City of Kirkland officials unveiled the Crane in its Vigilance sculpture by artist Matt Babcock at the Justice Building in the Totem Lake neighborhood on Tuesday morning.

Some of those in attendance included former cultural arts commissioner Kathy Feek, current Cultural Arts Commissioner Carol Belval, Melissa Nelso of the Cultural Arts Commission, Cultural Arts Commission Chair Dawn Laurant, Cultural Arts Commission Vice Chair Ryan James and Cultural Arts Commission member Marianna Hannefeld. Kirkland residents and city staff were also in attendance.

The metal sculpture is located in the rain garden located on the east exterior wall between the entrances to the Kirkland Police Department and Kirkland Municipal Court. Crane in its Vigilance stands 17-feet tall and is 11-feet wide and complements the rain garden design. Following the unveiling, guest were invited to enjoy refreshments in the Totem Lake Room of the Kirkland Justice Center, located at 11740 NE 118th Street.

According to legend, a family of cranes preparing for sleep would pick one bird to stand watch holding a stone in its claw. If the sentry fell asleep, the stone would fall and wake the bird up. In medieval Europe, the image of the crane holding a stone was a common symbol of watchfulness, known in heraldry as “Crane in its Vigilance.”

Crane in its vigilance represents the reliance the community places in the people and institutions we have appointed to stand guard for us and watch over our laws, and also our responsibilities as individuals to our neighborhoods and communities.

The Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission recommends to City Council 1 percent for art public art acquisitions.