A Clearer View: The Last Days of the Alaskan Way Viaduct

Depending on who you talk to, the demolition of the Alaskan Way Viaduct is either a tragedy, a triumph, or somewhere in between. One thing is certain: marginalized communities will be affected by this change. People of color, immigrants, and the houseless are often ignored and not prioritized, thrown on the backburner of a city’s long list of sociocultural issues to manage where capital is often the only goal. When I decided to photograph people living, working, and traveling in the viaduct’s vicinity, my priority was to document marginalized communities. Being part Nakota and Dakota on my father's side, I have a responsibility to highlight and uplift people of color including the Indigenous community. Several of the subjects I photographed for this project have played a significant role in environmental and social justice movements in the Pacific Northwest. They are forces to be reckoned with and have taught me lessons about discovering my roots, defending our only planet, and living in a good way.

The following images are included in the
​city of Seattle's digital archives:

The following images are in the Seattle Department of Transportation’s Portable Works Collection

These images are displayed in public spaces of SDOT and the Office of the Waterfront in Seattle. These public spaces include lobbies, entry hallways, reception areas and conference rooms. In order to encourage involvement and understanding of the diversity of artwork in the collection, employees will participate in the selection of artwork for their own areas. The artwork will move throughout the offices on a rotation basis, thereby increasing viewing opportunities of the art by employees and the general public. The collection will also occasionally be borrowed by museums and galleries for exhibitions.

This photography project was commissioned with the Seattle Department of Transportation, Office of the Waterfront 1% for Art funds, and administered by the City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture.

Copyright © 2012-2023 Roxann L. Murray, All Rights Reserved.