PORT ANGELES — Suzie Bennett kept hearing the same question back in 2011: What’s the theme of the art show?
Bennett, director of the Elwha Klallam Heritage Training Center, paused.
“I didn’t want to stifle anybody’s creativity,” she remembers thinking.
Then: “Just release the spirit within you,” she told the would-be art exhibitors.
They have.
Members of the Lower Elwha Klallam, Coeur d’Alene, Makah, Port Gamble S’Klallam and Quileute tribes, alongside artists from the Sts’ailes Band and Yakama Nation, will have their work unveiled at the show’s opening reception Saturday evening.
The exhibition, titled “Spirit Unleashed,” will be at the Elwha training center, 401 E. First St.
Unlike the first show in 2011, it features art by Native American and non-Native people, since Bennett and the Elwha tribe wanted to make it more inclusive.
Also to that end, admission is free this year.
Saturday’s opening party from 6 p.m. till 9 p.m. at the training center also is free to the public.
Kokopelli Grill will serve appetizers while art lovers have a first look at dozens of creations, from dolls to photography.
For those who want to take home a work of art, the price range is from $30 to $1,100.
Tribal artists
Representing the Makah tribe are artist and tribal Chairman Micah McCarty, painter and poet Brandan McCarty, doll weaver Danielle Denney and tribal Executive Director Meri Parker, the photographer who recently released a 2013 wall calendar full of Neah Bay scenes.
From the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe comes a button blanket by former Vice Chair Rosi Francis, a quilt by Monica Charles and artwork by the well-known painter Roger Fernandes.
Many of these artists are new to the show, including Christopher Thomas of the Coeur d’Alene tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam carver and painter Jimmy Price, and Keith Penn, a Quileute.
Paul Eubanks of 10 Wolves Publishing and Stevie Lee Dailey of Dailey Cleaning Services also have contributed to the show, as have Elwha tribal communications manager Brenda Francis-Thomas, Sts’ailes Band member Ivan M. Francis and Darrell Barkley of the Yakama Nation.
Through winter
After opening night Saturday, “Spirit Unleashed” will stay on display throughout the winter, with the Elwha center open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
“Spirit Unleashed” began last year as a showcase for Native American artists — but it wasn’t so easy to get tribal members to take part, said Francis-Thomas.
“A lot of people don’t consider what they do as art,” she said.
“It is part of daily living. You make a design for your regalia, or you paint a design to make your house look better. We had to convince some people that yes, you are an artist.
“This year, we decided to mix it up a bit and open it up,” added Francis-Thomas.
“We are excited with the work that was submitted.”
For more information about the show, phone the Elwha Klallam Heritage Training Center at 360-417-8545 or visit www.Elwha.org.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
