Artist helps light the way for Sunshine Festival

Rain, snow or clear skies, the Sequim Sunshine Festival is coming to the area this weekend.

Events take place across the city, including a drone show, Sun Fun Color Run, plenty of live music and more. Organizers said all events are on schedule with more information at www.sequimsunshinefestival.com.

One event to brighten your weekend is a unique art display centered on light this Friday night and Saturday in Pioneer Memorial Park’s clubhouse. Ross Brown, a Diamond Point resident and retired college instructor, worked for months on individual light stations that showcase what light can do.

Brown, 73, speaks at 5 p.m. Friday, March 6, in the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St., about “what is light and how you can manipulate it.”

That carries over to his art display with a preview that night from 6-8 p.m. in the clubhouse, 387 E. Washington St., and open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 7.

Once inside, visitors can see 10 stations — seven viewing stations, another for mixing blue and yellow light, a kinetic shadow catcher, and artist Craig Robinson painting in ultraviolet light with UV sensitive paints.

“I go through the three things you can do with light: you can reflect, absorb or you can transmit it,” Brown said.

Ross Brown created nine stations to depict light as part of his upcoming exhibit at Pioneer Memorial Park for the Sequim Sunshine Festival. He hosts a preview from 6-8 p.m. March 6 and it opens 10 a.m.-5 p.m. March 7. Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash

Light stations

Each station is set up for a light transmission with switches or dimmers to manipulate the elements you want to change.

Some mix colors or filter it and one even uses theater lights from Brown’s graduate thesis for theater stage lighting.

Brown said he could keep building the project but needed to wrap it up for the festival’s deadline.

“This has been a bucket list kind of thing,” he said.

Windows will be blocked out in the clubhouse with lighting inside for people to maneuver.

Brown hopes to involve more people, including those in the science field, to collaborate next year to explore where they can go with stations.

Light bulb

Light is something Brown said he’s always had an interest in. He’s been teaching about light for decades between the University of Washington and Bellevue College in various classes, including design and drawing.

“As a contemporary artist, you’re looking to find new ways to talk about stuff and light was a great way to do that,” he said.

For his graduate thesis piece, Brown built a miniature theater, about 15 feet-by-20 feet, with a light control system based on a setup he saw for a static stage production of “MacBeth” that used light cues and no moving sets.

“When I saw that, I thought ‘Whoa,’” he said.

Switches inside this station by Ross Brown can show how light influences the foreground and background. Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash

Casting

Prior to moving to the Sequim area in 2015, Brown worked at a decorative hardware business in Enumclaw focusing on lost-wax bronze casting. He said the idea came after working on a reflective pond and one of the homeowners asked him to incorporate rocks her daughter would save. That led to him experimenting with lost-wax casting.

Since moving here though, Brown jokes he made the switch to focusing on lights because it’s lighter than bronze. But he insists that since moving to Sequim’s Rainshadow, light was something he wanted to explore.

“I would love to see a collaboration with some kind of light structure as a type of public art,” he said.

Brown said the City of Sequim purchased his displays for future use at the Sequim Sunshine Festival and other possible events.

His next project is another art light piece for his wife Sharmin celebrating 33 years being together.

For more information on the festival, call 360-683-4139 or visit www.sequimsunshinefestival.com.

Reach Matthew Nash at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

Sequim Sunshine Festival schedule — March 6-7

The Sequim Sunshine Festival is designed to bring relief from the winter blues with activities that focus on light, fun, art, physical activity and positive energy for all ages.

Throughout the event play the “Hunt the Sun” Game. Find images or representations of the sun throughout Sequim. Take a photo or selfie and post to social media with the hashtag #sequimsunshinefestival to earn “glow-bling” for the Saturday evening activities.

Friday, March 6

• Noon-5 p.m. — Naomi Haverland, 3-D chalk artist, Centennial Place (corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street); also 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday

• 3-10 p.m. — Restaurant Romp, Sequim restaurants offer specials and special menu items

• 4:45 p.m. — Sequim Sunshine Festival Ribbon Cutting, Sequim Civic Center, 152 West Cedar St.

• 5-8 p.m. — First Friday Art Walk, throughout downtown Sequim

• 5-8 p.m. — “Illuminations” art exhibit, Sequim Civic Center (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday)

• 5 p.m. — Art Talk: “How Light Works” with Ross Brown, Sequim Civic Center

• 6-8 p.m. — Interactive Light Experience, Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday)

• 6:30 p.m. — Pour Sip Paint, Sunshine Café, 135 W. Washington St. (sold out)

• 7 p.m. — “Look to the Sky” movie screening, Sequim Civic Center

Saturday, March 7

• 9 a.m. — Rolling Sunshine Bicycle Ride, Carrie Blake Community Park, 202 N. Blake Ave., family- friendly 18-mile bike ride. Helmet required. Register on-Site.

• 10 a.m. — Sun Fun Color Run, Carrie Blake Community Park, 1K and 5K options. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/Sequim/SunFunColorRun

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — Naomi Haverland, 3-D chalk artist, Centennial Place

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. — “Illuminations” art exhibit, Sequim Civic Center

• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Interactive Light Experience, Pioneer Memorial Park

• 11 a.m. — Run and Ride After Party, live music by Trombone Love, Carrie Blake Community Park

• 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Sequim YMCA games and a Frisbee scavenger hunt

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. — Jay Henry Live, Pioneer Memorial Park

• Noon- 4 p.m. — Redeem your photos for glow-bling at the Sequim Civic Center

• 12:30 p.m. — Learn Why the Sun Always Shines in Sequim with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Sequim Civic Center Plaza

• 1-3 p.m. — Open Jam Session, Centennial Place

• 1-3 p.m. — Buck Ellard Band, Pioneer Memorial Park

• 2 p.m. — “Look to the Sky” movie screening, Sequim Civic Center

• 3-4 p.m. — Grand Olympic Chorus, Centennial Place

• 3-4:30 — Live music with Jack Parker, Pioneer Memorial Park

• 4-7 p.m. — Pre-Party at Carrie Blake Park with Wine Garden by Wind Rose Cellars (Wine for purchase from 4-6 p.m.)

• 5-6:45 p.m. — Redeem your photos for glow-bling at Carrie Blake Community Park

• 5-6:45 p.m. — Just in Tyme, Carrie Blake Park

• 6:45 p.m. — Illuminated Drone Show by Firefly Drone Shows, Carrie Blake Community Park

• 6-10 p.m. — Beach Party with Black Diamond Junction, Bread & Gravy, and dinner by Kokopelli Grill, Guy Cole Event Center. Tickets $35 per person and required for admission. Tickets are on sale through Wednesday, March 4 and are available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4443839 or at the Sequim- Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, 1192 E. Washington St.