Let imaginations run wild on September First Friday Art Walk

First Friday Art Walk Sequim

When: 5-8 p.m. Sept. 6

Location: Various venues near downtown Sequim

The Sept. 6 First Friday Art Walk theme is blue — a color that relates to creativity, imagination, inventive inspiration, thoughtful research and reliable community-minded achievement. Like the sky, lofty and ambitious blue can be dreamy, peaceful and hopeful, yet it also is strong and honest full of productivity, responsibility and constructing alliances.

During the monthly art walk you can find works of art and folks supporting the option to dress in shades of blue or representations of lofty and loyal aspirations as they enjoy an evening on the town with friends and family.

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 and print a map, find special events, links and how to be part of art.

Initiated in 2006, the First Friday Art Walk Sequim is an encouraging and educational arts event that is sponsored and produced by Renne Emiko Brock. Our mission is to create approachable and accessible art and cultural venues that encourage the community to connect and celebrate expression and diversity.

Special events

Design2Scan3D, at 207 W. Spruce St., continues a local author series with Beverly Hoffman, who will be reading from her book, “Creating a Pause … Changing an Ordinary Moment to the Sacred.” Within the book are 24 vignettes showing how a person has the opportunity to transform that moment. The suggestions are neither labor-intensive nor costly. She’ll be reading from the chapter about creating art. After the reading, Hoffman and Design2Scan3Downer Chris Kresa will create a ceramic art piece together in the studio.

Local artist and teacher Catherine Mix will have a one woman show at the Pacific Pantry, 229 S. Sequim Ave. “I paint in watercolor, pastel, or oil paint to capture the fascinating patterns of light and shadow on a person or an object,” Mix says. “Here on the North Olympic Peninsula of Washington state, we are spoiled for choice with spectacular vistas of mountains, water, forests, fields, gardens, and wildlife and I am always excited to paint these subjects.”

New location: Visit the Sequim Museum and Arts in the new location at 544 N. Sequim Ave. The museum presents the “Out of the Forest” photography exhibition by the Olympic Peaks Camera Club. The club’s mission is to promote interest and enhance skill in photography among friends.

Rainshadow Café, 157 W. Cedar St., has live music with Ches Ferguson along with locally-roasted coffee, Northwest craft beer, wine, cheese platters and charcuterie plates. The music of Ches Ferguson has been described as “folkadelic groove for your soul,” taking listeners on a musical adventure by “weaving originals, covers and improvisational journeys on guitar, flute and mesmerizing vocals.”

At 129 W. Washington St, Blue Whole Gallery’s exhibition “Autumn bloom” features gourd artist Debbie Cain and painter Sally Cays. Says Cain, “When I did my first gourd about 16 years ago, I was totally captivated and very excited to explore the possibilities on this new 3D canvas. I began with wood burning and then was introduced to carving. I use both techniques in most of my work today.” Cays is well-known and frequently commissioned to do portraits of people and pets, many of which will be on display at the gallery. She is planning a workshop to teach “Portraits of Children” later this year.

Pondicherri, 119 E. Washington St., will be showcasing fine art photographer Jan Kepley. “I have been dabbling in the arts all my life, working in many directions: music, writing, painting, photography, recording and food creation,” Kepley says.”Some of my photographic images are concept pieces begun like paintings with general decisions about what I want to say and what visual elements I want to use to say that. I go out and collect the elements photographically and from there an image grows and changes along the way. Other images are representations of what I see.”

Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., hosts live music with peninsula newcomer Christopher Melgar starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Gathering Hall. Skilled in classical guitar and violin, trumpet, vocal performance, piano, percussion, and select folk instruments, Melgar’s main focus is classical guitar. Having studied under world-renowned classical guitarist Elliot Frank, Ph.D at East Carolina University, Melgar recently graduated from Coastal Carolina University with a bachelors degree in music education and classical guitar performance under Dr. Daniel Hull, Ph.D. Melgar is currently looking for students that are eager to

share his passion for classical music through string instruments. “I plan to continue my course of studies to obtain my Masters in classical guitar performance here on the west coast,” said Melgar. “Overall, I get the most enjoyment from life when I have an opportunity to share my gift and passion for music. Knowing I can help someone find a state of happiness and enjoyment while playing music really touches my heart and soul.” First Friday at OTA is always free to the public, where the snack and beverage bar will be open.

The City of Sequim and the City Arts Advisory Commission invites the public to enjoy and participate in their Open Jam — an informal gathering of people who like to make music from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St. All acoustic instruments are welcome plus singers, keyboards, practice basses

and other electronic instruments. Those looking to play certain songs are asked to bring multiple paper copies of songs or pdf files.

Inside the civic center, enjoy the last month of “The Beach” art exhibit, featuring the following artists: Lora Armstrong, Lynne Armstrong, Gary Bullock, Jane Burkey, Jeannine Chappell, Patrick D. Clark, Gdane Curposney, Melissa Doyel, Christopher Enges, Marilynn Evans, Cindy Fullwiler, John Gussman, Paulette Hill, Rick Hill, David Johannessohn, Mark Kennedy, Rita Kepner, Katherine Loveland, Melissa Mann, Natalie Martin, Stacey Martin-Lopez, Linda Martz, Gail McLain, Sharman Owings, Sallie Radock, Claudia Serafin, Linda Stadtmiller, Morgan Stephenson, Ryoko Toyama, Patty Waite, Donna Wilson-Sommer and Sandy Wolf.

Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., hosts artist Randy Radock and live music with Bread and Gravy. A block printer and photographer, Radock says about his work, “I print on a variety of materials including tapa, slate, papyrus and handmade papers collected on world travels. My photography and art reflects my interest in wildlife, North American and First Nations artistry and from my travels to the seven continents of the world.” Playing from 7-9 p.m., Bread and Gravy are husband and wife team who will be performing as a duo with a mixture of songs from the 1970-90s. Also, enjoy award-winning, artfully-crafted wines and appetizing tidbits.

An added special event during the Sept. 6 Sequim Art Walk is “The Poetry of form & color” as expressed by featured painter/poet Gary McMannon, featured at the Herd Gallery inside the Big Elk Restaurant, 707 E. Washington St. McMannon’s internationally-inspired painting and poetry will be featured within the gallery, created during his decades of travel to such diverse locales as Kentucky, Ireland, Madrid, Spain, South Africa, Wyoming, Seattle and our own Olympic Peninsula, where McMannon has lived for over 20 years.

About Art Walk

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.

Art Walk themes: 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.

Join the Art Walk Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sequimartwalk.