Sequim’s folk art back on display

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, March 23, 2016

After nearly 14 years in a barn and with brief appearances in 2013, the first piece of the Lehman Meat Market murals is back up in Sequim.

Volunteers Bob Stipe and Louie Rychlik made a frame and posted the piece on the south wall of the Sequim Museum Exhibit Center on Tuesday, March 22.

The Sequim Museum recently took over ownership of the folk art by Kim Kopp depicting Sequim pioneers on more than 150 feet of mural space.

Judy Reandeau Stipe, Sequim Museum’s executive director, said they hope to put up as many mural pieces as possible before the Sequim Irrigation Festival in May, so visitors can share Sequim’s history and enjoy the art.

Sue Ellen Riesau, executive director of the Olympic View Community Foundation, said the foundation, formerly known as Sequim 2000, managed the murals and continually sought a place for them to go since they were taken down in 2002. They’ve been stored in Dale and Troye Jarmuth’s barn since then, she said.

Riesau said they initiated several conversations with community groups over the years but “with the pioneers at the museum, they really clicked into the idea because so many pioneers are depicted.”

Reandeau Stipe said museum volunteers Bob Sorenson, Greg Fisher, Rychlik and Stipe are working on three more frames for mural pieces to go up on the museum’s east wall later this week.

To help with the project, call the Sequim Museum at 681-2257.