Where traditional time capsules preserve the past, a reverse time capsule projects the future.
Enter the new Reverse Time Capsule installation at Fay Bainbridge Park, supported by the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation.
Sea level rise is not a matter of if, but when. Surrounded by the sea, Bainbridge Island is on the frontline to experience its impacts. Developing a collective understanding of how sea level rise will affect our community is essential to developing effective responses.
The Reverse Time Capsule invites visitors to interact with the sculpture, comprised of a base, set at current king tide height; a granite bench, the top of which is at projected mid-century sea level; and a 5-foot basalt column adjacent to the bench, which represents the upper end of current projections of sea level by end of century.
Visitors are encouraged to sit on the bench and visualize what these sea levels might mean for the park and the Island. Time will tell if this "reverse time capsule" plays out to accurately reflect Puget Sound's rising tides.
The interactive sculpture was a collaborative effort between Bainbridge Island-based EcoAdapt, who designed the installation, and Orcas Island artist Pete Welty, with support from Bainbridge Islander Adrien Petersen.
The project was funded through grants from the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island and the Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation. The Bainbridge Island Metropolitan Park & Recreation District was an essential partner in helping site the sculpture and install the foundation.
Learn more: https://ecoadapt.org/projects/39/Visualizing-Sea-Level-Rise-in-Puget-Sound
