SEQUIM — Tonight’s First Friday Art Walk, that free monthly event in and around downtown, spills over into the weekend with added receptions and parties including the Blue Whole Gallery’s 15th anniversary bash, a three-part event with live music and plentiful birthday cake.
And since it’s June, the traditional month for weddings, this month’s color theme is white, as chosen by art walk organizer Renne Brock-Richmond. Art-walkers are invited to join in however they see fit, and since white represents all of the colors of the spectrum, that can mean anything from rainbow-bright to fully bleached. It’s like a canvas, Brock-Richmond says, and it’s blank in the best sense.
Tonight’s public art parties, beckoning from 5 p.m. till 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted, are:
— “Into the Blue,” the Blue Whole Gallery’s 15th anniversary show, takes place at the artists’ cooperative gallery at 129 W. Washington St. — and overflows to the Blue Whole annex a few blocks up at 163 W. Washington St. Local sculptors, photographers and painters of all persuasions showcase their work while inviting visitors to enjoy birthday cake and other treats tonight.
In addition, the “Blue Whole Reunion Show, 1997-2012” will be open at the annex from 1 p.m. till 9 p.m. Saturday, with champagne and live music by singer Kate Lily from 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. and by jazz vocalist Sarah Shea from 7 p.m. till 9 p.m.
On Sunday, the festivities continue with yet another public reception, this one with performance painting by Jeff Tocher and live music by the rock-blues-Americana band Redwing, from 1 p.m. till 4 p.m.
For details on any of these free events, visit www.BlueWholeGallery.com.
— “All About Water” is the new show at the Museum & Arts Center, 175 W. Cedar St., and all manner of artistic interpretations of water are on display. During tonight’s opening reception, Mystery Bay Seafood Co. will provide hors d’oeuvres while visitors enjoy more than 100 pieces by 45 artists, such as “Kraken Sea Monster” by Sherry Nagel, Diana Kohler’s “Waterfall” necklace and Sallie Radock’s “Chardonnay.”
— Judy de Chantal’s art inspired by life in the Chilcotin wilderness of British Columbia, among other travels, is on display at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave. During tonight’s reception with the artist from 5:30 p.m. till 8 p.m., refreshments will flow, and singer Howly Slim will provide country and blues from 5:30 till 7:30. The show by de Chantal will stay up through July’s end, and more details await at 360-683-1161 and on the North Olympic Library System website, www.NOLS.org.
– Full Moon Candle Co., 161 W. Washington St., presents work by photographer Randall Tomaras plus creations by Grace Shepard, Randy Radock, Don Porter and Diana Miller.
– “Uncommonwork,” a show of narrative boxes by Shane Miller, awaits at The Gallery at Dungeness Design, 520 N. Sequim Ave.
– A dessert buffet is laid out, and Nancy Hofmann’s acrylic paintings adorn Prairie Springs Assisted Living, 680 W. Prairie St., during this evening’s reception.
– Wind Rose Cellars, 155-B W. Cedar St., offers wine tasting and a display of block prints by Sallie and Randy Radock.
– The Sunshine Cafe, 145 W. Washington St., has chef’s choice snacks tonight along with a show by fine art photographer Phil Tauran; also on display inside the cafe are cartoons and graphics by the late Sequim artist Tim Quinn.
– Watercolorist Robert Lee will be on hand today from 5 p.m. till 6 p.m. for a reception at KeyBank, 120 N. Dunlap Ave.; his paintings stay on display there through July.
– The new Crumb Grabbers Bakery, 492 W. Cedar St. at Fifth Avenue, hosts a show by Mary Franchini’s Monday art group with a meet-the-artists party this evening.
– Author Monica Dixon presents her book Walking the Tightrope: 101 Ways to Manage Motherhood and Your Sanity at Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St., tonight. In addition, Cocoa d’Amici will host a chocolate tasting and Cameron’s Café will provide other refreshments while art by Jean Wyatt, greeting cards by Vicki Wickell-Stewart and Irrigation Festival 2012 note cards by local youngsters are on display.
– Rainshadow Coffee Roasting Co., 157 W. Cedar St., has live folk and blues by the duo Fret Noir tonight along with Saundra Cutsinger’s acrylic paintings.
– Doodlebugs, a scrapbooking shop, opens its Creative Café Art Bar for crafty types to stop in and work on projects today between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at 138 W. Washington St.
To find out how to join the art walk or to find a free map of the venues, visit www.sequimartwalk.com, phone Brock-Richmond at 360-460-3023 or find the Sequim art walk on Facebook.
