Arlington names Fishy winners

ARLINGTON — Organizers of a community art project recently announced three winners.

A brightly colored fish decorated and painted by Vicki Johnson took home first-place honors in the “Some Things Fishy in Arlington” Best of Show competition.

During the project, community members, businesses and individuals purchased and painted plywood fish. The majority of the decorated fish were then displayed near Interstate 5 to attract visitors to Arlington.

Residents could purchase cutouts that resembled trout, salmon, sturgeon or rockfish, that ranged from four- to eight-feet-long.

The project was a collaboration between the city of Arlington and the Arlington Arts Council.

Organizers announced the winners earlier this month.

The Arlington Public Library won second place for its fish, which featured dozens of compact discs that were attached to its body.

Third place went to Bowman Manufacturing for its scaly salmon.

“Some Things Fishy in Arlington” is a tribute to the city’s public art collection, which includes Verena Schwippert’s “Salmon Spawning Pool” near Burke Street, Marguerite Goff’s “Council of Fish” near Arlington City Hall and Harry Engstrom’s most recent mural “Life on the Stillaguamish River” on South Olympic Avenue, according to a city release.

Community members installed a number of the 362 fish that were purchased in a large field across from 204th Street NE in Smokey Point in October.

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