What do you love about Puget Sound? Maybe it’s the sound of crashing waves, orcas swimming offshore, or that indescribable sense of home. For each of us, our reason may be different, but our love for the Puget Sound runs deep.
We Are Puget Sound aims to inspire people to take action to protect and recover the Puget Sound by connecting them to people and place and provides 10 things you can do to get involved. Action 10 is, “Experience your Puget Sound, and share it with someone you know.” It reads, “We live in a remarkably diverse area that offers ample opportunities for outdoor experiences. Learn by experiencing—picnic with your family or friends at a local park, walk along the waterfront, catch your dinner in the Sound, plant trees, go tide-pooling, or volunteer for programs that get kids outside. Explore and enjoy this place you call home.”
To help people work towards this goal, We Are Puget Sound partnered with the King County Library System (KCLS) to launch an online poster contest from May 11-June 12. It was open to all ages with three categories Kids (ages 5-12), Teens (ages 13-18), Adults (19 and up).
“We received dozens of entries, and I want to thank everyone for participating in this fun and creative partnership to help preserve the Puget Sound and our communities,” states KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum.”
Out of dozens of entries, these were the winners in each category (to view all of the artwork visit the King County Library System website):
Hazel Richards, Tukwila
Winners:
Youth (Ages 5-12)
Kathryn Chong
Hazel Richards
India Bracegirdle
Teen (Ages 13-18)
Rachel Jones
Natalie Johnson
Rachael Ng
Adult (Ages 19 and older)
Katelyn Smith
Richard L Ramsey (multi-author collage)
April Hiller
Posters were judged by a team of staff from KCLS, Mountaineers Books and Washington Environmental Council (WEC). Each winner will receive a copy of the “We Are Puget Sound” book in the mail, and winning posters will be published on the contest partners’ websites and shared on social media.
“We are so moved by the incredible art created by the community,” states Braided River Executive Director Helen Cherullo. “It’s inspiring to see people of all ages come together in this way to celebrate and protect these beautiful Salish Sea waters.”
"We love this collaborative way to express art through peoples' experiences and connections with places they love," said Mindy Roberts, WEC Puget Sound Program Director and contributing author of "We Are Puget Sound.” “Getting folks to explore and enjoy the Puget Sound through their own eyes and hearts is a perfect way to get them engaged."
We Are Puget Sound is so grateful for each participant’s contributions. If you missed the poster contest, don’t fret! Create art, share it on social media and tag @IamPugetSound on Instagram and we’ll give you a shout-out!
April Hiller, Lake Forest Park