The First Friday Art Walk Sequim’s Jan. 5 color theme is silver — with hints of black and white — to celebrate the New Year filled with reflection, hope, and idealistic goals for the future.
First Friday Art Walk Sequim is a fun, free, self-guided tour of local art venues in Sequim from 5-8 p.m. the first Friday of every month. Visit SequimArtWalk.com to download and print a map, and find special events, links and how to be part of art.
Initiated in 2006, the Art Walk is an encouraging and educational arts event sponsored and produced by Renne Emiko Brock with a mission to create approachable, accessible art and cultural venues that encourage the community to connect and celebrate expression and diversity.
Artwork courtesy of Renne Emiko Brock Take part in the eighth-annual “Whodunnit Downtown? — The Case of the Sterling Reputation” Mystery Game during the First Friday Art Walk on Jan. 5.
To create inclusion between venues, artists, and audience, everyone is encouraged to participate in the Art Walk’s monthly color themes as a fun community activity in any creative form they wish to express it.
Special events
Collect clues and try to solve the eighth-annual “Whodunnit Downtown? — The Case of the Sterling Reputation” Mystery Game (see below).
A new venue on the Art Walk is the Riverhouse Bakery & Cafe at 120 W. Bell St. Enjoy Kelli Ward of KW Photography. “I’ve been a hobby photographer for years now and as you’ll see, I have a variety of shots,” Ward said. “My passion is with nature and landscape photography but I also love trying to get silhouettes with interesting backgrounds as well as animals. My dream is to be commissioned for specific landmark shots which send me into nature on a mission.”
The A. Milligan Art Studio and Gallery, 520 N. Sequim Ave., hosts the Olympic Peninsula Art Association’s Members Show & Fundraiser shines on through January. During the opening reception in December, visitors to the gallery voted for their favorite works of art in the “People’s Choice Awards.” Stop in to see the diverse works and various talents of the artist members of the OPAA. Proceeds from the fundraising event benefit the OPAA’s Art Scholarship Program. This year’s scholarship award recipients will also have their winning artworks on display in the Main Gallery. In the pastel studio, Anne Milligan has started working on her latest collection.
Photo courtesy of First Friday Art Walk / Enjoy live music from Mercy Buckets on Jan. 5 at Wild Goddess Brews-n-Bites during the First Friday Art Walk.
La Petite Maison Blanche, 213 E. Washington St., features painter Lynne Fearman with uniquely curated gifts and festive treats throughout the shop.
From 6-8 p.m. at Rainshadow Café, 157 W. Cedar St., enjoy live music with Dawn & Steve. Come sing your favorite songs with a full menu and drinks.
Wild Goddess Brews-n-Bites, 145 E. Washington St. Suite D, has small bites, salads, dips and boards. Have a comfy seat and enjoy a selection of beverages along with live music with Mercy Buckets from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Sequim Spice and Tea, 139 W. Washington St., has unique art including glass, pottery, illustrations and photography of local artists. Also, find artful, creative tea blends, colorful and fun teapots and cups, and cheerful culinary gifts.
Pacific Mist Books, 122 W. Washington St., shares the love of reading and offers an eclectic mix of new and vintage books, cards, and gifts including local authors and artists.
Artwork courtesy of First Friday Art Walk Artwork by Lynne Fearman, a featured artist at La Petite Maison Blanche during the First Friday Art Walk on Jan. 5.
From 5-7 p.m. at the Sequim Civic Center, the Sequim Arts Commission presents “To Enlighten, focus on light and shadow” art exhibit on view in the Karen Kuznek-Reese Gallery. The Sequim Arts Commission will also host an open music jam from 5-7 p.m.; members of the public are invited to bring their acoustic instruments and/or voice and join in an informal gathering of people who like to make music, and chairs will be provided.
Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St. has “The Best Of … ” as their artists display the favorites of each artist in both 2-D and 3-D art.
