When the Lunar New Year turned this past spring Jennifer Hicks organized The Year of the Dog Downtown: 10 paintings by 10 local artists in 10 shops in downtown Owen Sound to celebrate Chinese New Year and its animal symbol.
With salmon sharing the Sound soon the theme swings from dogs to fish.

"It would be stunning to have every downtown shop showcase one fish themed painting during our Salmon Spectacular event," says Hicks," we certainly have enough local talented artists."

This year the Sydenham Sportsmen's Association hosts the 31st Annual Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular from August 24 to September 2. There are events and prizes for all ages.
"Finned Swimmers in the Sound" is a free art exhibit designed to magnify the strong relationships already established among groups in Owen Sound. Through this exhibit artists and merchants strive to enhance the experience of everyone who lives, works and shops in the downtown core with merchants supporting artists creativity by welcoming their paintings, and both bolstering the local Sportsmen's Association event.

"I try to make it easy for everyone to participate by aligning an artist's style with a shop theme and providing a liability form and information card that is posted beside each artwork." Hicks explained,"Artists may be contacted directly by shop patrons who wish to purchase a painting."

Art submissions begin August 1 and close August 10 giving artists just under a month to paint up something fishy. Waterscapes are also accepted. Paintings will be matched to participating merchants and hung on August 20, one artist-one painting-one shop, with the art exhibit ending on September 20, 2018.
To submit ready to hang fish themed artwork in any 2D medium not larger than 3x3 feet or to sign your shop up to exhibit a local artwork with "Finned Swimmers in the Sound" contact Jennifer Hicks at [email protected] or through her website at hicksinthesound.simdif.com