As the organizers of the third annual Salmon Festival say, "Once you put a fish hat on your head, you can't be a serious person! It brings out the silliness in people." Members of the Gibsons Landing Business Association (GLBA), Wendy Crumpler and Patricia Hetherington stress that the forthcoming festival is mostly about fun, with an emphasis on community art.
About 150 plywood fish have been purchased by the public, serious artists and amateurs alike, who will decorate, paint or otherwise embellish the 120cm fish using a wide variety of materials: glitter, glass or metal, even tennis balls and lighting. Last year's John Mackerel, referring to the famous tennis player, was rendered in tennis balls, while the Gibsons' Alternative School decorated their fish with flashing lights. Others have used recycling effectively - everything from travel stickers to canned food labels.
By Aug. 25, the finished fish will be on display in the Gibsons Landing area for a short time, although you can start watching for them now in various galleries and retail stores.
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m., the "oh-fish-als" of the Salmon Festival (fish puns abound during this season), will organize a self-guided tour, Rock Around the Block, of the three galleries in Gibsons Landing that will feature a school of fish collection. It's a chance to enter a bid on the salmon of your choice as well as meet the artists. Some of the most original artwork is entered by those who have never picked up a paintbrush before or from a family working on the project together. About 20 professional artists have stepped forward to contribute what will surely be highly-prized salmon: Jan Poynter, Todd Clark, Bodhi Drope and Anita Lindblom among them. Greta Guzek's colourful Infinity salmon from last year's festival is being used this year as a promotional image.
The Salmon Festival is an all day event on Saturday, Sept. 6, closing with a Fishy Affair, a community party at the former Club, with a band and prizes. Tickets for $20 will be available soon. The street should be full of displays, information and education, and several local restaurants will participate by offering seafood specials.
Last year's event drew crowds to the wharf area to watch actor and CBC producer Jackson Davies don his fish hat to open the art show. The bidding continues all day on Sept. 6; you are invited to admire, bid on your choice and chuckle as each fish is awarded a personally relevant award. For example, one of the most popular fish last year was called The Fisher Upper. It seemed that everyone could relate to the home renovation theme and it was given the Coast's Affordable Housing Award.
Funds raised at auction go towards the GLBA that partners with other organizations throughout the year to promote festivals and community events, such as Christmas in the Landing. For more information, call Crumpler at 604-886-2214.
