The entry gate at Kubota Garden in Seattle, Washington. It is a beautiful, bronze sliding gate designed and installed in 2004 by Gerard Tsutakawa, the son of renowned Pacific Northwest sculptor George Tsutakawa. This photo was taken on July 7, 2007.

Kubota Garden is a public garden that is now owned by the City of Seattle and maintained by the Department of Parks & Recreation. It was originally created and maintained for many years by Fujitaro Kubota.

Here is the information that they have posted near the entrance:

GATE

DESIGNER: Gerard Tsutakawa: studied sculpture and fountain design under his father, George, from 1970-1980. From 1970-1991 he studied metallurgy and engineering under Jack Uchida and was director of fountain and sculpture fabrication, production and installation for George Tsutakawa Art Studio. He has numerous public installation including 'The Mitt' at Safeco Field and the 'Fountain of Sesemagi' at Seattle Center.

DIMENSIONS: The gate is 7 feet tall. It consists of two sliding panels with a total width of 13 feet. It weighs about 600 pounds.

MATERIALS: Bronze with an applied patina

CONSTRUCTION: The design was made, computerized and put on a disc. The bronze was placed on a sheet and the design was laser cut into it. The various elements of the design were then welded onto the hand built frame.

DESIGN: (from an interview with Mr. Tsutakawa, February 2004) "The design is an abstracted rising sun: organic, swirling, free floating, and emitting energy. It is a non-traditional feature of Japanese homes".

By Jean Hobart (Kubota Garden Foundation Board Member)

Kubota Garden
9817 55th Avenue S.
Seattle, Washington 98118

To see part of the bronze gate more close up, see: Kubota Garden enry gate - left side. Here's a photo of underneath the top part of the gate: Kubota Garden entry gate - detail of top.

For information about the garden, please visit their website: www.kubota.org. The site includes a brief history.