Art Walk dazzles with spectrum color theme

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 30, 2018

First Friday Art Walk Sequim

When: 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 1

Where: Various venues in downtown Sequim

For more: See www.sequimartwalk.com

The First Friday Art Walk Sequim’s June color theme is white and the whole visible spectrum! White represents inclusive acceptance, hope, open minds, pure and thoughtful actions, friendly impressions and blank canvases that are receptive to any positive vision. Because white is actually all the colors of the rainbow, multi-color enchantment is in the air with blowing bubbles, the wearing of fairy wings and spreading glittery pixie dust is encouraged! It is a chance to dress in white and rainbow colors, be magical, shiny and show off every color of the visible spectrum, and bright tye-dyes are perfect!

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 www.sequimartwalk.com to find an event map, special events, links and how to be part of art. The Art Walk’s mission is to create approachable and accessible art and cultural venues that encourage the community to connect and celebrate expression and diversity.

Initiated in 2006, the First Friday Art Walk Sequim is encouraging and educational arts event that is sponsored and produced by unique as you/Renne Emiko Brock. To participate in the First Friday Art Walk Sequim, email to renne@uniqueasyou.com or through Facebook.com/sequimartwalk.

Special events

Forage Gifts & Northwest Treasures at 121 W. Washington St. is hosting a launch party to unveil its own unique brand of postcards created from local photographers during the art walk. They are excited to present the selected photos and photographers and announce the winners of our Official Photo Contest.

Rainshadow Café at 157 W. Cedar St. has live music with band Antbath! This four-piece instrumental band out of Port Angeles takes its cues from early surf music, lo-fi garage rock and modern psychedelia. The cafe’s full menu will be available, including some specialty small eats, flat breads, beer, wine and, of course, coffee roasted on site.

The Sequim Library at 630 N. Sequim Ave. has an artist reception for Pamela Hastings celebrating the opening of the new Art in the Library exhibit at 6 p.m., immediately preceding the performance at 6:30 p.m. by Just In Tyme. Hastings is a sculptor, painter, writer and teacher. Known for her work with life-change via doll-making, her book, “Doll Making as a Transformative Process,” is used in art therapy courses in the U.S. and Australia. This new Art in the Library exhibit features painted portraits. Just In Tyme plays memorable hit tunes of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s, blending sweet sounds of gospel by vocalist Mary Charles, harmonies with jazz vocalist Olga Palenga, all-around musicianship of Becky McKinley, Richard Crowell on electric guitar, and Sandi Lockwood on drums and keyboard.

Blue Whole Gallery at 129 W. Washington St. presents “21 & Having Fun” with veteran member artists Greg Felando and Nancy Lawrence, curating the group show in the front windows with premier pieces. The show is a celebration of contrasting styles focusing on “having fun.” On June 14, 1997, the Blue Whole Gallery, an artists’ co-op with 43 founding members opened its doors, and what started as “an experiment in excellence, a fine art gallery of professional artists pursuing creative originality” has continued and thrived to this day. Membership includes painters, photographers, digital artists, sculptors, potters, fiber and gourd artist and jewelry artists.

Delight in white and spectrum blooms! Along with locally crafted brews, the Peninsula Taproom at 210 W. Washington St., Suite 4, has added a flower bar component to the taproom.

From 5-7 p.m., the City Arts Advisory Commission invites the public to the Sequim Civic Center at 152 W. Cedar St. for the opening of “Metamorphosis: An Exhibition of Fiber Art” presented by the members of the North Peninsula Chapter of the Surface Design Association. Works include quilts, felted pieces, fiber jewelry, hand-weaving, garments and other fiber mixed media. Light refreshments and snacks will be available. The Surface Design Association is an international community engaged in the creative exploration of fiber and fabric. The North Peninsula chapter is a diverse group of fiber artists who live in and around the Olympic Peninsula; with more than 30 artists and crafts people, they work in media ranging from bookmaking to quilting to fiber sculpture and beyond.

Wind Rose Cellars at 143 W. Washington St. is showcasing Jan Kepley’s photography along with Cort Armstrong, a local musician known for blues, some folk and a little bit of old-time music, is performing from 7-9 p.m. while the crowd enjoys award-winning wines.

At Olympic Theatre Arts at 414 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim Ballet returns to Olympic Theatre Arts for a First Friday evening of originally choreographed dance at 6 p.m. in the Gathering Hall during the art walk. First Friday Art Walk Sequim at OTA is always free to the public, where the snack and beverage bar will be open.

Advanced ballet students Saige Turner and Eleanor Byrne have choreographed their own dances to music they have selected themselves (“Gravity” performed by Sara Bareilles, and “Work Song” performed by Hozier, respectively), as well as dance to a duet to “Everywhere I Go” performed by Sleeping At Last, choreographed by Sequim Ballet director Laurel Herrera. Herrera has choreographed more songs for intermediate ballet students, including a duet to “Moon River” sung by Audrey Hepburn and “Somewhere Only We Know” performed by Lily Allen. The performance’s final dance, “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles, brings the theme home. All of the dancers are then joined by three actors from OTA’s “Dance for Actors” class that explores basic ballet, tap and jazz used on stage. Music and narrations by the dancers and actors will also be enjoyed during the performance. Madelyn Pickens will also offer her version of Taylor Swift’s poem “Holding On” and Teija Dumdei will sing “The Rainbow Connection,” accompanied by her mother Melissa Dumdei on the piano.

About Art Walk

To participate as a venue or artist on the Official First Friday Art Walk Sequim map, listing and website, contact Renne 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.