First Friday Art Walk goes orange for October

First Friday Art Walk Sequim

When: 5-8 p.m., Oct. 5

Where: Various locations in Sequim

The orange-themed First Friday on Oct. 5 features hot rocks and fiber arts this month.

First Friday Art Walk Sequim is a fun, free, self-guided tour of local art venues in Sequim on the First Friday of every month from 5-8 p.m. Visit online at SequimArtWalk.com to download s map, find special events and links, and how to be part of art.

The Art Walk mission is to create approachable and accessible art and cultural venues that encourage the community to connect and celebrate expression and diversity.

This event is sponsored and produced by unique as you/Renne Emiko Brock.

Special activities

For the 13th Annual North Olympic Fiber Arts Festival, experience the “Transformative Style – Originality, Revolution & Repute” Opening Reception at the Sequim Museum & Arts at 175 W Cedar St. (See story, B-8)

Join the City Arts Advisory Commission for the opening of the “Rocks, Gems & Jewels” exhibit and artist reception from 5-7 p.m. at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St. Artists represented include Bob Riley, Gail McLain, Pat Herkal, Kathy Schreiner, Mark Weiss, Eva Kozun, Paulette Hill, Scott Thornhill, David Johannessohn, Barbara Neswald, Katherine Loveland, Evan Miller, Mary Marsh, Randy Radock, and Beighle, Nagle & Feigenbutz.

During the opening there will be demonstrations from local presenters talking about rock painting, stone sculpting and jewelry restoration: At 5 p.m., Sarah Miller, administrator for the Sequim Rocks Facebook page, offers “Paint a Rock, Give a Smile – How Sequim Rocks Got Its Start.” At 5:35 p.m., Dan Fuller — owner of Just Fix It, a Sequim jewelry sales and repair business — presents “Estate Jewelry 101 and Is it a Diamond or Just Another Fake.” At 6 p.m. Eva Kozun and Barbara Neswald discuss the interest they have in working with stone with, “A Beginners Guide to the Joy and Addiction of Sculpting in Stone.”

Also in the Civic Center lobby, Clallam County Gem & Mineral Association share “All Things Lapidary” to learn how to process a stone from rough, to slab, to cabochon, to finished jewelry. Miller demonstrates how to prepare and paint rocks. Fuller invites the public to bring in their jewelry and he will help to identify what it is and provide ideas for redesign. Kozan and Neswald will be available to answer questions and discuss their work on display.

Discover glittery hot rocks and colorful beads with fine jewelry demonstrations at R&T Crystals and Beads, 158 E. Bell St.

Forage Gifts & Northwest Treasures at 121 W. Washington St. features J Wyatt Art by Sequim artist Jean Wyatt. Her colorful work includes whimsical paintings, color pencil works and hand-crafted journals.

Starting at 6 p.m., the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., celebrates the opening of a new “Art in the Library” with fiber art by Rae Powell-Walz, then offers refreshments with live music by flute player Gary Stroutsos from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Rainshadow Café at 157 W. Cedar St. hosts local accordion player Kip Tulin who will entertain with stories and “oom-pah” music featuring marches and polkas. German draught will be on tap and a full menu available. Special prizes go to anyone wearing lederhosen.

At 129 W. Washington St, Blue Whole Gallery’s “Think Pink” exhibition presents a combined creative offering from Mary Franchini and Lynne Armstrong in the windows. This display to efforts to honor Breast Cancer Awareness month is curated by their longtime Barn Sisterhood friend Susan Gansert Shaw, who recognized a color linked their paintings. The show will feature figures, (imagined and real), landscapes (imagined and real) and a lot of hats.

Wind Rose Cellars, at 143 W. Washington St., hosts live blues music by the Malcolm Clark Trio starting at 7 p.m., with award-winning wines with appetizers.

Jan Kepley displays his fine art photography at Pacific Pantry at 229 S. Sequim Ave. from 5-7 p.m.

The Olympic Theatre Arts Gathering Hall, 414 N. Sequim Ave., has lively music by Burke Garrett — a former Seattle band leader, concert impresario and recently arrived Sunland North resident — together with the premium local horn player Craig Buhler. From 5:30- 7:30 p.m. the pair offer music of Hoagy Carmichael, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini. The OTA snack and beverage bar will be open.

Find fiber fun by local artists with handcrafted works and up-cycled items at The Bag Ladies of Sequim, 161 W. Washington St.

New to the Art Walk is Sequim Community Makerspace Inventing Studio at 311 W. Turnhere Road. Brad Griffith, wood-bending designer and creator of Sequim Community Makerspace, opens his inventing studio to the public for hands on activities and tours. Youths of all ages are welcome to explore and learn how to bend craft sticks safely, without steam or boiling.

Also new to the Art Walk is Tracy Wealth Management at 149 W. Washington St. and Evil Roy’s Elixirs Distillery at 209 S. Sequim Ave.

And more …

Look for luminarias, or “festival lights,” to connect the artful spots as the Art Walk celebrates its 12th anniversary this month of fostering creative and artistic ideals while supporting local businesses, artists, culture and quality of life.

To participate (as a venue or artist) on the Official First Friday Art Walk Sequim Map, Listing and website, contact Emiko Brock at 360-460-3023 or renne@uniqueasyou.com.

To create inclusion between venues, artists, and audience, everyone is encouraged to participate in the Art Walk’s monthly themes as a fun community activity in any creative form they wish to express it. January is silver, February is red, March is green, April is pink, May is aqua, June is white, July is purple, August is yellow, September is blue, October is orange, November is brown and December is gold.