posters

Perky’s art piece was selected as the winning Fine Arts Poster from the Festival at Sandpoint’s 2025 Poster Contest.

The piece is set on Gold Hill, looking towards Sandpoint. A Great Blue Heron has its wings lifted up into the growing dusk. On its wings sit a Lazuli Bunting, an American Goldfinch, a Song Sparrow, a Western Tanager, a California Quail, and a Rufous Hummingbird. “

As a birder and a lover of our natural world, finding inspiration was not difficult,” Perky said. “As the Festival at Sandpoint is surrounded by stunning mountains, lakes, and rivers and filled with essential native flora and fauna, I wanted to showcase some of the beauty of our native birds in hopes that we continue to preserve our wild areas for all who call it home.”

Regarding the piece’s title, a cantata is a musical composition for voices and instruments, often featuring a choir. The word "cantata" comes from the Italian word cantare, which means "to sing."

“Bird song is probably one of the world's most original pieces of music,” Perky said. “I felt the birds wanted to join in a wild cantata with the myriad of Festival musicians.”

The media that she used for the piece include watercolor, watercolor pencils, and table salt to add movement and texture.

“Sitting in my dad's yellow leather chair, copying illustrations out of encyclopedias, is one of the earliest memories in my lifelong passion for art. 

In my early 20s, while at college, I journeyed on two canoe expeditions to the Arctic Barrens, now known as Nunavut. After traveling about 1,500 miles, truly wild places and their importance compelled me to become a passionate environmental steward. 

Moving to Sandpoint when I was 22, after a stint of picking apples in Chelan, WA, was the smartest thing I have ever done because here I became the proud mother of Zach and Jake Hagadone, the loves of my life. My incredible daughter-in-law, Danielle, and my adventure buddies John and Eleanor, the best grandkids ever, became my other loves. 

Earning a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in educational administration from the University of Idaho provided me with the privilege to serve as a public school teacher as well as a principal for 28 years. 

Along my career path, I also earned a master’s in zoology from Miami University, which enabled me to deepen my interest and practice of environmental education. An integral part of the program was traveling to three conservation hotspots around the world: the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the pristine rainforests of Guyana, and the coral reefs of Belize. 

In addition to these learning adventures, I worked with other incredible individuals to lead middle-school and graduate students to the rainforests of Costa Rica for more than a decade. Hiking through intact ecosystems inspired those students — and me— to learn about that verdant haven.

My lifelong association with the natural world, resplendent with pattern, texture, detail, and color, dictates my intricate and stylized art approach. Traditional watercolor, colored pencils, and digital photography lend themselves to my desire to capture the gift that is nature. My lifetime service in education creates an almost innate desire for me to continue to share information about our world through my creativity. 

Aside from a series of watercolors found in private collections, I am constantly compelled to create art out of almost anything. No medium is out of bounds: wood, clay, rocks, acorns, and even plastic bottle caps. 

Besides working on my art, my membership in the Mighty Monarch Conservation Group and the Pend Oreille Chapter of the Master Naturalists allows me to continue with my conservation work. 

While I have moved from encyclopedias to real-world experiences to find my subjects, my desire to share the flora and fauna surrounding us will never waver. 

May we all work to preserve these gifts.”

-Perky

Perky has donated the original piece to be auctioned, with proceeds supporting the Festival at Sandpoint’s free, year-round youth music education programs and non-profit mission.

Bids on the original framed artwork can be placed at the Festival at Sandpoint office from July 10 to July 23 and at the merchandise booth during the 2025 Summer Series, with the auction concluding at the Grand Finale performance on August 3.

Approximately 20% of the Festival at Sandpoint’s annual revenue is comprised of donations. Participating in the annual fine arts auction is a great way to support a local nonprofit and hopefully add a one-of-a-kind piece by a local artist to your collection