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Mom’s mural spans South Sequim Avenue subdivision

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, April 15, 2020

By Matthew Nash

For about a week, Katie Smith worked with her children and some neighbors to draw an inspirational chalk mural along her subdivision’s fence facing South Sequim Avenue. Photo courtesy of Isaac Peiffer
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For about a week, Katie Smith worked with her children and some neighbors to draw an inspirational chalk mural along her subdivision’s fence facing South Sequim Avenue. Photo courtesy of Isaac Peiffer

For about a week, Katie Smith worked with her children and some neighbors to draw an inspirational chalk mural along her subdivision’s fence facing South Sequim Avenue. Photo courtesy of Isaac Peiffer
For about a week, Katie Smith worked with her children and some neighbors to draw an inspirational chalk mural along her subdivision’s fence facing South Sequim Avenue. Photo courtesy of Isaac Peiffer

Spanning her subdivision, Katie Smith said her recent art project is the “best three bucks I ever spent.”

In the last week, Smith used chalk to write large inspirational messages on the Alpine Loop fence facing South Sequim Avenue for her neighbors, friends and essential workers to see during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a discussion with a friend and neighbor (a “fray-bor” as she puts it) who saw a similar project online, Smith said they felt it would be fun to do.

“She works for Olympic Medical Center, so I figured the least I could do with my three kids is try and bring some happiness and joy to people who have to work all day in the field,” Smith said.

With $3 worth of chalk from Dollar Tree, she got to work with her children ages 7, 10 and 14.

Smith said she did most of the letters with her children tiring out after a few letters, but she pressed on and finished the mural the morning of April 9.

In full, it reads: “Be encouraged not discouraged!” “Thank you essential workers! We (heart) you!” “Stay strong Sequim – A little smile goes a long way!” “Happiness is contagious.” “We’re in this together.” “Spread love.” “After the rain comes the joy.”

Some friends/neighbors came out and helped fill in some letters and a Wave Broadband employee said he planned to put her project on a local channel, she said.

“I got a lot of people honking and one lady gave me some flowers,” Smith said.

She and her family have lived in Sequim for 10 years and they’ve tried to stay busy during the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order doing projects around the house, playing games and doing school work.

She’s also taking some time off from cleaning Airbnbs to be with her family.

Being outside drawing the mural with sunny weather has been therapeutic, Smith said.

“I love how it’s bringing positivity in such a negative time,” she said. “People are finding joy in tough times.”

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