FORKS — Nearly 200 West End residents packed the new Rainforest Arts Center on Saturday to celebrate the community center’s grand opening.
Forks civic leaders and community members cut a long red ribbon on the front walk at 1 p.m. before a dedication ceremony was held with Quileute tribal singers from LaPush and speeches by some of those who had taken part in rebuilding the city’s arts center.
The opening ceremony for the $2.1 million, 6,300-square-foot building at 35 N. Forks Ave. was a festive affair with laughter as, for the first time in more than two years, the community again had a place to gather.
Mayor Bryon Monohon addressed the crowd during the dedication ceremony.
“Indeed, in the hours I have spent in this wonderful building, already ‘joy’ is the word I most connect with the feel of the space and energy of the building,” Monohon said.
The 70-year-old International Order of Odd Fellows Hall, which once housed the arts center that was destroyed by fire 2½ years ago, held a lot of good memories, Monohon said.
“May this building be an inspiration for the generations that follow us, and may inspiration come from here that is beneficial for all,” he said.
Monohon pointed out many features of the new building, including exposed wood beams, its accessible location in the Forks downtown and the large space.
The building was designed by Matthew Rumbaugh and Boris Srdar of RAC Architecture of Seattle, who created the building to resemble a large circular saw evoking the town’s timber history.
Lacquered, exposed wood is evident throughout. A wall of blocks of wood on their sides shows the grain. The exterior is styled with brick, wood and cement shingles made to look like wood.
“I heard repeatedly from individuals working on the building that it was a joy to work on and be part of a project that really meant something and was being built to specifically show their handiwork,” Monohon said.
City Attorney/Planner Rod Fleck recalled the hard work that went into rebuilding the arts center.
“From the ash and the smoke and the debris, this community brought forward this effort, and we all did it in less than 2½ years. Lightning speed for government, mind you,” Fleck said.
There are still details to complete, he said.
In two weeks, students from the University of Washington School of Architecture will be in Forks to propose designs of acoustic wall treatments to city officials.
The selected design is to be complete by June 8.
“Or they don’t graduate,” Fleck said.
Naomi Jacobson, president of the Quileute Tribal Council, presented a gift to Monohon: a large mounted photo of a Quileute canoe.
Clallam County Commissioner Bill Peach and Port Angeles City Councilwoman Cherie Kidd also were on hand to congratulate Forks residents on the completion of the project.
The grand opening of the arts center followed the traditional RainFest Umbrella Parade.
Saturday’s events also included a children’s book giveaway, a quilt show, a family dance and arts demonstrations.
The center will be open today with several community events.
A noon tour of the arts center will open the third day of RainFest events, followed by a 2 p.m. showing in the center of the classic movie “Singing in the Rain” sponsored by the Forks High School Drama Club.
Concession sales during the movie will benefit Rebekah Johansen’s summer theater internship camp in Missoula, Mont.
The Fabric of the Forest quilt show, hosted by the Piecemakers Quilt Club and sponsored by the West Olympic Council of the Arts, will be open for one last day at Forks High School, 261 Spartan Ave.
Dozens of quilts and vendors selling materials for making quilts will be available from noon to 4 p.m.
Entry to the quilt show is free; donations are accepted.
An open-mic talent show sponsored by the Rainforest Council for the Arts will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the center.
Registration for the talent show will start at 3:30 p.m.
A second weekend of RainFest: River and Ocean Days, focusing on the rivers and beaches, will be held this Friday and Saturday.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.