A Quest for tourism

Locals and visitors have the opportunity to hunt for hand-blown, glass snowballs made by artist Mark Ellinger during the Great Northwest Glass Quest. The Stanwood/Camano 2010 Winter Tourism Committee is hoping local businesses “Say yes to the Quest.”

The Great Northwest Glass Quest, that is.

The committee, an ad hoc group of Design Stanwood inspired to find viable ways to lure Olympic-bound traffic to the area, has created a treasure hunt for local businesses to host next year, Feb.12-28.

“The concept is based on a very successful event in Lincoln City, Ore.” said organizer Sue Hunter.

From October through Memorial Day of each year, the central Oregon coast becomes a hiding place for more than 2,000 glass floats for beachcombers to discover, and keep.

The committee’s idea, adapted to suit Stanwood and Camano Island with a focus on business development, “has great potential for revitalizing the local economy,” said Hunter.

The link between Lincoln City’s glass float giveaway, Finders Keepers, and the Great Northwest Glass Quest is artist Mark Ellinger.

Ellinger has produced hand-blown floats for Finders Keepers for the past nine years. His studio, named Glass Quest (not to be confused with the event’s official title), is located in rural Stanwood.

For the Quest, Ellinger will create more than 300 hand-blown, glass snowballs complete with a limited edition number and the artist’s initials.

The works of art, adorned with a stamp reading “Stanwood Camano 2010 Winter Glass Quest,” are being produced in various colors inspired by an ice theme.

Having participated in a number of events concentrated on bringing tourism to communities, Ellinger is excited to see if the committee’s idea to directly incorporate businesses in the hunt will offer a new twist.

“If their participation works,” he said, “we hope to establish more events throughout the year.”

Each participating business or organization will receive a set of three plastic snowball facsimiles with their name and information.

During the Quest timeframe, facsimile snowballs can be placed inside businesses, on building property or on designated grounds throughout the community.

To help guide Questers, local artist Dan Koffman will design a program and map to designated snowball sites.

Once found, the facsimile can be turned in to the corresponding place of business for a genuine snowball.

This is an inexpensive opportunity for businesses to advertise and interact with locals and visitors, said Hunter.

Free to the public, the program does require a participation fee from businesses and organizations and is limited to the first 100 applicants.

“We have already received positive responses through meetings with local chambers and by word of mouth,” said Hunter.

Businesses not able to participate in the actual quest have the opportunity to help by providing donations. These sponsors will receive a souvenir glass medallion and the same advertising privileges as participants through the event’s program and Web site.

Initial funding for the Quest, in the form of a $750 grant, was provided by Design Stanwood.

The Stanwood/Camano 2010 Winter Tourism Committee includes representatives from the Stanwood and Camano Island chambers of commerce, the Island Community Economic Development Council, local businesses and artists.

In addition to the Quest, the committee is working on a tourism Web site, developing itineraries for tourists and establishing a partnership with the Port Susan Snow Goose Festival.

Working with the slogan “Spend a Day on the Edge” and corresponding artwork by Jack Gunter of a snowboarding sheep, the committee is focused on tapping local resources to develop a marketing plan, said Hunter.

“We are taking advantage of locals’ unique skills,” she said.

Interested businesses can learn more about the event, and sign up to participate, by calling Doris Platis at Seagrass Gallery, 387-8300 or by e-mail seagrassgallery@ live.com. To be a sponsor, contact Sue Hunter at 629-8233 or shunter@ windermere.com. The official Web site for the event is www.thegreatnwglassquest. com.

Staff Reporter Adam Stewart: 629-8066 ext. 115 or astewart@scnews.com.