Eight-year-old up-and-coming artist Ika Phillips is joining renowned local painter Maggie Wilder to bring new life to La Conner’s iconic salmon slide at Waterfront Park, beneath the Rainbow Bridge.
Wilder said she was impressed with Ika’s enthusiasm and skill. “It seems remarkable that, at eight years old, she’s contributing majorly to the restoration. She accomplished a lot today.”
While Phillips focused on perfecting the tail, former Town Administrator and current Fire District 13 Commissioner John Doyle took Wilder’s cues to paint the snout. Doyle has played a key role in repairing the 13-foot sculpture, along with Parks Commissioner Ollie Iversen, who had previously sanded and sealed the slide to prepare it for painting. The pair also plan to grind down the interior surface so it can be safely used again.
“After spending the day with Ika I learned that she remembers the joy of sliding down the original salmon slide,” Wilder said.
The salmon slide was the final completed work by the late Pacific Northwest sculptor Tom Jay. It has been closed in recent years due to safety concerns, as its original surface was prone to blistering in winter weather.
There’s no set date for completion — art cannot be rushed. But with the skilled hands of these volunteers pitching in, the community’s favorite fish is on its way back to welcoming kids — and maybe a few nostalgic grown-ups — for generations to come.
An earlier version of this story misspelled Ollie Iversen’s last name. La Conner Community News regrets the error.
