About the artist: Shank is a former art teacher for King William County Schools. She retired from the Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation’s public communications office where she worked as an environmental educator and graphic artist. Shank lives on the Mattaponi River in King and Queen. As MPRA secretary and a member of many other conservation organizations, she volunteers much of her time to protect and educate people about the value of our rivers and watersheds.

Description: The American shad is depicted whimsically as Uncle Sam dressed in red, white and blue. The base is a collage decorated with flags, stars, three dimensional fireworks, facts about the American shad and quotes about how citizens’ actions and votes can make a difference.