The walls at the Sequim Library never have looked so great.
Gone is the plain white space that used to meet the eye, replaced by original works by local artists.
Art in the Library – a program developed by
Sequim artist and community activist Randy Radock – took hold last June after two years of planning. Each of the four branches in the North Olympic Library System is participating and installs a new exhibit every two months, with a different artist being featured at each venue.
"I’ve made a point to contact a variety of artists representing a mix of arts – photography, acrylic, oil, watercolor – and to single out some people who like to do their art but don’t go out of their way to show their work," said Radock, who is managing the hanging schedule at the Sequim Library.
"Some of the best artists in the area have been doing their work in secrecy, and we can’t have that," he said with a chuckle.
The idea of Art in the Library, according to
Sequim Library branch manager Lauren Dahlgren, is to offer artists a place to display their finished product in the community and a place for visitors to enjoy the works of local artists.
Corresponding with the monthly First Friday Art Walk Sequim, the Sequim Library stays open until 8 p.m. – three hours later than usual – on the first Friday every other month. Live music and refreshments are available.
The next First Friday event is Aug. 6.
"We are hoping people will come down from Washington Street and Sequim Avenue," Dahlgren said.
"They can check out books, get library cards and view the exhibit but there won’t be any Internet access."
The June/July artist on display in Sequim was Sally Radock.
The August/September artist is photographer Jan Kepley, who specializes in nature and portrait photography throughout western Washington with his wife and sidekick, Kay.
To view the current exhibit, stop by the library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday or noon-8 p.m. Tuesday or Thursday.
For more information, call the Sequim Library at 683-1161.
