"Salmon in the City, Seattle Washington"

During a workshop I attended in Seattle, Washington in November, 2000 a striking fact emerged about the Chinook Salmon. The average female produces approximately 2000 eggs. To maintain a stable population just two of those must survive to return and spawn. In January 2001 the Environmental Protection Agency declared the Chinook Salmon an endangered species. This means that less than .1% or 1 in 1000 are able to return to spawn. I propose a sculpture that will dramatically and graphically portray the scope and scale of this problem.

I proposed a floating sculpture in the shape of a Chinook Salmon. It would be 50' long and 15' wide and be fabricated from 2000 bright red plastic floats. Each float would be attached to a net. The four sides of the net will maintain their shape using lightweight PVC pipe floating just beneath the water's surface. After its exhibition the sculpture would be dismantled and its pieces recycled.