Sea this: Marine wood and metal sculpture on display at maritime center

PORT TOWNSEND — Sailboats, yachts, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — they’re all found in art made by a pair of Port Townsend women.

Mare Tietjen and Margie McDonald, two who grew up on the Atlantic coast of Canada, are presenting “Sea-Change,” a show of marine wood and metal sculpture at a most appropriate venue: the Northwest Maritime Center.

The center at 431 Water St. will host an opening reception with the artists from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Then, “Sea-Change” will be open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. through August’s end.

Tietjen, a sailor, finds the wood for her sculptures on the beaches of the Northwest.

“Gradually, over time, I realized that the painted and weathered wood I was picking up was mostly pieces of boats that had been lost,” she said.

“My art aims to find meaning in the history and character of these bits of wood and to bring out their strange beauty.”

A writer, musician and teacher in her earlier life, she developed a passion for visual art during her career as an ad agency creative director.

McDonald, meantime, is on a lifelong exploration of the fiber arts.

She earned a degree in fine art with a focus on textiles and uses traditional techniques to turn them into sculptural forms.

Then, in 1998, she was introduced to wire splicing while working as a yacht rigger.

“This rigid fiber opened a new world,” she said.

“With this new medium and an excess of energy, my sculptures evolve through the process of fabrication, rather than a preconceived plan.”

During the show, 40 percent of sales will benefit the Northwest Maritime Center.

To find out more, phone the center at 360-385-3628 or visit www.NWMaritime.org.

More in Life

Reading Specialist Christine MacDougall Danielson signs fifth-grader Orion Schmit’s “last day of school” shirt with help from paraeducator Elizabeth Joers. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim teachers retire after three decades

Couple spent much of their careers in elementary schools

A GROWING CONCERN: Worm your way into summer gardening

NOW THAT SUMMER has officially arrived and your garden is growing like… Continue reading

The Rev. Larry Schellink will present “Spiritually Awakening our Soul’s Deepest Calling” at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Schellink is the minister of record at Unity in the Olympics, 2917 E. Myrtle Ave.
Weekend program scheduled for Unity in the Olympics

The Rev. Larry Schellink will present “Spiritually Awakening our… Continue reading

Joseph Bednarik
Sunday program set for OUUF

Joseph Bednarik will present “So Now What?” at 11… Continue reading

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith.
Speaker set at Unity in Port Townsend for weekend service

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith will present “Overcoming Paralysis” at… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Finding faith with happy campers

I’M NOT SURE what the proportion of RVs to regular vehicles is… Continue reading

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith.
Speaker set at Unity in Port Townsend for weekend service

The Rev. Pam Douglas-Smith will present “Pentecost: Spirit of… Continue reading

The Rev. Bill Evans.
Unity in Olympics speaker scheduled for Sunday service

The Rev. William Evans will present “The Secret Science… Continue reading

Michael.Lowe.
Lowe slated as OUUF speaker

Michael Lowe will present “The Sequim Pride Celebration: Past,… Continue reading

ISSUES OF FAITH: Spreading their wings and the word

Our son Gavin recently received a mission call and assignment to serve… Continue reading

A GROWING CONCERN: Don’t let those pests rest

AS SPRING SLOWLY gives way to the approaching summer season (today is… Continue reading