POAC's Newest Artwalk Venue

Let's just call it "Art in the Potholes." The season has begun for Pend Oreille Arts Council to launch its newest moneymaker and most unique Artwalk venue ever.

Maybe this Sunday announcement is catching the POAC folks by surprise. They should be no more surprised than I was in this morning's moonlight (no clouds, no rain) when I spotted a ghostlike entity standing motionless across the road next to our Daily Bee paperbox.

Suddenly, a human-like entity named Marianne stood motionless in the moonlight uttering, "What the Hell is that?" My dog offered no answers. I refused to step closer. An about-face and a march back to the house gave me time to ponder just what this could be. It looked like a snowman, but all readers know we've seen no snow.

I announced to Bill that Vandals had struck, or could it be Cougars like Mike Wolcott who thought it hilarious to attach his WSU mascot decal on the Spokesman paperbox during a "drive-by" a few years back? Bill rose from his desk, ready to get the shotgun. I encouraged him to remain seated, as I would take a flashlight outside and get to the bottom of this.

Kiwi and I returned to the scene where a little light on the subject revealed a unique artistic creation, using three media: wood (Douglas Fir), ceramic of the cherubic nature and paper (most likely the cheap Western Family variety), all finely and skillfully intertwined for a questionable central focus and then extended tastefully to suggest motion and a temporary connection with unrelated but fixed elements of the setting. Utilization of the late night air to provide a continuing sense of sag adds great drama to the finished product. And, oh, the element of surprise it must have provided for the paper deliverers stopping by on their early morning rounds.

And the bonus: two thirds of a roll of untarnished TP left in the mailbox. Saved me that trip to Yoke's I'd planned for later this morning.

Since the surprise sculpture was just that, I suggest that the POAC jury arrange time in their schedules today to visit this spot and decide if this inaugural sculpture at the new Great Northern Pothole venue meets the tough standards expected for artwalk participants. Maybe bring along a full-fledged local judge to help you in your decision-making.

And to the artist in question, I say, "Good beginnings. I'm looking forward to future displays. Of course, there's always room for improvement on technique. As a suggestion, the Pothole Road affords a great variety of hubcaps along the ditches to use for future media."

I mentioned moneymaker in reference to this particular Artwalk stop. Here's how that works. Today's sculpture and all others will remain as long as weather allows or for two days, whichever comes first. As new sculptures appear, which I'm guessing had better not be more than once a month, and always in the morning (must conform to the rules) , I shall announce their appearance on this blog.

During each sculpture's living tenure (no more than two days) the voting public can come by and, for one dollar per entry, guess the sculpter(s), put your name and telephone number on entry. Money to be placed in envelope addressed to POAC and brought to Love house to be transferred to POAC committee. We'll take a page from the geocaching rule book and offer the "First to vote" a free piece of candy.

At the end of the Artwalk season, said sculpter will reveal identity at Panida event. Drawing will be held from entries. Winner pockets half the money collected or acts real civic-minded and gives it back to POAC.

So, let the Arwork improve and the guessing begin with this morning's exhibit. POAC executives, start counting your money! I've already forked over the first dollar and filled out the first entry. And, I ain't tellin'