Why on earth is the FABulous Fine Arts Boosters of Kingston High School Spotlight on the Aug. 20 Slug InFESTation?

It all began with the Kingston Art Gallery.  From sluggish beginnings, the third annual Kingston Slug Hunt has crawled to historic proportions. The brainchild of KAG artists Harv Kolln, sculptor, Caralyn Kieckhaefer, ceramicist, and Patty Watson, painter, it is a community event, somewhat like the glass balls of Long Beach. Paying homage to the  iconic  damp Puget Sound area’s gastropod mollusk, and past heart stopping slug races on the July 4, the Slug InFESTation was born. Kieckhaefer casts the  porcelain slugs at her studio  and now Front Street Gallery in Poulsbo sponsors the Fest and artists and friends of the gallery  bring high creativity to the slug’s character. The slugs are trapped (humanely)  there now for you to see.

So where does FAB fit in?  Well it is art in our community.  Kingston High School artists in James Andrew’s Art classes  “dressed” slugs this year.  Kingston High Senior artist Sarah Foster won  the very first “Slug Hunt Scholarship”  with  Amber Johnson as  runner up.  Both young women had their first and very successful art show hung at the Front Street with the assistance of FAB.

In talking with Ruth Maupin, painter at FSG and new member of FAB, I heard slimy details of  four  of her favorite  slugs.  The “Artist Slug” has  paintbrush feelers and holds a  palette (slugs have hands?) while painting a picture of slug mail. Tiny rings of chain mail cover the night slug while knitting needles and a ball of yarn produce a knitted outfit  to  keep a slug cozy. “Merlin” slug has jeweled eyes and scepter. Just think, there are 250 of these sluggish creations.  “Fine art” as defined at a recent FAB  planning meeting,  includes  two dimensional visual art, music, dance, three dimensional art including jewelry, pottery, and sculpture, photography and  film. Slugs are definitely in.

Here’s a field guide to bagging a slug this year:

Licenses: The $1 slug hunting licenses are available while quantities  last at FSG and the Kingston Chamber Office.  They are also available the day of the hunt. One slug per license.

Open season: The hunt begins Aug. 20 at 9 a.m. Maps and instructions are available at the Kingston Chamber  parking lot. Lines form early. The hunt continues all day. A silent auction of slimy to truly audacious slugs begins at 6 p.m. at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club

Gear: Hunting garb and  equipment is standard.  Check with REI to find suitable  and  legal  high tech slug hunting gear to enhance your chances.

On another note,  a new group of folks are planning how to use their creative juices in continuing a vigorous FAB. Plans are hatching and you are invited to join, add  your ideas and support the arts (music, visual arts, drama and debate)  and art students at Kingston High School. The next meeting for everyone interested is Aug. 3, at 4 p.m. at the home of Mary and Tom Montgomery.  Email them for directions at thomasjmontgomery@comcast.net. Email me at  lidenbode@aol.com  to be added to the FAB email mailing list. Incredibly fascinating  emails will occasionally come your way.