Fish For The Farmington:

FRWA draws on the New England folk-art tradition to inspire Watershed stewardship

The Farmington River Watershed Association is excited to introduce a new Fundraiser/Outreach program inspired by the natural diversity of the Watershed, the beauty of fish, and the creativity of local artists.

The Fundraiser engages local artists to imaginatively decorate life-size carved wooden fish. The folk-art fish will be artfully displayed in the beautiful new Pia Sjölin Design Gallery in Canton. At a gala opening to coincide with opening day of the 2010 fishing season, the fish will be auctioned to benefit the Farmington River Watershed Association’s watershed education and water quality monitoring and restoration efforts.

Fish will also swim into area schools and scout groups as we initiate an artistic educational outreach. We will present a short program on the importance of protecting the River and preserving the Watershed and then give the kids an opportunity to decorate their own small fry.

We are looking for help in several ways. We are putting a call out for artists to decorate the fish. Sponsors are needed to help defray the cost of the Fundraiser: a large fish can be sponsored for $25.00 and a school of small fish (for school and scout groups) can be sponsored for $50.00. We will auction off the large fish decorated by the artists and the schools of smaller fish will be exhibited and released to the children. Sponsorship is tax deductible. We need a core group of people willing to help with graphic design, public relations, and help creating the exhibit. If you know of art teachers/ artists/ scout leaders/graphic designers who may be interested please let us know or have them contact Carolyn Smith at csind@optonline.net. If you are interested in decorating a fish they can be picked up at The Pia Sjölin Design Gallery, The Shoppes at Farmington Valley, 110 Albany Turnpike (Rt.44) Suite 209, Canton or at FWRA headquarters, 749 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury. (Fish are free to artists creating art for the fundraiser auction however a small refundable deposit is required to assure that all fish find their way home).

Sponsor Fish in your friends and families’ names for the holidays!