Happy New Year

Merry Christmas

2014 Red Salmon Forecast

It's a good one.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has made their prediction for the Upper Cook Inlet red salmon run.   Their estimate is 6.1 million which is above average.   For more details about the forecast click on the article that appears in the Peninsula Clarion.

I'll post the 2014 king salmon prediction as soon as ADFG releases it.

Fish Art



Evelyn Matthies in her studio

My mother-in-law, Evelyn Matthies, is an artist.  As much as she likes to create art I think she loves to share and teach art even more.  She's a retired college art professor but she still finds time to mentor a handful of students.  You'd think at this point in her life she would slow down, she's earned it, but that's not in her DNA.   As they say, a rolling stone gathers no moss.....

 



Of all the art she has created I, of course, love her fish prints.    The technical term for this is called Gyotaku, (a Japanese word: gyo "fish"+taku "rubbing").  The process is simple.   First of all, I provide her the fish.   Second, she coats the entire side of the fish in ink and then presses (rubs) rice paper on the fish.   Finally, she uses her imagination and talent and adds color.   Evelyn is to fish as Andy Warhol is to Campbell soup cans.

The piece below was awarded "Best Gyotaku Work of Art" at a group exhibit in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul).   It also has been recognized at several other exhibits for it's originality and use of color.

 

 

 

Evelyn and Jane worked together on the piece below. It proudly hangs on a wall in our home.
 



 

 

 

So, the point of this post is to show off the work of my mother-in-law.    I know I'm her favorite son-in-law because I happen to be her only son-in-law, but if any of you would like to purchase any of her works I'm sure I could arrange that for you........    

 



KRSA Save our Kenai Kings Educational Video

I received this video from the Kenai River Sportfishing Association with attached message.


Your voice in support of sportfishing is needed.

The Kenai River king salmon are in crisis.  Help bring them back.  Visit krsa.com/saveourkings/ and let our Board of Fish members know immediate action is needed to return our iconic state symbol to a healthy population.   Thousands of Alaskans and hundreds of businesses depend on the commerce  this fishery generates.

Many readers of my blog are not Alaskan residents but that does not mean your voices won't be heard.   Click on the link above and send a message before the next Board of Fisheries meeting January 31st-February 14th.   It will only take a few minutes to do this.

Thank you for caring about this fishery the way that I do.