The Clallam Bay Dragon is back -- With A Partner

Sue Heiny and Paul Bowlby model the new dragon

Chinese New Year celebrations in Clallam Bay will begin with a dragon dance and parade through downtown Saturday, February the 5th.

The dance, celebrating the arrival of the year of the Rabbit, begins at 3:00 pm at the Weel Way Deli parking lot, and will continue through local businesses, followed by a potluck at the gallery (the green building on the west end of town) at 4:00 pm. Local band Loose Gravel will provide joyful bluegrass music.

A Rabbit year represents happiness, wealth and longevity. Two new dragons will double the fun, especially if enough participants take part; children are very welcome to come help the dragons dance. Noisemakers and costumes encouraged.

The original dragon, "Pollyanna," had been retired after several years of noble service. The dragon bodies are being made by the kids at the Clallam Bay preschool. The new heads were constructed by Forks artist Greg Hubbard. The silver-haired female dragon-head, "Aurora," and her sparkly-horned purple mate, "Ching Chang," represent the yin/yang or male/female principle.

The heads' construction is based on rebar wire and athletic support tape, a strong, simple and waterproof method that was originated locally by Hubbard, using materials easily obtained locally. The method is being used by other members of the community to construct headdresses and masks for the dance.

West End Muses: Protect Local Food Sources - Call Your Senators Now!

Protect Local Food Sources - Call Your Senators Now!

Three Sisters High On The Sacred Bean!

Caffeine Mania! The Three Sisters of Clallam Art Gallery now has its own espresso bar. Owners Sue Heiny, Sarah Grafstrom and Diana Goplen welcome everybody to the big green building at the west end of Clallam Bay. Stop by, hang out and top up for that long drive to Lake Ozette or Shi Shi Beach.

Clallam Bay Holidays

The Three Sisters know how to do Hallowe'en.

And Christmas.

AND the Tree Raffle Party,with Loose Gravel, who almost lose their donation pot to little Piper Bean

True Native Art

True art by Makah tribal members http://ping.fm/SRtau

I've seen tourists trolling for fake native stuff, just "something that looks Injun," because they think the Neah Bay prices are too high. And -- sadly -- artists actually considering doing it, when they only know as much about the art form as they've seen driving by a totem pole.

Nearest commissioned a Makah silver wrist cuff. I've been hinting for one of these for years, ever since we moved up here. I didn't want one just bought out of the glass counter. Click here to see it.

That cost us a mere $175.00. A bracelet like this -- with overhead costs, including research, travel, transportation, advertising, storage, etc. -- would cost over $350.00 in any Seattle gallery. It could come to $500.00 in a German gallery.

And it's the real thing, from a recognized artist.

Speaking of recognized artists, Frank Smith's totem poles are all over Neah Bay. Their style, while within the tradition, is so individual they're easy to spot. One of them is in the mall at the corner of Highway 112 and Frontier Street, in Clallam Bay. There's another in Port Orchard, on southern docks. And another I'm pretty sure is his on the grounds of an apartment complex in Bremerton.

Desert Peach musical clips at: http://ping.fm/e2Ucj

I did 6 x about 1600 panels like this before I ever published. OCD? http://ping.fm/jcuo6