by Reneé Mizar
Communications Coordinator, Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley
A new art exhibition that explores the interconnectedness between history and art across Eastern Clallam County debuts this month at the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley (MAC).
The exhibit “History & Art Connects” is now on display at the MAC Exhibit Center, 175 W. Cedar St. in Sequim, and features approximately 40 pieces of original artwork from the MAC Collection that depict local historical scenes and were created by artists active in the area arts scene largely from the 1960s-1980s.
An opening reception is 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, during the gold color-themed First Friday Art Walk .
MAC art exhibits committee member and exhibit co-curator Barbara Allen said the chosen artwork emphasizes the connection between how people express the world around them, including its history. With depicted scenes from Blyn and Palo Alto to Texas Valley and Carlsborg, the pieces highlight such local landmarks as the old Carlsborg Post Office, Clallam Co-op grain elevator, Sequim train depot, Gierin cooling tower, Dungeness Schoolhouse and New Dungeness Lighthouse, as well as several area barns and pioneer homesteads.
“We hope patrons leave with an understanding of how rich the cultural heritage of Sequim is and how the artists that were active when Sequim was really just developing an art community were very interested in the history of this place, just like we are today,” she said.
The 21 artists featured include Judy Priest, Esther Webster, Dorcas Taylor, Joy McCarter, Evelyn “Johnny” Whatton, Lynne Proudfoot, Gertrude Nelson, Margaret Bode, Hellen Boyd, Dick Chapman, Dolores Daniels, Olga Erickson, Ruth Foster, Virginia Neubart, Ada Newby, Delores Pommarane, Audrey Stevens, Russell Taylor, Helen B. Vogt Williams and Robert Yeroshek.
“These people were very connected and many took classes from Judy Priest,” Allen said of the artists, whose work was selected based on subject matter.
“They knew each other, painted together, took classes together and were on committees together.”
Visit www.macsequim.org or call 683-8110 for details.
