By Britt Freda, Creative Director of Northwest Artists Against Extinction
It has been just over a month since Gabe Newton, renowned professional kayaker, artist, and dedicated orca advocate, embarked on a three-day, 65-mile sea kayaking journey from downtown Seattle to Olympia. Gabe personally delivered an original painting from his SUPERPOD collection, along with more than 1,500 postcards and petition signatures to Governor Ferguson urging his bold leadership and commitment to decisive actions to protect the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas and the Chinook salmon they depend on for survival.
“There are so many petitions these days, it's easy for them to fall through the cracks or be dismissed,” said Gabe. “The Governor's office wasn’t going to accept the delivery of the signatures from me directly. From the steps of the Capitol building, they asked me to mail them in.” Ultimately, the key to an in-person conversation with the governor’s staff was the gift of art. (Governor Ferguson was in Seattle the day Gabe arrived in Olympia.)
Gabe gifted Governor Ferguson with his original painting titled Celebration, in honor of the day the dams are breached. It now hangs in the Governor's office—where it serves as a beautiful and inspiring launching point for further discussion for all who visit the Governor there. (Gabe received a letter of thanks, praise and gratitude from Governor Bob Ferguson, for “your advocacy and for your kindness in sharing your talent with others.”)
“Celebration, refers to the moment when the dams come down. The orcas will celebrate, and so will the rest of us.”—Gabe Newton
“The combination [of art, advocacy, and action] was really successful! I feel good about how the journey and the project made the pressing issue of wild salmon and Southern Resident orca extinction more visible to more people.” This journey illustrates the role art plays in “connecting with people in ways so that they’re more open to the message and what needs to be heard. We need more creative ways to capture people’s attention, imagination, and hearts.”
“There are currently a lot of fires to be put out, but it is important not to lose hope. It is crucial that we do not lose sight of the future we want for salmon and orca restoration and maintain the vision that we can still make the changes that are so needed, that are so necessary. We need people working on all of these pieces. Not everyone can be focused on climate; we need dedicated people working on all of these fronts.”
When asked what gives Gabe hope these days, he enthused, “How majestic the orcas are! They’re awe-inspiring.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “and also the salmon. It's so miraculous how these salmon swim 900 miles upriver into the mountain streams of Idaho, where I grew up. But if you put eight concrete walls in front of them, it's no longer possible. We really need to get out of the way, if we want to witness the miraculousness of life. And every time a thread in the web of life is broken, our own capacity to thrive is diminished. Orcas and salmon are both very integral threads.”
As we wrapped up our conversation, I wondered whether there was a predominant thought or contemplation that circled through Gabe’s mind as he paddled from Seattle to Olympia. “It was that I was plying the same waters the Southern Resident orcas have been plying for thousands of years,” said Gabe.
Gabe continues to work on an addendum to his SUPERPOD collection, painting all of the Southern Resident orcas who have died over the past 10 years, which is an astounding 30 whales—11 calves, 19 adults. "That really puts this crisis into perspective," Gabe said. Seven of those deceased whales were painted by Gabe before they passed.
We thank Gabe for embarking on this journey, calling on elected representatives for their bold leadership to safeguard the future of these endangered orcas and salmon, and all who depend on them. Watch a recap of Gabe’s journey on Instagram here.
Selected pieces from Gabe’s SUPERPOD exhibit are currently on view outside the Highline Heritage Museum in Burien through the end of June. An additional group is in the works to be exhibited for three months at SeaTac City Hall, late spring to early summer.
To learn more about Gabe’s work, visit his artist page on NWAAE, his website GabrielNewton.com, or follow him @kvkinship on Instagram.
