PORT ANGELES — Plan on a beehive without the stings and many flavors of honey in the form of fresh art.
Such will be the scene Sunday at The Gateway pavilion at Front and Lincoln streets as a slew of artists invite passersby to try their hands at claymation, beading, sidewalk chalk painting and pottery — all free — from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
“I’m going to help kids throw [clay] on the wheel,” said ceramic artist Cindy Elstrom. “I’ll get right in there with them, and they’ll get to see how it feels to work with the clay.”
Artist and filmmaker Sarah Tucker will set up a claymation station, where children and teens can make figures and animated scenes.
“It’s a lot easier than it looks,” Tucker said.
Also Sunday, Cathy Haight will set up a place for kids to try painting, Diana Kohler will open a beading booth and Janine Hegy will show children how to create chalk paintings.
All of this is part of Arts in Action this weekend — and an effort to “colorize the downtown.”
For all ages
At The Gateway, “the focus is on events that younger kids can do, but some would lend themselves to any age,” said arts council President Eric Neurath.
Does that mean parents and other grown-ups can get in there and do some painting and beading?
“Oh, sure. It’s open to anyone. We’ll have fun,” said Hegy, the stone carver who will facilitate the sidewalk-chalk art.
Another cluster of adults will be on hand to create performance paintings — big canvases that transform in an afternoon — and add yet another dimension to the scene.
The Port Angeles trio of artists known as Three-Legged Dog will set up at The Gateway from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and, just as they did during the Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts in May, the men will look for inspiration in their surroundings and among the people passing through.
Doug Parent, one of the Three-Legged Dog painters, has done a lot of outdoor performance art. He’s fast but fastidious with his brushes and colors.
As people visit The Gateway on Sunday, they will witness art taking shape “right before their eyes,” he promised.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
