NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, May 6.
SEQUIM — The water that transformed the Sequim-Dungeness Valley from a desert plain into a lush agricultural basin will be celebrated this evening during First Friday Art Walk.
The free self-guided tour leads participants to local art venues in Sequim on the First Friday of every month. Visit www.sequimartwalk.com to download a map of participating venues.
Initiated in 2006, the monthly event is sponsored and produced by Renne Emiko Brock-Richmond.
It will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In conjunction with this year’s Sequim Irrigation Festival — taking place today through May 15 — venues participating in art walk will turn their artistic eye toward the beauty of water.
With that in mind, the theme of tonight’s art walk is aqua, which Brock-Richmond said celebrates cultivation and culture while expressing the responsible, sustainable elements of cool fresh water, abundant salty seas, renewing rain and sunny skies.
“Art and music inspired by such natural resources, Steampunk creativity, positive partnerships and revolutionary ideas are included” in tonight’s offering, Brock-Richmond said.
A cross section of events:
n Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St., will feature watercolorist Margo Hankel and sculptor David Tinsley, whose works will be showcased in the front windows throughout May.
Hankel, who has been diagnosed with cancer, said she finds beauty everywhere in the world around her.
“I always wanted to do something artistic,” she said.
“I am continually amazed at the beauty in this world literally everywhere you look.”
Hankel is a retired drafting artist who once held the position of principal mechanical design engineer for the Mars product line at Solar Turbines, a Caterpillar company.
“Then, 10 years ago, I got a diagnosis of Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia,” she said.
“It made me think about what I really wanted to do in this life. It made me realize time is finite and I better get busy.”
Hankel got married, retired and moved to Port Angeles about seven years ago, she said.
That is when she picked up a paint brush under the tutelage of George Zien.
“He gleefully shared his knowledge and lessons of his experience with me,” she said.
Hankel’s last bout with chemotherapy was in 2011, she said.
“My white count went down and I’ll be good for several years,” she said.
“And what am I going to do? I’m going to paint.”
Tinsley said he has lived most of his life in Florida, “with over 30 years of it spent chasing the waves as a surfer and constantly creating with wood in one form or another.”
Tinsley moved to the Olympic Peninsula a couple of years ago, and “with my love for the ocean, the magnificent trees and the gorgeous gift of driftwood from the Pacific Northwest coastline, I couldn’t help but begin to create fun and expressive pieces,” he said.
“For many of those who have seen my work in person the most common response is a big smile and the warmth of happiness that seems to come through them. I hope you get the opportunity to feel it too.”
n The Sequim Civic Center Plaza, 152 W. Cedar St., from 5 to 8 this evening will host the inaugural First Friday Art Walk Patron Preview of this weekend’s Innovative Arts and Crafts Fair.
The annual fair, also open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, provides an opportunity for vendors to sell their handcrafted wares, Brock-Richmond said.
At 6 p.m., Alan B. Brock-Richmond will present “Propogation,” an experimental improvisational ambient drone noise concert developed to premiere in celebration of the irrigation festival.
Inspired by early sound pioneers, this experimental sound is centered around a sculptural chambered music box instrument with original composition, electric guitar and real world recordings of local irrigation canals and agricultural machinery.
n The Olympic Theatre Arts Center, 414 N. Sequim Ave., will host musician Jake Reichner from 5:30 to 7:30 this evening.
The event is free and open to the public.
Reichner grew up in Sequim and has been playing guitar and writing his own music since high school.
Reichner said his work is inspired by everyday life — being both reflective and introspective — and blends both rhythmic and percussive songs with melodic ballads.
He said his style has been compared to Dave Matthews, Five for Fighting and Jack Johnson, but added he also enjoys country, rap, classic rock and folk music.
Reichner has played with a number of bands, but is presently working on writing, producing and performing solo work. He said he enjoys playing guitar, drums and bass and tinkering with instruments such as the didgeridoo, saxophone and harmonica
n The Museum and Arts Center, 175 W. Cedar St., tonight will feature the “Sequim Irrigation Festival” exhibition —a mixture of festival history and variety of local artists.
n Mia Bella, 130A N. Third Ave., will feature art by Zien, Pat Gordon, Pam Kauffman, Pricilla Patterson, Brim Leal, J.P. Lee and Josh “Yeti” Wright.
n R&T Crystals and Beads, 158 E. Bell St., will have sparkling jewelry demonstrations from Paulette Hill and Gail McLain.
n Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., will host pen and ink artist Erica McClain and music by Joy in Mudville, who will perform a mixture of Americana, folk and rock music.
n Pacific Pantry, 229 S. Sequim Ave., will exhibit photography by Jan Kepley, who will have his thoughtful “Resonance Cards” available too.
n Bell Street Bakery, 175 W. Bell St., will showcase artists Linda Silvas and Dotti Holland.
