Many stores and offices around the Island will soon display unique, beautiful, fanciful, whimsical fish created by island artists. These wonderful fish will be the “main event” at the annual Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF) Food for Thought Benefit Auction.

“Food for Thought” is “Our most important fundraiser for our public school programs and [is] promised to be talked about for years to come,” says Janet Brownell, OIEF Board Member who, along with her husband, Lance Evans, will be the emcees and auctioneers of the event on Nov. 20 at Camp Orkila.

Guests will be treated to an array of gourmet, delectable “moveable feast” items prepared by some of the Island’s most incredible culinary aficionados: Debora Nichols, Brownell and Art Lange, who will be accompanied by local chefs, Geddes Martin of Inn at Ship Bay and Gil Becerra and Karen Campbell of Chimayos. Bruce and Christina Orchid of Red Rabbit Farm will be orchestrating the presentation.

More than 30 Orcas Island artists were given a wooden fish decoy with no rules given other than to keep the final piece within a certain size. “The idea was to be as creative as you could be with the form,” says OIEF president Michelle Reed. “We wanted a fun approach to this year’s event. One that would gather the community in a different kind of way.”

Kathryn Thurman, event organizer, says, “Fish decoys are the earliest form of folk art used for utilitarian purposes. They are a wonderful example of art created for a specific purpose. Because of this, they are very collectable. Each one-of-a-kind, original fish will be an auction item at the Nov. 20 fundraiser at Camp Orkila.

Frank Loudin, David Densmore, David Ridgeway, Dwight Duke and Shawna Franklin, Susan Osborn, Marsha Spees, Caroline Buchanan, B.J. Arnold, Chuck and Marguerite Greening, Hannah Glasser, Tina Brown, Susan Slapin, Jonathan Loop, Jim “River” Rorabaugh are some of the artists asked to decorate the decoys. Also, some of the Orcas school students and teachers will also be contributing their imaginative fish creations to the auction.

While guests gather and greet, they will meander among tables of delicious food and silent auction items paired with school programs. After a sufficient time of taste and temptation, all will be seated for an array of desserts prepared by Stella Padbury, Mia Kartiganer, Rochelle Severson and Coleen O’Brien and a spirited live auction for the crème de la crème of the fish creations, vacation packages and school programs.

All are invited to celebrate our local artists and food impresarios while supporting our public schools at the annual Food for Thought Benefit Auction stating at 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at Camp Orkila. The cost is $60 per person or $100 per couple.

Shuttle service will be provided from the Orkila parking lot to the Lodge. Child care is provided through Orcas Recreation Program by calling 376-5339. Tickets are on sale at Darvill’s Bookstore, the Chamber of Commerce Office, and the Public Elementary School Office.