SEQUIM — The Sequim Lavender Growers Association has chosen Sequim artist Melanie Arrington’s “Lavender Bee” for its 16th Sequim Lavender Festival poster.
The artwork was selected from 42 pieces of art and photography submitted for the association’s “A Shade of Purple” poster art competition.
“I believe we experienced a perfect storm with this one,” said Paul Jendrucko, spokesman for the Sequim Lavender Growers Association.
“Melanie is a local artist with a tradition of creating eye-popping art and delivering top-notch graphic promotional material to our local business community,” he added.
Her work will promote the growers group’s festival in Sequim and on surrounding Sequim and Dungeness Valley lavender farms during lavender weekend July 20-23.
Arrington also created the official logo for the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, Jendrucko said.
“She represents our demographics and will be an excellent ambassador for our association during our 16th Sequim Lavender Festival,” he said.
Continues tradition
The selection continues a tradition of the lavender growers group “in selecting an artist’s interpretation of lavender each year so that it can be showcased on its traditional poster and appreciated for its importance in our way of life and economic importance in the lavender industry,” Jendrucko said.
He said the depiction of a honeybee grazing on a stem of ripe lavender “not only shows the attractiveness lavender has to the bee, it also highlights the importance this creature of Mother Nature has to our own sustainablity.
“Without the bee, our food supply would be very limited and boring,” he said.
“Our legacies and success as lavender growers are wholly dependent on the work of Mother Nature’s sunshine and her creatures such as pollinators, soil microbes and earthworms, not websites or publicity,” Jendrucko said.
“With our poster artwork we will be able to deliver this critical message.”
In addition, he said, “the art is outstanding, one of the best in years.”
Arrington received a $750 cash-purchase award and also will be given free vendor booth space at the 16th Sequim Lavender Festival and lifetime booth admittance at future festivals.
The growers association plans to continue this open artwork competition for its 2013 festival event.
Lavender weekend
Sequim’s “lavender weekend” is always held the third weekend of July.
On that weekend, the Sequim Lavender Growers Association hosts one festival — the Sequim Lavender Festival Weekend — while the Sequim Lavender Farmers Association holds another — the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire — simultaneously.
The farmers group split off from the original growers group a year ago.
For more information about the growers group, visit www.sequimlavenderfestivalweekend.com.
See more of Arrington’s work at www.melaniereed.webs.com or visit her booth at the growers festival.
