BirdQuest showcases students’ sculptures

Bird Quest 2016

What: Bird-themed scavenger hunt

When: Friday, April 1 (includes grand prize drawing at 8 p.m. at That Takes the Cake

Where: 12 downtown Sequim businesses

More info: www.sequimchamber.com, www.sequimartwalk.com, www.olympicbirdfest.org

Over the past four years, creating bird sculptures for BirdQuest, a scavenger game played in Downtown Sequim, has been a rite of passage — and significant part of their grade — for art students in Jake Reichner’s ceramics classes at Sequim High School.

Long-time friends Reichner and Powell Jones, executive director of the Dungeness River Audubon Center, with inspiration from Diane Fatzinger, then of the Sequim Merchants Group, came up with the idea that “links the community, businesses and the high school because it forces students to establish relationships with businesses” in the contest, Reichner said.

In a nutshell, according to the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, “Players will use a game card to match ceramic bird figurines with the 12 businesses in which they are displayed.”

After matching all the birds and businesses, players are eligible to win the grand prize in a drawing of game cards. Participants also vote for their favorite three sculptures and cash prizes will be awarded to the lucky student artists.

Avian artwork

Students have been building their bird figurines since February and the rush is on as the sculptures have to be ready and in place for the First Friday Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. April 1 when the scavenger hunt begins and ends. The grand prize drawing will be at 8 p.m. at That Takes the Cake.

“It’s cool,” said Reichner of the project. “I don’t get buy-in from every student about having to build a bird but generally it’s exciting for the kids because they have the opportunity to show their work, get exposure and possibly sell their work — it’s cool for the teenagers.

“In the past, a lot of kids sold their works and got cash prizes for first, second or third place.” Reichner said student sculptures have sold for $25-$150.

“Students can pick any bird,” he said. “I even allow abstractions of birds and of course, the more realistic ones. I want to allow them freedom — it’s important to give them as much freedom as possible in creating and expressing themselves.”

Owl-catching’ year

This year has been an “owl-catching” year, with many types of owls coming to life from clay balls in students’ hands that they form into cups one-half inch thick. Others in the flocks include toucans, puffins, bluejays, ducks, hawks, penguins and tanagers.

“They all have built their birds by pinch building (joining two cups face to face) and some of the bigger ones are coil built. It’s the first ceramics project for these kids,” Reichner said. “I show how to make basic bird forms from a handout. With a ball of clay, they pinch until they form a cup and multiple cups make a bird — head, body and tail.”

When the figurines are complete, they must dry thoroughly before they’re fired in one of two classroom kilns at 2,000 degrees. Once cooled, they’re painted with glazing, a glass coating, and refired.

Between his Ceramics I and Ceramics II classes, Reichner teaches about 60 students.

“Many of the kids are surprised what they can make, and that creating a bird, and the scene the bird fits into (rocks, trees, logs, etc., for props) is a challenging but valuable way to teach students about key ceramics concepts like form, texture and depth,” he said.

“In the past, many students who did not see themselves as artistic have been proud to be a part of the event and have their work displayed for public viewing,” he said.

Participating merchants

1. Blue Hole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St.

2. Cedarbrook Lavender, 134 1/2 W. Washington St.

3. Fieldnotes, 123 E. Washington St.

4. Fudd’s Fish & Chips, 173 W. Washington St.

5. Hart’s Fine Books, 161 W. Washington St.

6. Heather Creek, 122 W. Washington St.

7. Olympic Lavender, 120 W. Washington St.

8. Purple Haze Lavender, 127 W. Washington St.

9. Rusting Rooster, 154 E. Washington St.

10. Solar City Boutique, 135 W. Washington St.

11. That Takes The Cake, 171 W. Washington St.