Over the Fence, a destination home and garden store at 118 E. Washington St., showcases local makers.
Find locally created gifts at Cedarbrook Lavender Gift Shop at 120 W. Washington St., which features farm fresh lavender creations, treats and inspired vintage décor items.
Eighth ‘Whodunnit’ game on tap
The eighth-annual “Whodunnit Downtown? — The Case of the Sterling Reputation” Mystery Game is a fun-filled evening where visitors engage with suspects and collect clues about the suspects at various venues to solve the crime. Play the game for a chance to win a prize.
The story is set on New Year’s Day 1986, something is afoot as revelers recover from a rocking celebration the night before as they attempt to describe the ruckus and prepare for a hopeful new year. The wildly popular Kitty Sterling Sterling of MTV groundbreaking edu-tainment specials has been catnapped for ransom, much like his legendary great-great-great-grandmother Martini was in the 1930s. Big shoulder pads and extravagant bigger egos reveal fame and fortune are not everything.
Artwork courtesy of First Friday Art Walk “Tull Canyon” by Kelli Ward, a featured artist at Riverhouse Bakery & Cafe during the First Friday Art Walk.
Starting at 5 p.m., moonwalk or keep walking on sunshine down the sidewalk while visiting various Sequim First Friday Art Walk venues for clues. Mingle with the suspects in our mystery game and discover why they might have kidnapped the silver tabby Kitty Sterling Sterling. Visitors and sleuths to the “Whodunnit Downtown?” and First Friday Art Walk Sequim are encouraged to dress in the theme colors of silver, black, and white, as well as, in 80’s era attire, New Wave, Punk, and Hard Rock, Preppy, and “Goonies” and other adventure motivated costumes. It is not required, but dressing up makes the evening more fun, festive and dialed up to 11.
To play, pick up your game card at any of the participating venues at 5 p.m. Fill out your game card, and enter it at “Whodunnit Headquarters”: Habitat for Humanity of Clallam County’s Sequim Habitat Boutique Store at 154 W. Washington St., and then be part of the prize drawing for the correct answer at 7:30 p.m. No purchase is necessary. Participants must be 21 or older to win, but need not be present to win. Winner drawn by random and the first game card drawn with the correct answer wins the prizes donated by Sequim friends and local businesses.
Artwork courtesy of First Friday Art Walk / “Best of the Owls” by Jeannine Chappell, a featured artist at Blue Whole Gallery in January.
“Whodunnit Downtown? – The Case of the Sterling Reputation” is co-hosted by First Friday Art Walk Sequim with Sequim downtown merchants. Find clues at these venues: A. Milligan Art Studio & Gallery, 520 N. Sequim Ave.; Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St.; Cedarbrook Lavender & Herb Farm Gift Shop, 120 W. Washington St.; Sequim Habitat Boutique Store, 154 W. Washington St.; La Petite Maison Blanc, 213 E. Washington St.; Pacific Mist Books, 122 W Washington St.; Over the Fence, 118 E. Washington St.; Sequim Spice and Tea, 139 W. Washington St., and Wild Goddess Brews-n-Bite, 145 E. Washington St. Suite D.
Find more details and a map at SequimArtWalk.com.
For more
To participate as a venue or artist on the Official First Friday Art Walk Sequim map, listing and website, contact Brock at 360-460-3023 or renne@uniqueasyou.com. Artists of any media are encouraged to get information to her for publicity and opportunities.
To create inclusion between venues, artists and audience, everyone is encouraged to participate in the Art Walk’s monthly themes as a fun community activity in any creative form they wish to express it. January is silver, February is red, March is green, April is pink, May is aqua, June is white, July is purple, August is yellow, September is blue, October is orange, November is brown and December is gold.
Join the Art Walk Facebook page at facebook.com/sequimartwalk.
First Friday Art Walk Sequim
When: 5-8 p.m. Jan. 5
Location: Various venues near downtown Sequim
On the web: SequimArtWalk.com
