Voting underway to pick name for new bronze statue

The bronze statue of a springer spaniel, which will be unveiled in downtown Camas later this month, needs a name. The Downtown Camas Association is asking citizens to vote from a list of five choices.

The community can vote on names including Cami, Charlie, Clark, Millie and Lily at www.downtowncamas.com. The statue, created by Whidbey Island artist Georgia Gerber, will be placed in front of the Liberty Theatre on Northeast Fourth Avenue.

The winning name and the statue will be unveiled during a reception for the artist, Thursday, April 30. The event will begin with light appetizers at Nuestra Mesa, 228 N.E. Fourth Ave., at 5 p.m., followed by the ceremony at 6 p.m.

The $7,915 cost is being funded by the DCA as the seed to establish a bronze art tour, which will be developed during the next two years.

There are already two bronze statues in Camas along Northeast Fourth Avenue — a little girl reading a book at Cedar Street, and a goose made by Camas artist Mike Smith in the outdoor courtyard at the library at Everett Street.

“We want to be able to have the whole town connected and that is one way we can do it — through an art walk,” said Carrie Schulstad, DCA executive director.