Pictured with both sides of Big Fish are Town of Many mayor Ken Freeman and Many town board member and cultural district advisory committee chairperson Mary Brocato.

story and photos by Nora Drenner

The Town of Many has caught a massive fish and is sharing its bright scales east and west with residents and tourists trekking along Highway 6 through downtown Many.
Located between Sonic and the town’s fountain garden, the statute on the east side of the rainbow-colored fish whose name is Big Fish, depicts Many landmarks — the historic depot, St. John the Baptist Church with its lavender crepe myrtles, the bygone Sabine Theater and several buildings along San Antonio Avenue in the heart of the Cultural District. The west side of the fish is a cheerful scene depicting Toledo Bend Lake complete with fireworks.
Through grant proceeds from the Toledo Bend Lake Association, under the direction of president Ricky Yeldell, and coordination by The Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, local artist Kathryn Woodruff was commissioned to capture the essence of the community in paint.
Woodruff, a Louisiana native, was born in Natchitoches, went to high school in Olla, and made Sabine Parish her home in 2012. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a concentration in sculpture, from LSU Baton Rouge in 2010.
As an artist, Woodruff primarily paints portraits, but she also does landscapes, woodworking and metalworking, among other mediums.. Folks can check out her FACEBOOK page titled Kat’s Portraits, Etc.
She and her husband Dennis live on Toledo Bend Lake with their three children — two-year old Lettie, four-year old Hazel and 8-year old Ian, who attends Negreet school.