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This text was on the homepage until the Soul Salmon
project closed on April 13, 2002. For more details of the
project, read on. To learn about the glorious final auction,
see the homepage.
Soul Salmon, a two and a half year public art
project that has placed 81 eight-foot salmon sculptures
from Vancouver, BC, to Portland, Oregon, culminates
in a benefit gala auction of these unique creations
at the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center in Seattle on Saturday
April 13, 2002. The sculptures will be on view at the Odyssey
beginning with a preview
celebration on Saturday April 6 and continuing as a
museum display until the night of the auction.
Soul Salmon brings together sponsors and artists, who work
in tandem to raise awareness of endangered wild salmon.
Sponsors include salmon recovery groups and other environmental
action organizations, educators, merchant associations,
and towns and cities around the Sound.
The project was the inspiration of Sara Mall Johani who
invited friends and neighbors to conspire in its success.
Sculptor Tom Jay was commissioned to create an eight-foot
male and female Soul Salmon pair and Johani then sculpted
an alevin (sac-fry baby salmon) to complete the family.
Sponsors, who commissioned artists to embellish the salmon
at will, had their choice of the three sculptures. The results
included such creations as Puget Sound Explorer, Ali the
Aluminum Salmon (both in photo, above), Salmon-Chanted Evening,
Salish Sea Soul, Mojo, Wrong Way Finnegan, and Max a Million
[link to salmon images].
The painted salmon may remind viewers of the Chicago "Cows
on Parade." This whimsical project inspired the
creators of Soul Salmon to envision a similar enterprise
that would help save a species. "A century ago, nearly
every river and stream in Washington had one or more salmon
runs returning to it. These magnificent creatures were the
keystone species of the whole watershed," artist Jay
says. "If we lose the salmon, we won't know where in
the world we are."
The Soul Salmon steering committee was excited to find
that The Odyssey was available for the auction. "It's
a perfect fit," says event co-chair Candice Gohn, "because
the museum celebrates all aspects of the maritime trades.
We'll be looking out on Elliott Bay and the city.
During cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, our guests will have
time to meet the artists and sponsors, take a good look
at the 23 salmon that we'll be auctioning, and enjoy the
museum. Auctioneers Sharon and Dick Friel will work with
emcee Bob Flick and begin the auction while we are having
a gourmet dinner. But the biggest treat will be the presence
of all of those enormous salmon sculptures. They are amazing.
Individually, they take your breath away, but when you see
them in a group, you feel like you're in a magical stream,
a place of transformation and becoming."
In the meantime, you may see a school of salmon swimming
by. Jay and Johani will be driving a trailer of 10 salmon
blanks in early March and of finished salmon later through
various Puget Sound communities.
Your help can make a real difference. Please help us spread
the word. Maybe you know someone who would enjoy the glamour
and excitement of the auction; one of these beautiful salmon
sculptures might be perfect for their business or home.
You can download this homepage and the
auction invitation and send them to anyone you think
might be interested. Contributions
to the non-profit sponsors or to Soul Salmon would be
much appreciated. Your contribution is fully tax deductible.
Soul Salmon is a Washington nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status.
For more information email cgohn@olympus.net or call (360)
385-0907 to leave a message.
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