‘Olympia Oyster’ wins public vote in annual Percival Plinth Project

“Olympia Oyster” is the newest addition to the city’s permanent art collection after earning the most votes in the annual Percival Plinth Project.

The sculpture by Olympia wildlife artist Colleen R. Cotey received 116 out of 426 votes to earn the 2015 People’s Choice Award.

The Olympia City Council agreed Tuesday to purchase “Olympia Oyster” for $2,500 and display it at City Hall for a year, starting in the spring. After that, the sculpture will be moved to another location in the city.

According to project organizers, Cotey’s sculpture attracted praise for its simplicity and elegance, and was most often described as “iconic.”

In total, the Percival Plinth Project features 15 sculptures by Washington artists that have been on display at Percival Landing since July. Visitors to the city’s waterfront boardwalk voted for their favorite sculptures throughout August. The sculptures will be on display through the spring, according to the city.

Runner-up sculptures for the 2015 People’s Choice Award were “Great Catch” by Marilyn Murch and “The Gardener” by Louise McDowell.

This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "‘Olympia Oyster’ wins public vote in annual Percival Plinth Project."