NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, April 15.
SEQUIM — Doors decorated by artists to celebrate 25 years of Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County will be on public view today before they are auctioned during a fundraiser Saturday.
Thirty-four unique doors painted by artists from across Clallam County will be on view at the free public reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at SunLand Golf & County Club, 109 Hilltop Drive.
The reception is a warmup to the affiliate’s largest annual fundraiser, “A Taste of the Peninsula,” at the SunLand club.
Tickets are $100 for the event, which gathers under one roof a variety of restaurants and wineries to offer tastes of the area’s artisan cuisine and beverages.
Each of the 34 doors incorporates the theme of “25” to reflect the nonprofit’s local presence.
“A few caring people had an idea 25 years ago, bringing it to fruition by getting an affiliate accreditation from Habitat for Humanity International,” said Colleen Robinson, Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County community outreach director.
A quarter of a century later, that effort has resulted in the construction of 28 homes and changed “countless families and our community for the better,” Robinson said.
The Painted Door Project was a creative, engaging way to recognize the affiliate because “we all walk through figurative doors of opportunity that change our life and actual doors are big, impactful and make a statement,” Robinson said.
“Having people interpret ’25’ seemed challenging, but people are so creative and the finished doors really showcase that in a big way,” she said.
Public reception
The entire collection of 34 doors will come together for the first time during tonight’s reception.
The reception is “an opportunity to share [the doors] with the public and celebrate the artists and thank them for their donation of time and talent,” Robinson said.
Most participating artists will be on hand to give insight into their doors, she said.
The doors will be judged, and those placing first in the three categories — individual, group and youth — will be announced.
A People’s Choice selection from each community represented — Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks — will be awarded.
“Our 25th anniversary of partnering with low-income families in Clallam County is exciting to celebrate in such a fun way with these doors — doors opening to a new start for the nearly 30 families who have moved from deplorable living conditions into a simple, decent, affordable home that they actually helped build,” said Cyndi Hueth, Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County executive director.
Taste of Peninsula
The doors will be auctioned off at A Taste of the Peninsula, where Strait Shots will provide live music.
In addition to raising funds, the event is a chance for Habitat for Humanity Clallam County officials to acknowledge their 2015 community partners and present supporters with awards, as well as a handful of the affiliate’s founders.
Tickets for A Taste of the Peninsula are available online at www.habitatclallam.org and will be for sale at today’s reception.
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Alana Linderoth 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 alinderoth@sequimgazette.com.
