SEQUIM — The Olympic Driftwood Sculptors club is making its mark in the community with its 10th annual Spring Driftwood Art Show this weekend.
The organization held its first spring art show in 2008 at the Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park, and includes driftwood sculpture artwork from about 30 different artists of Tuttie Peetz’ driftwood sculptors class.
This year’s show is set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the river center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road. Admission is free.
The show offers raw wood for sale, handmade items in the organization’s “driftwood boutique,” ongoing demonstrations of sculptures in progress and a chance to win a sculpture created by several of the artists.
Peetz, a driftwood sculptor instructor and co-founder of the Olympic Driftwood Sculptors (ODS), said the Audubon Center has always been the perfect place to hold the annual spring art show as it is surrounding by the nature of Railroad Bridge Park.
“In February 2008, Olympic Driftwood Sculptors presented its first art exhibit at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, and a special tradition was born,” she said.
Reflecting on the group 10 years ago, Peetz said the organization had only 15 members and is excited to announce that membership has increased to more than 90 members.
“We’ve been steadily growing over time,” she said.
Peetz said the artwork featured in the show is from students who learn the techniques of driftwood sculpting during a six-week workshop. The students put in 18 hours of work and are then included in the organization’s two shows each year.
The organization’s most popular show is during Sequim Lavender Weekend in July.
With an increase in membership, Peetz said she has had more classes than any other year since the organization’s inception. She said her studio space in Sequim was maxed out with as many as 14 people taking a class.
Her class is a diverse group of artists, she said, with a wide range of students attending.
“I’m excited that we have members ranging from their 30s to mid-80s,” she said.
Peetz said the kind of artwork that will be displayed in the show usually remains a mystery until close to the actual show dates.
“One of the things we push in this organization is creativity and trying new things,” she said.
“I never know [what to expect] until it shows up.”
Proceeds from the event go toward scholarships for graduating seniors on the Olympic Peninsula — from Port Townsend to Neah Bay — who are actively pursuing art degrees after high school. Peetz said this year’s scholarship amount has doubled to $2,000 from last year.
She describes driftwood sculpture as a Pacific Northwest art form that embraces creativity and reveals the inner beauty of the wood she and her students work with.
The show is not a competitive event, Peetz said, but a chance for artists from beginners to experts to showcase their work.
More information
For more information, contact Peetz at trpeetz@gmail.com or call 360-683-6860.
Visit the organization’s website at http://www. olympicdriftwoodsculptors.org/.
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Erin Hawkins is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach her at ehawkins@sequimgazette.com.
