Gabrielle Abbott
Gabrielle Abbott is a full-time public artist specializing in murals and large-scale installations inspired by the natural beauty and spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Licensed and bonded as a contractor, she is also a member of the Washington State Public Artist roster, curated by the Washington State Arts Commission. With a lifelong connection to Queen Anne, Gabrielle has a profound understanding of its unique character and charm. Designing a “Welcome to Queen Anne” postcard mural is a personal and professional milestone, allowing her to give back to the neighborhood that has been such a meaningful part of her life.
Artist Inspiration
Gabrielle Abbott grew up just four blocks from the Queen Anne Safeway, on the corner of 4th Avenue W. and W. Crockett St. Her family has lived in the same house for over 30 years, and she visits weekly, cherishing memories of this Safeway as a cornerstone of her childhood. With a personal relationship to the area spanning decades, Gabrielle is deeply inspired by the opportunity to create art that reflects the essence of Queen Anne. The neighborhood has shaped her life, and she is honored to design a mural that welcomes others to the community that has nurtured her.
Welcome to Queen Anne Postcard Mural
Q: Cherry blossoms referencing the prevalence of ornamental cherry trees planted on the Hill. The blossoming of the cherry trees always signals the arrival of Spring on the Hill.
U: The houseboat community along the Lake Washington shipping canal in Lower Queen Anne. In addition to being an iconic part of the city, this community was made famous in the film Sleepless in Seattle.
E: "Changing Form," a steel public art sculpture by Seattle artist Doris Chase, installed at Kerry Park in 1971.
E: Queen Anne farmer's market, which is a gathering place for local community members who care about nutritious food, arts, and sustainability.
N: An iconic 1920’s "craftsman" style bungalow home. Most of these homes on the hill were built from Sears catalog kits in the 1920s as "row house" communities. Developers constructed the row houses to meet the growing population of fishermen and dock workers moving to Queen Anne because of its proximity to Fisherman’s Wharf in Interbay.
A: The Queen Anne counterbalance trolley was a funicular street car that operated with a counterbalance weight, and traveled up and down Queen Anne Avenue from 1901 to 1940. Although the trolley is no longer in service, locals still call this street “The Counterbalance.”
N: Iconic views of the Seattle skyline and Space Needle are one of the treats of living on the Hill.
N: “The Wilcox Walls,” so called for their designer, Walter Wilcox, are part of the historically listed Queen Anne Boulevard Loop. The Wilcox Walls were built in 1913 and have withstood earthquakes and floods. The Moorish-inspired stairs leading down from the walls are just one of the 121 “secret” stairways that can be found around Queen Anne Hill.
E: Queen Anne Hill takes its name from a style of late Victorian, residential architecture. Wooden towers, large porches, and decorative woodwork characterize Queen Anne-style buildings in America. This style was popular in Seattle in the 1880s, when the first communities were established on Queen Anne Hill.