bronze patina, the detail of the woman's shawl, the expression on the couple's faces. You are sharing in an intimate moment in this couple's lives, and every viewer brings their own story to the tableau.
The statue was bought from the artist in 1992, and was one of the first from a limited-run casting. It was temporarily installed in the old funeral home on the east side of the property but, when the new funeral home and chapel were built on the western side of Aurora Avenue in 1994, the statue was placed in the setting that was envisaged for it when it was originally bought. Indeed, the large glass windows in the chapel were designed with viewing the statue in mind.
George Lundeen loves to sculpt people. As he put it, "I am attracted to the human figure and it will be enough to keep me busy for the rest of my life."
