On Friday, July 27, the Port Angeles Library takes the quarterly “Art Blast” in a new direction for the second Art Blastapalooza, showcasing live music from Neon Brass Party, a Seattle-based street band, and the ceremonial “grand illumination” of the giant Reading Person sculpture.
Visit the “Books Rock” Village to enjoy fun, hands-on book-art activities, and win prizes. In addition, the Best Sellers Book domino race returns to the 2018 Art Blastapalooza, along with DIY musical-instruments, the Happily Irreverent Book Toss, Whimsical/Wearable Art and the Colorful Characters photo booth. A live auction conducted by the North Olympic Library Foundation offers opportunities to take home enchanting children’s chairs artistically enhanced by local artists. The newest Art in the Library exhibit, “Summer Fun and Fantasy” will be available for viewing throughout the evening.
The doors open and fun and games begin at 7 p.m. at the library, 2210 S. Peabody St. The street show — including music, auction, domino race, and ceremonial illumination of the Reading Person — begins at about 7:30 p.m.
Limited library services will be available during this extra-special after-hours event.
The Blastapalooza is presented in partnership with the North Olympic Library Foundation and with the support of the Port Angeles Friends of the Library.
About the Reading Person
Inspired by the 2018 Summer Reading Program theme “Libraries Rock” and Burning Man’s spirit of fun, community and artistic imagination, a group of local artists came together to create a giant Reading Person sculpture to display at the Blastapalooza. Artists Diane Williams, Jan Dove, Pamela Hastings, Colleen Cunningham, April Watkins and Michelle Johnson began phased design and construction of the Reading Person off-site in early 2018. Brian Phillips, facilities manager for the library system, designed a clever system of pulleys and hooks (dubbed “skyhooks”) that allow large items, such as the Reading Person and other art, to be suspended from the high ceilings in the middle of the Port Angeles Main library. Thanks to a generous donation, the library was able to purchase and install the system earlier this spring. The Reading Person was brought to the library in late June and hoisted from the rafters to its current position. Final installation and finishing touches will continue during the month of July.
About Art in the Library
Art in the Library is a collaborative library-community art project celebrating the talents of local artists through a series of rotating visual art exhibits and fun, free Art Blast events. “Summer Fun and Fantasy” is the theme of the summer/fall Art in the Library exhibit, on view July 27-Oct. 23.
Exhibiting artists include Miranda Laidig, Kathie Karst, Gayle Brauner, Mark Smoot, Pamela Hastings, Lucas Van Blair, Rene Westbrook, Linda Collins Chapman, Jack Galloway, John Teighert, Linda Carlson, Roger McGinnis, Ellie Polk, Leilani Thomason, Chizuru Takeda and others.
The exhibit reception, beginning at 7 p.m., is an opportune time to meet the artists and view the new show.
Also on-view during the reception will be artistically enhanced library chairs decorated by local artists Pamela Hastings, Monica Gutierrez-Quarto, Jackie Miller and others. The Art Chairs will be part of the live auction happening later on in the evening.
For more information about the Art Blastapalooza, contact Library Director Margaret Jakubcin at 360-417-8500, email to director@nols.org or visit www.nols.org and select “Events.”
Above, Brian Phillips works on the “Reading Person,” which will be showcased during a ceremony at Art Blastapalooza. Photo courtesy of North Olympic Library System Right, The Seattle-based Neon Brass Party will play at the Port Angeles Library on July 27. Submitted photo
