Chloë Bass's 'Soft Services' at Volunteer Park: A Conversation on Care and Public Space

In a conversation with Suzette Bell-Roberts for Art Africa Magazine, artist Chloë Bass elaborates on her public installation 'Soft Services' at Seattle's Volunteer Park, facilitated by the Henry Art Gallery. This artwork features sculptural benches adorned with botanical silhouettes and inscriptions, delving into themes of care, memory, democracy, and belonging. Bass highlights the benches' recognition of care histories during the AIDS crisis and the COVID pandemic, citing the Ryan White CARE Act, which supported 'soft services' in Seattle during the early 1990s. She differentiates between acknowledgment and reclamation, asserting that mere representation does not equate to repair. The botanical designs include alder, black locust, and western juniper, the latter expected to appear due to climate change. Reflecting on public spaces as areas of intimacy and communal responsibility, she draws from her New York City roots and advocates for ongoing attention as a moral imperative tied to democratic engagement. The installation, which will be displayed until August 2027, has naturally aged, showcasing softened stone forms and faded paint. Bass hopes the piece continues to hold evolving significance for diverse communities.