Artist reception at Kittredge Gallery, Poetry and Mya oh my

The closing artist reception for the "Honor: People and Salmon" exhibit at the Kittredge Gallery was filled with amazing artists, poets, writers, photographers, and an audience filled with people passionate about the health of our rivers, salmon and the ocean. 
Coast Salish author Sasha LaPointe read a moving account that brought tears to my eyes and many others in attendance. She recounted a visit to a location on the river where her family used to fish for salmon but had since been covered over with asphalt. This poignant story is but a small piece in the larger loss of salmon habitat that is driving salmon and the people who's livelihood depend on it to near extinction. The efforts currently underway to remove Snake River dams is part of the efforts to restore the natural salmon habitat, run and spawning grounds. 

After the reception ended and saying thank you and goodbyes to the organizers and fellow artists I took down my artwork. I was about to head out for a long drive back home when a woman approached and asked me about my artwork. If it was for sale. It turns out that she is a marine ecologist and she said that my painting had reminded her of her experience snorkeling in the Puget Sound and seeing all the kelp and fish under water.  This was the best compliment I could have ever received! 
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