Fish Stick

Fish Stick is a seven-foot-tall carved wooden sculpture by Portland artist Phil Seder. Rising vertically in a delicate, rhythmic stack, the piece features four stylized fish, each rendered with textured detail and animated curvature, evoking both movement and continuity. Carved from old-growth fir salvaged from the historic Tillamook Burn, the sculpture carries with it a quiet reverence for the Pacific Northwest’s natural and cultural history.

Drawing inspiration from the totemic carving traditions of his Lithuanian heritage, Seder translates ancestral motifs into a playful yet meditative vertical form. The repetition of the fish—each similar yet uniquely marked—suggests themes of renewal, migration, and ancestral memory. With its warm, weathered surface and subtle balance, Fish Stick bridges folk tradition and contemporary expression, inviting both humor and reflection.