By Luisa Loi
La Conner Community News
You might have noticed this week’s issue is a little heavier than the rest. That’s because the La Conner Community News, in partnership with the La Conner Arts Commission, is serving the news with a side of artsy patriotism in honor of the United States’ 250th birthday.
All are welcome to rehearse some history and get creative with this coloring book regardless of their ability to color within the lines.
The art was produced by Shawntay Perry, a 15-year-old La Conner High School student who will begin 11th grade this coming school year and will serve as a student member of the Arts Commission starting in September.
Perry is a Swinomish Tribal member who developed an interest in art at 5, influenced by her father and stepfather. While her go-to style is realism, she doesn’t shy away from a challenge and agreed to draw the coloring book as a way to represent her school and community.
“I thought it was gonna be pretty fun, and it was,” she said. “I like to be involved with the community.”
Her technique: drawing on her phone with her fingers and an art app.
Nicolette Harrington, a local artist and member of the Arts Commission, said she was impressed by Perry’s line work, despite the fact she didn’t use a pen.
“It looks like (what) a coloring book is supposed to look,” she said. “I think it will be a lot of fun for people to have it.”
Harrington drew the rough sketches for Perry to recreate digitally, striving to tell bits of history of Swinomish, La Conner and the United States with simple illustrations.
The idea of a coloring book came during an Arts Commission meeting a few months ago, when the commission expressed an interest in doing something to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial anniversary.
Chair Holly Redell-Witte emphasized the importance of representing both sides of the Swinomish Channel, including the people who have stewarded and lived on this land since before the arrival of European settlers and the events of the American Revolution.
Redell-Witte hopes the coloring book will appeal to all ages and enhance Independence Day celebrations. In the scenario of pouring rain during the parade, she said, it could be a fun activity to do at home.
Luisa Loi is a general assignment reporter for La Conner Community News.
