Volunteers install wooden fish from community art project

SMOKEY POINT — More than 20 volunteers recently potentially rainy weather to install wooden fish along the Interstate 5 corridor.

Community members spent the morning and early afternoon putting up fish from the "Some Things Fishy in Arlington" community art project, which asked residents to purchase and paint wooden fish cutouts to their liking.

The end goal was to erect the fish near I-5 so drivers would notice them and visit Arlington.

Jean Olson, treasurer of the Arlington Arts Council, said the Council's initially aimed to collect 104 fish.

Three-hundred sixty two fish were purchased.

Despite the large undertaking, volunteers from the Council, the city of Arlington, the Arlington Fly-In and the Arlington Kiwanis Club hammered stakes into the ground and strung up the oversized fish in a large field across 204th Street NE in Smokey Point.

A banner reading "Some Things Fishy in Arlington, Visit Arlington" was installed on the north end of the field.

"It's a lot of fun," Olson said. "Everybody along the freeway is having a great time."

Despite rain having fallen the night before, volunteers were greeted by overcast weather with occasion beams of sunshine bursting through the clouds.

Most volunteers sported rubber boots to keep the mud and grass off their socks and pant legs.

"One of the great thing about this project is all of the great volunteers who have stepped up to help with it," Olson said. "It's just a very collaborative effort. People are giving up their time and energy. I hope to drive by the freeway and see the results."

Contact Arlington Times Reporter Adam Rudnick at arudnick@arlingtontimes.com or 360-659-1300 Ext. 5056.

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