First Friday At Walk celebrates 15 years of celebrating creativity

Helping celebrate 15 years of arts and inclusion is the Sequim First Friday Art Walk on Oct. 1, with orange as the color theme.

Orange is one of the brighter colors in fall as summer fades away. The hospitable hue of orange reminds us of cozy fires, snuggly seasonal sweaters, nesting and organizing, friendship made out of admirable interests, delightful sweets, encouraging teachers and mentors.

Find works of art and folks supporting the option to dress in shades of orange or spicy fall colors as they enjoy an evening on the town with friends and family.

First Friday Art Walk Sequim is a fun, free, self-guided tour of local art venues in Sequim from 5-8 p.m. the first Friday of every month. Visit SequimArtWalk.com to download and print your own map, find special events, links and how to be part of art.

Initiated in 2006, the Art Walk is an encouraging and educational arts event sponsored and produced by Renne Emiko Brock with a mission to create approachable, accessible art and cultural venues that encourage the community to connect and celebrate expression and diversity.

The First Friday Art Walk Sequim has returned while respecting the COVID health and wellness guidelines of masks, social distancing, and limited capacity. Enjoy the arts and culture of Sequim safely; not all venues are open fully with the slow start of the return of the evening activities of Sequim Art Walk, so visit them when they are open.

Special events

Celebrating the 16th Annual North Olympic Fiber Arts Festival, enjoy the “Bumblebunching — Warped, Twisted, & Imperfect” opening reception of the fiber arts exhibition that runs Oct. 1-Nov. 27 at Sequim Museum & Arts, 544 N. Sequim Ave. (See story, A-15).

”Lava Dreams” by Donna Lee Dowdney, a partcipant in the 16th Annual North Olympic Fiber Arts Festival. Submitted art

From 5-7:30 p.m., Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County’s Sequim Habitat Boutique Store, 213 E. Washington St., is having their “Sooner or Ladder Art Auction” to support their mission of affordable housing. Admission is free, with live music by The OG and featuring paintings by Craig Robinson, a local artist and Sequim Art Council member.

Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St., features “Season of the harvest” with Suzan Noyes and Dennis (“Doc”) Pangborn. Both are well-established painters, known for their artwork closely associated with nature. Members of the gallery welcome the community to the new exhibit filled with autumn color and inspiration.

Cedarbrook Lavender Gift Shop, 120 W. Washington St., has farm fresh lavender creations, treats, locally created gifts and inspired vintage décor items.

A Stitch in Time Quilt Shoppe, 225 E. Washington St., will display local quilters’ work that corresponds with the monthly color theme. A Stitch in Time encourages people, if they have a quilt they made that coincides with the color designated for the Art Walk, to drop them off at their shop the day of the walk with their label and information attached to their quilt.

Kevin Tracy Wealth Management, 149 W. Washington St., is displaying the work of local watercolorists of Beverly Beighle, Connie Drysdale, Melissa Doyel, Barb Falk-Diekfuss, Wendy Goldberg, Roger Huntley, Cecilia Hillway, Allyne Lawson, Jerri Moore, Shirley Rudolf and Carol Wilhelm.

At Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., enjoy award winning artfully crafted wines, appetizing tidbits and hosts local artists.

Rainshadow Café, 157 W. Cedar St., has lots of seating outside and inside with a full menu and drinks to enjoy.

At 414 N. Sequim Ave., Olympic Theatre Arts Center’s comedy production of “A Facility for Living” by Katie Forgette, is set to open the community theatre’s 2021-2022 season. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test less than 72 hours old is required for admittance. Tickets to this Main Stage comedy are $18 for the general public, $16 for OTA members, and $12 for students with school ID card, and are available at the theatre box office from 1-4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday or online at OlympicTheatreArts.org. For further information, call 360-683-7326.

For more

To participate as a venue or artist on the Official First Friday Art Walk Sequim map, listing and website, contact Emiko Brock at 360-460-3023 or renne@uniqueasyou.com. Artists of any media are encouraged to get information to her for publicity and opportunities.

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.

Join the Art Walk Facebook page at facebook.com/sequimartwalk.

Also, watch “Support Sequim Arts COVID Pivot” by Silas Crews on YouTube at youtu.be/AikIsOAnRz0. The Sequim pARTners are leaders, creators and contributors that learn and work together collaboratively. Silas Crews captured the Sequim pARTners stories to create this film to demonstrate our dedication to support the Arts in our community and each other.