SEQUIM — As the leaves turn orange and fall to the earth and chilly temperatures give cause to don warm sweaters, take a stroll in the crisp air, view one-of-a-kind artwork and meet local artists during the Sequim Art Walk.
Art Walk is a free self-guided tour that leads participants to local art venues in Sequim on the First Friday of every month.
Orange is the color theme of this evening’s Art Walk, said Renne Emiko Brock, who sponsors and produces the event.
“Orange is one of the brighter colors in fall as summer fades away,” Brock said.
“Orange is energizing, delightful, sweet, zesty and inspires optimism and active participation. The warm hue of orange reminds us [of] toasty fires, nesting and organizing; seasonal sweaters; friendship made out of admirable interests; delightful sweets; encouraging teachers and mentors.”
Brock encourages attendees to wear orange attire when exploring the various shops and events.
Art Walk participants “will find works of art and folks supporting the option to dress in shades of orange or spicy colors as they enjoy an evening on the town with friends and family,” Brock said.
Art Walk will be from 5 to 8 tonight.
Visit www.sequimart walk.com to download a map of participating venues.
Here’s a cross section of events:
• Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St., during Art Walk will feature the works of Carol Janda — a painter, potter and teacher — and Katherine Loveland, a retired clinical psychologist and photographer.
“Making art keeps life interesting,” Janda said.
“There’s always something new to learn, a problem to solve or a project which encourages new ideas.”
Exploring both painting and pottery “allows me to move from visual to tactile, studying the compositions and applying new ideas or techniques,” Janda said.
“As I paint from nature, or non-representationally, my efforts create inspiration which leads from one thing to another.”
Loveland said she is “fascinated by the abstract in nature. When released from the distracting familiar, my awareness is free to respond at a deeper emotional and philosophic level. I can be a child experiencing the image with wonder.”
When taking photos, Loveland said she uses “repetitions and variations of shapes, textures and colors to produce tactile sculptural images.”
During her 30 years as a clinical psychologist, Loveland said she “frequently used the power of the image to enable patients to access deeper awareness. It is my hope that my images will evoke similar responses in the viewer.”
• The Museum and Arts Center, 175 W. Cedar St., during Art Walk will feature The North Olympic Fiber Arts Festival’s “Material Measurement – Magnitude, Meaning &Makers” fiber arts juried exhibition.
The exhibition, “is about vindicating the volume and importance of all fiber in its many forms while reflecting on textiles, tales and talent through enlightenment, abundance, accumulation and perception,” according to a news release.
“Jazzy” Judy Clark will perform while visitors view the fiber art on display.
• The Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St., during Art Walk will host a fiber arts exhibit in the lobby.
The exhibit includes 11 pieces of work from 7 artists selected by the City Arts Advisory Commission. The exhibit will include works in a variety of different forms from quilts to woven pieces. The artists represented are Sandra Rudd, Cathie Wier, Evelyn McGuirk, Sherry Nagel, Karen Gates-Kilpatrick, Betty Oppenheimer and Diane Williams.
The exhibit will be on display until Dec. 30.
• R&T Crystals and Beads, 158 E. Bell St., during Art Walk will offer fine jewelry demonstrations.
• The Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., will celebrate the opening of a new “Art in the Library” exhibit featuring the black and white photographs of Ken Dvorak at 6 tonight.
Then at 6:30 p.m., the Chuck Eastman/Rex Rice Quintet will perform tunes from the big band jazz and swing era.
The quintent features Easton on saxophone, Rice on trombone, Mark Schecter on piano, Dirk Anderson on bass and Tom Svornich on drums.
Dvorak’s exhibit will be on display through Feb. 1.
For more information, phone 360-683-1161 or visit www.nols.org.
• Local Yarn Shop, 213 E. Washington St., during Art Walk will host live music and fiber arts demonstrations.
• Olympic Theater Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., will host The Olympic Peninsula Ukulele Strummers (OPUS) beginning at 5:30 tonight.
Formerly known as the Eden Valley Strummers, OPUS consists of anywhere from eight to 30 players, according to Dan King, the group’s spokesperson, adding there also is an accordion and mandolin player.
• Mia Bella, 130A N. Third Ave., during Art Walk will feature art by Curposney Gadane, Pat Gordon, George Zien, Priscilla Patterson, Pam Kauffman and Joanie Schmoll.
• 1st Security Bank, 114 S. Sequim Ave., will host an artist’s reception for Jan Kepley, whose photographs currently are on display in the lobby, from 4:30 to 6 tonight.
• Sequim Spice and Tea, 139 W. Washington St., during Art Walk will display works by Maia Waye.
• Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., during Art Walk will host live music with the Tony Flaggs Band.
• The Bag Ladies of Sequim, 167 W. Washington St., during Art Walk will display handmade items made from old wool blankets and garments that have otherwise seen their last days.
For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/sequimartwalk.
This piece by Katherine Loveland, titled “Pathways,” during Art Walk will be on display at Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St. — Katherine Loveland.
These sculpted figures by Carol Janda, titled “Coded Message,” during Art Walk will be on display at Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St. — Carol Janda.
