2010 Penn Cove Water Festival design
Roger Purdue signs Fine Art Prints
and accepts award from the
Penn Cove Water Festival Association
May 2005
Penn Cove Water Festival
Coupeville, WA
The Penn Cove Water Festival features annual tribal canoe races, Native arts and crafts, demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, authentic Native foods, children's activities, and exhibits and displays. Come visit this year or get involved today!
Photos courtesy of the Island County Historical Society
For lodging and visitor information, please email Island County Tourism at
RoseAnn@IslandCountyTourism.com.
or visit:
The Central Whidbey Chamber of Commerce
2010 Eagle Design
Once again, the Penn Cove Water Festival is represented by an original design by Tsimshian artist Roger Purdue. His bold image of an eagle carrying a salmon in its talons was inspired by his reflection on the resurgence of eagle populations, after so many years of scarcity. Roger often watches eagles rise above the bluff behind his Coupeville home, sometimes with a fish hanging from its talons.
Watching those eagles reminds him of an incident from his childhood, which occurred as he fished off the north shore of Orcas Island. About a mile offshore, the fishermen spied a struggling eagle in the water. It had snagged a large salmon, but the fish was too heavy, and the eagle was unable to either rise from the water, or release the fish.
They watched the eagle as it thrashed its wings along the surface of the water, much like rowing, all the while with the salmon dragging beneath. The exhausted eagle finally reached the beach, and sat with its wings outstretched to dry, its back to the sun, and the salmon still securely enmeshed in its talons.
The donation of Roger's art talent is reproduced on T-shirts, posters and fine art prints, which can be purchase at the Information Booth at the foot of the Coupeville Wharf. The Water Festival Association appreciates Roger's generosity, which raises funds to support the event and contributes to its ongoing success. Framed posters and prints are available year 'round at Windjammer Gallery, at 22 Front Street, near the Water Festival Information Booth.
Purchase T-shirts with the Penn Cove Water Festival Logo (see at right)
In Coupeville -
At the Penn Cove Water Festival Information booth on Saturday May 22th
Coupeville Wharf Store
In memory of Charlie Sneatlum
Photo by Lynda Imburgia
Charlie Sneatlum drums and sings his family song to bless the 2006 Coupeville Canoe Races
Photo courtesy of the Sneatlum family/Muckleshoot tribe
Charles Sneatlum with mother
The Penn Cove Water Festival Association Dedicates the 2008 Penn Cove Water Festival to the life and memory of Charlie Sneatlum, and to honor the memory and history of the Chiefs of Coupeville:
Chief Charlie Snakelum (Snatelum) (Sneatlum)
Chief Charlie George
Chief Charlie (lil George)
Charlie George (Tenas)
Many thanks to Charlie's family for bringing him to Coupeville to bless the Festival and Canoe Races with his presence in 2006 and 2007. His words, songs, and smile still waft over the waters of Penn Cove~