Car Art and Fish: A Piece of Methow River History

Last Friday, January 27, Methow Arts and the Methow Salmon Recovery Foundation held a silent auction at Confluence Gallery in celebration of local rivers and public art.

The event featured a silent auction of salmon-shaped metal art sculpture created by local artists Barry Stromberger and Dan Brown. The pieces were cut from vintage cars placed as "Detroit Riprap" along the bank of the Methow River in the mid-twentieth century.

The art project was a collaborative effort between MSRF and Methow Arts Alliance to raise awareness of the importance of healthy riparian areas to salmon recovery.

Winners in attendance were Jennifer Molesworth, Don and Sara Ashford, Debbie Nickell and Steve Saunders, and Nicole Ringgold. When asked where they will be placed, Debbie Nickell says "I think he will eventually grace my roofpeak (once the snow is gone and it is safe to climb up there)." Nicole Ringgold purchased her fish for her husband Derek's birthday.

All proceeds will benefit the Community Trails and Public Art project. The Project utilizes public artwork created by local artists which will enhance fish restoration efforts on a trail system linking the community to educational efforts and public access. Selected artwork will align with the following goals of MSRF: 1) Celebrate salmon’s role in our community; 2) Help us look deeper into our relationship with our watershed; 3) Help define our commitment to functional river systems.

To learn more contact Amanda L. Jackson, Executive Director at Methow Arts Alliance at Amanda@MethowArtsAlliance.org, 509.997.4004.

(Photos clockwise from top left: Jennifer Molesworth wins the yellow fish; Debbie Nickell and Steve Saunders; Don and Sara Ashford; Nicole Ringgold; Chris Johnson and group)