Like the canoe races and Native American singers, the custom-made logo for the Penn Cove Water Festival has always been a fixture at the annual Coupeville event.

The logo, which changes every year, is the creation of Coupeville artist Roger Purdue. He spends between six and nine months designing the logo which, this year, features an image of a gray whale.

He doesn’t have any idea what he’s going to design when he begins a project. Ideas come and go throughout the six-to-nine month gestation period.

“Time has no meaning when it comes to something like that,” Purdue, who has been a wood carver and whittler his whole life, said in a recent interview.

He is quick to point out the importance of the people involved with organizing the festival.

“It’s not the logo or the design, it’s the whole group of people doing the whole thing,” Purdue said.

Susan Berta, president of the Penn Cove Water Festival Association, said Purdue’s logo helps capture the feeling and intent of the festival.

Producing the Water Festival logo morphed from a public art project that spurred the creation of the salmon wheel located next to the Coupeville Wharf on Front Street. While the original art project was a way to earn money, Purdue said the people he’s associated with who are involved with the Water Festival have proven to be far more valuable.

The Water Festival is an annual event that is highlighted by Native American canoe races. It takes place Saturday, May 17, and provides people with a chance to learn about the area’s Native American heritage. It is a revival of the water festival and canoe races that took place in the historic town during the 1930s.

Berta said it looks like four or five canoe clubs will be participating in the races this year, which take place on the Penn Cove between the Coupeville Wharf and Captain Coupe Park. Races begin at noon.

She said the Water Festival takes place the same day as large canoe races in British Columbia, but there will be three large, ornate, “family” canoes that will mark the races this year.

A new item this year will be a 15-foot, hand-beaded tapestry produced by Russell Morton, an artist based out of Eugene, Ore. Berta said the tapestry, part of which is inspired by Crown Point south of Whidbey Island, was a good fit for the themes of the Water Festival.

“He is doing it as a dedication to clean water,” Berta said.

In addition to the canoe races and the tapestry, a host of Native American artists and performers are scheduled to participate in Saturday’s festival. Performers this year include the Swil Kanim, storyteller Lou LaBombard, the Tulalip Singers, and, of course, the Shifty Sailors. Native flutist Che oke’ ten (Paul Wagner) and Michelle Garofano on drum and vocals are new artists slated to perform Saturday.

The festival is also home to a wide selection of Native arts and crafts, children’s activities and environmental displays that are scattered throughout the historic downtown area. In what’s become a tradition for the festival each year, town officials are teaming up at the end of the day to cook dinner for race participants.

The 2008 Penn Cove Water Festival is dedicated to Charlie Sneatlum, a descendent of Whidbey Island’s Chief Snakelum. In previous years, he would bless the opening of the boat races. Unfortunately, he passed away last fall.

“We’re really going to miss his presence this year,” Berta said. She added that Sneatlum’s daughter will attend the festival this year.

Organizers are still looking for volunteers to bake loaves of bread, which are given to race participants. To get involved with baking bread, contact Molly Hughes at 678-8312.

They are also looking for volunteers and donations for the festival. For more information about supporting the Penn Cove Water Festival, contact Berta at 678-3451 or at susan@orcanetwork.org.

Like the canoe races and Native American singers, the custom-made logo for the Penn Cove Water Festival has always been a fixture at the annual Coupeville event.

The logo, which changes every year, is the creation of Coupeville artist Roger Purdue. He spends between six and nine months designing the logo which, this year, features an image of a gray whale.

He doesn’t have any idea what he’s going to design when he begins a project. Ideas come and go throughout the six-to-nine month gestation period.

“Time has no meaning when it comes to something like that,” Purdue, who has been a wood carver and whittler his whole life, said in a recent interview.

He is quick to point out the importance of the people involved with organizing the festival.

“It’s not the logo or the design, it’s the whole group of people doing the whole thing,” Purdue said.

Susan Berta, president of the Penn Cove Water Festival Association, said Purdue’s logo helps capture the feeling and intent of the festival.

Producing the Water Festival logo morphed from a public art project that spurred the creation of the salmon wheel located next to the Coupeville Wharf on Front Street. While the original art project was a way to earn money, Purdue said the people he’s associated with who are involved with the Water Festival have proven to be far more valuable.

The Water Festival is an annual event that is highlighted by Native American canoe races. It takes place Saturday, May 17, and provides people with a chance to learn about the area’s Native American heritage. It is a revival of the water festival and canoe races that took place in the historic town during the 1930s.

Berta said it looks like four or five canoe clubs will be participating in the races this year, which take place on the Penn Cove between the Coupeville Wharf and Captain Coupe Park. Races begin at noon.

She said the Water Festival takes place the same day as large canoe races in British Columbia, but there will be three large, ornate, “family” canoes that will mark the races this year.

A new item this year will be a 15-foot, hand-beaded tapestry produced by Russell Morton, an artist based out of Eugene, Ore. Berta said the tapestry, part of which is inspired by Crown Point south of Whidbey Island, was a good fit for the themes of the Water Festival.

“He is doing it as a dedication to clean water,” Berta said.

In addition to the canoe races and the tapestry, a host of Native American artists and performers are scheduled to participate in Saturday’s festival. Performers this year include the Swil Kanim, storyteller Lou LaBombard, the Tulalip Singers, and, of course, the Shifty Sailors. Native flutist Che oke’ ten (Paul Wagner) and Michelle Garofano on drum and vocals are new artists slated to perform Saturday.

The festival is also home to a wide selection of Native arts and crafts, children’s activities and environmental displays that are scattered throughout the historic downtown area. In what’s become a tradition for the festival each year, town officials are teaming up at the end of the day to cook dinner for race participants.

The 2008 Penn Cove Water Festival is dedicated to Charlie Sneatlum, a descendent of Whidbey Island’s Chief Snakelum. In previous years, he would bless the opening of the boat races. Unfortunately, he passed away last fall.

“We’re really going to miss his presence this year,” Berta said. She added that Sneatlum’s daughter will attend the festival this year.

Organizers are still looking for volunteers to bake loaves of bread, which are given to race participants. To get involved with baking bread, contact Molly Hughes at 678-8312.

They are also looking for volunteers and donations for the festival. For more information about supporting the Penn Cove Water Festival, contact Berta at 678-3451 or at susan@orcanetwork.org.