New art dedicated in Washougal

WASHOUGAL — The Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance dedicated a new public art project on March 7. Called “Dreaming,” it’s a metal sculpture of a bear by Heather Soderberg located at the corner of Pendleton and A streets downtown. Members of the Washougal community attended the ceremony during rainy, cold weather to see the alliance’s selection of the Art Patrons and Artist of the Year awardees, as well. Wes and Diane Hickey were selected as the Art Patrons of the Year. “Art in all of its forms is an important part of the human experience and helps connect the heart and spirit to the imagination. I am a big believer in the human value of art and the ima-gination, for what cannot be imagined cannot be accomplished,” Wes Hickey said in a news release. Angela Ridgway was selected as the Artist of the Year for her “outstanding artistry and her significant contributions promoting local artists,” according to the news release. In 2018, she organized the first Washougal Studio Artists Tour on Mother’s Day weekend, as well as the first Washougal Art Festival in 2015. A metal artist, Ridgway is a member of the Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance board. One of her pieces, two large metal heron sculptures called “Penn” and “Millie,” can be seen at the new roundabout at the entrance to the city. Ridgway and the Hickeys were presented with a framed and signed copy of the new 2020 Art Festival poster created by local artist and Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance board member Suzanne Grover. “WACA has had an incredible impact on the amount of public art we have in Washougal,” President Kelli Rule said in the news release. “We could not have done this without the generosity of our membership, local donors and our city. We were delighted that so many art lovers came to welcome this piece and to help us honor three very deserving individuals honored for their contributions to local art.”