Downtown Sequim – Page 21 – Sequim Daily Photo

The new totem pole

Today I thought I’d give you a closer look at the new totem pole donated by the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe to the City of Sequim for our new Civic Center plaza. Carved by the tribe’s master carver, Dale Faulstich, it was blessed last month at the dedication of the City Hall.

This shot shows the first figure at the bottom of the pole. In Salish culture totem poles are used for many reasons. They can commemorate family and community history and convey the folklore of religious and cultural beliefs.

This is the middle section of the new pole. This pole depicts a story of brothers who became the Sun and Moon and the maidens they married. In the story they slay the Chief Above to bring light to the land.

This is the top of the pole. Old growth Western Red Cedars are carefully harvested to create totem poles. The trees are typically 500 to 900 years old, taken from the Hoh Rain Forest on the western Olympic Peninsula.

A somber reminder

I returned to Sequim’s new Civic Center Plaza recently. I’d read that there is an artifact memorializing 9/11 from New York’s Twin Towers and I wanted to take a look. I found it, modestly placed at the base of two flag poles.

It is a piece of steel from the collapsed towers. Sequim’s Police Chief Bill Dickinson and other police officers went to New York on their own time (and dimes) to collect the piece and bring it back for eventual placement in the new Civic Center. It had been in storage since 2011.

It’s a substantial piece of steel, about two inches thick. When I saw it there was no label or interpretive information. At least for now you need to know what you’re looking at to understand its significance.

Somethin’ fishy

Kiwi’s Fish and Chips changed hands this spring and it’s now Fudd’s. A young couple with background in the food industry has taken it over, promising fresh tasting fish and reasonable prices. The buzz on Facebook and Yelp so far is pretty good. My shadow, shown in the shot above, is about as close as I got to the front door. It was closed when I came by. I’ve not done any taste testing. Any locals care to report?

Bench and shadows

This is one of the benches at the new Civic Center plaza. I like the shadows that it cast.

The new plaza

Sequim’s new Civic Center was dedicated a week ago with a brand new totem pole taking center stage in the adjacent plaza. You can see it to the right in the photo above. According to the local Peninsula Daily News, the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe was originally asked if they might contribute some wall art to the Center.

The tribe, Sequim’s first residents, decided instead to commission a totem pole from their master carver, Dale Faulstich. The 30 foot pole depicts “The legend of Sequim’s sunshine.” Click here to learn more about the legend as well as the dedication ceremony.

Sand Art, 2 of 2

Kali Bradford and Barry Swires were working last Sunday on a new sand sculpture outside the Innovation Law Group on Sequim Avenue. This piece celebrates Sequim and our upcoming lavender festival in July. This piece replaces one I showed you last September.

I love the old truck that Barry is working on. It will have pots of flowers in its cargo area when finished.

I first introduced you to Kali last summer as she completed a sand sculpture for our 2014 lavender festival. Since then she has added paint to her work. She’s found that people looking at painted portions of sculptures now will comment and point out detail more readily.

Sand art, 1 of 2

Local sand sculptor Kali Bradford completed two pieces for our 120th Irrigation Festival recently. The one above is near Adagio Bean and Leaf on East Washington.

This irrigation-themed sculpture is near Lucky Star Consignment on West Washington. Kali colors parts of her sculptures now and adds living flowers. She has found that it enables people to more readily see and recognize her work.

I especially liked the “heart water” detail.

Tomorrow I’ll show you another of Kali’s work as it’s being sculpted.