SEQUIM — A special exhibit with Native American demonstrations and presentations is planned at the Sequim Civic Center as part of the First Friday Art Walk.
The City Arts Advisory Commission will host the opening of “Earth, Wind, Fire and Water” from 5 to 8 tonight at the civic center at 152 W. Cedar St.
Along with the juried exhibition will be several demonstrations and presentations concerning “Tribal History, Art and the Elements” sponsored by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.
In the council chambers at 5:15 p.m., artist and woodcarver Dale Faulstich will present “A Behind the Scenes Look at Making Sequim’s Totem Pole.”
Living near Sequim since 1972, Faulstich’s long career began with painting canvases and watercolors, and later branched into commercial art.
Many of his signs have enhanced businesses around the Sequim and Port Angeles areas.
His sign business led to collaboration with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and an opportunity arose to create carvings for their various enterprises.
Faulstich became fascinated with the rich culture of the Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest. Though he is a non-native, he has immersed himself in learning about Northwest Coast Native American art, traditions and legends. This knowledge has enabled him to convert many stories and important figures into monumental totem poles, masks, wall panels, boxes, and other objects.
His relationship with the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe has flourished with more than 62 hand-carved totem poles completed.
At 6:15 p.m., the Civil Center will host David Brownell on “A Glimpse of Sxʷčkʷíyəŋ, a S’Klallam Village at Washington Harbor.”
Brownell, a cultural resources specialist of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, will give a presentation of ethnographic and archaeological research on sxʷčkʷíyəŋ, one of the ancestral villages of the tribe that stood at Washington Harbor.
The presentation will feature artifacts, maps, and historical photos.
In the center’s lobby, Timothy O’Connell, Jamestown S’Klallam tribal member, apprentice carver and oil painter will be on hand to display his work and answer questions regarding his artistic process which melds the traditional with the contemporary evoking animals, landscapes, and the forces of nature.
On the plaza, Ross Brown will demonstrate bronze casting.
Brown has been a sculptor for more than 30 years with a background in metal casting. He recently retired from the Bellevue College Art Department where he taught sculpture and design. He was also in charge of the foundry and welding shop for the University of Washington Art Department.
Works of art will be created and cast at this event.
The color theme for this First Friday Art Walk is purple, like the color of the lavender field around Sequim this month, said Renne Emiko Brock, organizer of the art walk.
”The color purple also represents mesmerizing potential, magical camaraderie, thoughtfulness, cultivated dignity, supportive spiritual significance and impressive extravagance,” she said.
First Friday Art Walk Sequim is a free self-guided tour of local art venues in Sequim on the First Friday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Prospective gallery visitors can go to www.SequimArtWalk.com to download and print their own map, find out what special events are happening, links, and how they can be part of art, according to a news release.
Initiated in 2006, the First Friday Art Walk Sequim has a number of events scheduled for tonight:
• The Gallery at The Fifth Avenue, 500 Hendrickson Road, will host the North Olympic Watercolorists exhibition during the Friday Art Walk from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Members will represent a cross section of experience ranging from beginners to professionals living on the North Olympic Peninsula.
Painting together twice weekly at the Lazy Acres studio, participants and artists share ideas, tips, techniques and constructive critiques. These sessions, where each artist paints in an individual style with a wide range of subject matter, provide the group with support, encouragement and inspiration, said the news release.
• Sequim Farmers Market vendors will participate in the First Friday Art Walk at Centennial Place on the northeast corner of Sequim Avenue and Washington Street.
• Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W Washington St., will present “All Creatures Great and Small” with fiber artist Terri Biondolino and “Bright and Beautiful” with jewelers Macaria Patapoff and Kathy Schreiner in the front windows.
• Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N Sequim Ave., will welcome Just In Tyme playing 1950s songs with songstresses Mary Charles, Becky McKinley and Olunia Palenga accompanied by Richard Crowell on his guitar and Sandi Lockwood on synthesizer.
First Friday Art Walk Sequim at OTA is always free to the public; the snack and beverage bar will be open with a peek into upcoming theater performances.
• Sequim Museum & Arts, 175 W Cedar St., will host “Owls and Others,” a solo art show of Jeannine Chappell.
An artist’s reception will be held during the Art Walk and against at noon Saturday when she will talk about her art and her process. Jeannine has developed a unique style combining the spontaneity of working on paper with the editing capabilities of the computer.
• Rainshadow Café, 157 W Cedar St., will have music starting at 6 p.m. with Dawn Martin.
Martin grew up in a musical family and been performing her entire life. She is a classically trained pianist and a powerful singer who loves to entertain.
• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., will showcase Jan Kepley’s lovely photography along with a traveling musician from California, Chris Cruz, who will takes the stage from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Cruz will play mixture of rock from throughout the ages.
For more information about Friday Friday Art Walk, go to www.facebook.com/sequimartwalk.
Pamela Dick’s Wall of Water is among the artwork that will be on display at the Sequim Civic Center.
