Below is a letter from Mark Loete who chairs the project.
Dear Leaping Trout Artists, exhibitors, friends and supporters,
The 2012 Leaping Trout Art Project concluded with a big splash last Saturday night. The entire Leaping Trout art collection was auctioned off to a packed house at the Arts Upstairs Gallery in Phoenicia. Caterer and foodie-extraordinaire Amy Jackson of Amy’s Takeaway made sure auction-goers were well fed with fish-themed delicacies. Auctioneer Jay Werbalowsky helped project sponsor Trout Unlimited raise a total auction tally of $4,725.
The profit from the project will be used to further the stated mission of Trout Unlimited – to conserve, protect, and restore America’s cold-water fisheries. In the case of our local Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the cold-water fishery of concern is the Esopus Creek and its tributaries – the very lifeblood of our Catskill wilderness and sporting-based economy. The contribution of our 2012 Leaping Trout artists, exhibitors, and art buyers will go a long way toward insuring that the APWC-TU will continue to be a leading voice of advocacy for this critical renewable and sustainable resource – the water our trout swim in, and the water we drink.
On behalf of the Ashokan-Pepacton Chapter of Trout Unlimited, we thank the 35 artists, 34 exhibitors, friends, art purchasers, and Trout Unlimited members who generously contributed to this project on a totally volunteer basis. In particular, I want to personally express a heartfelt thanks to each of the 35 artists whose talent, creativity, and imagination gave the project its rich character. Working with you guys was a highly rewarding experience of a deeply personal nature. You were the ones who made the 2012 Leaping Trout Art Project sing the grace notes. Thank you for believing in us.
Mark Loete
Chair – Leaping Trout Art Project
Ashokan-Pepacton Watershed Chapter – Trout Unlimited
