SEQUIM — “Like the song says, ‘Life can be so sweet on the sunny side of the street,’ ” said Sequim Art Walk organizer Renne Emiko Brock.
Powered by sunshine, the theme color for the August Art Walk is yellow, Brock said.
“Yellow shines brightly like the sun fueling our world with pure energy and encourages creative communication,” she said in a news release.
First Friday Art Walk Sequim is a free self-guided tour of Sequim art venues from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. the first Friday of every month. Visit www.sequimartwalk.com to download a map of participating venues.
One of this month’s special events will be the second annual Keying Around block party from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sequim Civic Center plaza, 152 W. Cedar St.
Those who have been eyeing a painted piano in downtown Sequim can bid on their favorite during Sequim’s Keying Around block party from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. today on the Civic Center plaza, 152 W. Cedar St. The silent auction closes at 7 p.m., and winners will be announced shortly after.
Then, you can shake hands with the artist who painted your new prized possession during an artist meet-and-greet.
After the silence will come rock and blues music from the Seattle-based band Shaggy Sweet.
“There may or may not be a flash mob,” the event’s Facebook page reveals. “Shhh it’s a surprise.”
Food by Maggie May’s Espresso &Outfitter and beverages from The Cedars at Dungeness will be available for purchase.
Children’s activities include a bubble parade and face painting.
The block party marks the conclusion of the Keying Around program — hosted by the city of Sequim and Sequim Arts Commission —which placed pianos painted by local artists in public spaces around Sequim for free use during the past month. Temporary shelters were provided by US Bank, Over the Fence and the city of Sequim.
Proceeds from the auction of the pianos will go to the Sequim Arts Commission for next year’s Keying Around party.
Other special events during the First Friday Art Walk include:
• Sequim Museum and Arts, 175 W. Cedar St., will welcome artist Priscilla Patterson with “The Aviation Art of Priscilla Patterson — With a Sprinkling of Model A’s and Vintage Fire Engines.”
Patterson paints images of airplanes, cars, motorcycles and many other modes of transportation.
• Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St., will present featured artists Debbie Cain, who works with gourds, and photographer Karen Rozbicki Stringer.
The work of the two artists will be showcased in the front windows in “Visual and Emotional Reality in Depth.”
• The Bag Ladies of Sequim, 161 W. Washington St., will display bold, bright colors by local artists with handcrafted works and artful up-cycled items.
• Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., will present “OFF Stage,” a free performance offered the first Friday of each month, at 5:30 p.m.
Becky and Jamie Kuhns will perform in the OTA Gathering Hall.
Refreshments, including beer, wine and light snacks, will be available for purchase.
• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., will host live music with Hannah Hockett and Christian Jensen of Soul Machine along with crafted wines and appetizers.
Soul Machine, a local Motown cover band, includes a mixture of folk and rock in their acoustic set, featuring contemporary arrangements of classic blues and jazz tunes as well as billboard hits from the counterculture era.
Those who want to participate as a venue or artist on the official First Friday Art Walk Sequim map, listing and website can contact Brock at 360-460-3023 or renne@uniqueasyou.com.
For more information, see www.facebook.com/sequimartwalk.
Photographs by Karen Rozbicki Stringer, such as this one named “Portals,” will be on display at the Blue Whole Gallery.
