Even though Syttende Mai has come and gone, Norwegians have a reason to keep the celebrations going for another few days: the King of Norway, Harald V, is visiting Bergen Place in Ballard this Friday, May 22. He’s coming to celebrate the installation of the updated 52-foot mural in Bergen Place, and he’ll be introduced by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. King Harald is scheduled to arrive at Bergen Place at 4:15 p.m.
Two years ago, Friends of Bergen Place commissioned Canadian artists, Mike Svob and Allen Wiley, to create a scale model of an updated design of the mural suitable for scanning at high resolution, according to a statement from the organization. Pacific Studios of Ballard then coordinated the printing of the mural on 13 graffiti-resistant panels, each 12-feet-high by 4-feet-wide. Pacific Fishermen of Ballard then installed the panels at Bergen Place. Friends of Bergen Place tells us that more than 130 businesses, individuals and foundations helped fund the updated mural.
The bell in Ballard’s Centennial Bell Tower will ring at 4:20 p.m. in honor of King Harald’s visit, and the Ballard High School Women’s Chamber Choir will perform.
King Harald and his wife Queen Sonja also visited Ballard 20 years ago, when the mural was originally put in place.
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