SEQUIM — A giant sand sculpture at the southwest corner of Sequim Avenue and Spruce Street announces “Welcome to Lavenderville,” as farmers and growers associations gear up for Sequim Lavender Weekend on July 17-19.
“We Live in a Postcard” is the name given to it by Sequim artist Kali Bradford, creator of the sculpture, who gave it its finishing touches Thursday.
Mountain backdrop
The sculpture, made of glacier sand and spray-painted, depicts a lavender farm in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley backdropped by the Olympic Mountains.
On the back is carved a postcard image.
The sculpture was commissioned by the Sequim Lavender Growers Association in partnership with Jacques Dulin of Innovation Law Group to commemorate the group’s 19th Sequim Lavender Festival.
The growers association is one of the two groups putting on events during Sequim Lavender Weekend.
The growers group plans a street fair in downtown Sequim on Fir Street between Sequim and Third avenues — which it calls the Sequim Lavender Festival — and offering free tours of farms in its association.
The Sequim Lavender Farmers Association plans paid tours of lavender farm members of its association.
“The backdrop of the Olympic Mountain range leaves no doubt in the viewer’s mind that this scene is nestled in what is famously known as the Lavender Capital of North America,” said Mary Jendrucko, president of the Sequim Lavender Growers Association.
The sand sculpture was crafted in advance of Sequim Lavender Weekend “so that people could see it coming,” said Bradford, 73.
The sculpture incorporates 27,500 pounds of tightly compacted glacier sand — imported from Silverdale, Dulin said.
“We create our own sandstone,” Bradford said.
Bradford used water and tools to shape the sand sculpture. Spray paint gives it its color.
Performing art
“It is a performing art. I love the fact that if I don’t like it, I can come back and change it and make it into something else,” she said.
“It is fixable. It is not marble. It is sand, and if it breaks, I can fix it.”
Bradford is a Sequim resident, part-time substitute teacher for the Sequim School District, competitor and award winner at various nationwide and worldwide sand sculptor competitions with original artwork stationed year-round throughout downtown Sequim.
She has been a sand sculptor for about 37 years.
Lavender Weekend
About 20,000 people are anticipated to attend this year’s Lavender Weekend — touted as the largest lavender event in North America.
The three-day event will include quilt shows, art exhibits, concerts, wine tasting and live theater performances.
The various events are sponsored by the farmers and growers associations.
For a complete list of events on the city’s Lavender Weekend website, see http://tinyurl.com/PDN-lavenderweekend.
For more on the growers association, see www.lavenderfestival.com.
For more on the farmers association, see www.sequimlavender.org.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
