Oak Harbor’s art community will be out in force Sept. 4 for the Garry Oak Gallery’s “First Friday” event where the community can meet with local artists and discuss their crafts.

This month’s featured artist, Joanne Deckwa, is one of the original 23 artists to display work at the co-op art gallery that opened last October. Almost a year later, 27 artists’ work is on display at the Pioneer Way storefront.

Deckwa specializes in unique jewelry design that incorporates beads and other materials from a myriad of sources. Her interest in art didn’t come until later in life when she began searching for a creative outlet.

“I had always loved to wear ‘special’ jewelry and I thought making my own could be the answer,” she said.

An old pin with sentimental value became the pendant for her first necklace. Deckwa enjoys creating new pieces from vintage jewelry and often redesigns older pieces, giving them a new, fresh look.

The First Friday event began earlier this summer with sparse attendance, said Randy Emmons a watercolorist who displays work at the Garry Oak Gallery. He’s hopeful for better attendance this month as more Pioneer Way shops agreed to extend their hours for the budding tradition.

In an effort to encourage even more people to attend, Deckwa will offer a discount of 10 percent on all her jewelry for the month of September.

Purple Moon, Sports Look, Amy’s Touch, Good Times Pizza, Paint Your World and Oak Tree Antiques will keep their doors open until 8 p.m. for the Sept. 4 First Friday.

For more information, call the Garry Oak Gallery at 240-0222 or stop by SE Pioneer Way.

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