With just a few days left to go, Lopezians donated the remaining $500 needed to purchase local artist Tamara Shane’s wheel-like copper sculpture “Recycles of Life” so that it can remain permanently on display in the village. There will be a celebration of the sculpture on the lawn at Isabel’s Espresso on Saturday afternoon Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. Words, poetry and, weather permitting, musical instruments are welcome.

The nonprofit conservation laboratory Kwiáht now owns the sculpture in trust for the community. It will remain on the lawn in front of Isabel’s as long as that site is available. Tamara will be consulted if a move to another location in the village is ever necessary.

“A great big thank you to everyone that contributed,” says Tamara. “I hope that this sculpture serves as an inspiration for other artists to come forward with their creations in support of Kwiáht’s vision of bringing more color, texture and culture to our village and our island.”

“This project was a collaborative effort in many ways, and a very rich experience to share its creation with other community members,” Tamara adds.  “May it be enjoyed by all for many years to come!”

“We hope that the Lopez community establishes a legal entity to hold public art like this in trust, or the county acquires an appropriate site for public sculpture within the village,” says Kwiáht director Russel Barsh. “The Lopez Community Trails Network may also create new opportunities for installing art in the village.”

Barsh also challenged the county to adopt a public arts acquisition program, like Seattle’s One Percent for Art program, now 40 years old.  “The county should support our island artists with more than fine words,” he says.  He points to the success of the county’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee in promoting local events, and suggests that a similar broad-based advisory process be entrusted with acquiring art for public places.

Tamara and Kwiáht would like to extend special thanks to Scott Rozenbaum, John Bostick, Mark O’Bryant, Jim Parker, Kreg Trani, Steve Ruegge, the South End Book Club, Laura Simonian, Jordan Schultz, Marlatta Langford, Diana Bower, Nikola Chopra, Isabel’s Espresso, Lynda Colombo, Faith Vandeputte and Treehouse Healing Arts and many others for their contributions to building “Recycles of Life” and giving it a home. Thanks also to businesses that helped collect funds for “Recycles of Life” including Blossom Grocery, Vortex, The Bay Café, The Love Dog Café, Gallery 10, and the Lopez Bookshop.

For further information write: kwiaht@gmail.com.