Winthrop
The week kicked off with the Methow Conservancy’s The Methow Out My Window opening at Door No. 3. Last fall, local artists were invited to submit pieces of linoleum block print or digital photography that responded to the prompt, “The Methow Out My Window.” Selected submissions were made into an incredible one-of-a-kind collection of art and poetry, with Linda Robertson’s collection of Methow poems entitled “Letters to Julia” serving as text. The book was designed and produced at Paper Hammer Studio in Tieton, Washington, with assistance from Laura Gunnip and Robin Doggett of Door No. 3.
At the opening, 13 of the 17 artists represented in the book were in attendance, and all spoke from the heart about their work on the project, some quite poignantly. One was Denny O’Callaghan, who talked about building his house with a view of the mountains so when he grows too old to get out into the backcountry, he can still look at the peaks. Denny’s photo in the book is, quite literally, the view of the Methow from his window.
On Saturday, several hundred kids and their parents raced around the grounds of the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, getting their Fishing Day passports stamped as they completed fishing-related activities at different booths. Then they lined the banks of the stocked pond to catch, with great success, some of the many wary trout that were circling. A couple of kids even caught fish that were too big to fit in the bags provided by the hatchery.
Sunday’s Pridefest procession that started at the Spring Creek Bridge and ended with a festival at Mack Lloyd Park was well-attended by a rainbow-clad crew of marchers who shut down one lane of Riverside Avenue for about 20 minutes while they paraded through town amid much horn-honking and well-wishing.
Rainbow cupcakes, hula-hoops, a dance floor and a badminton court greeted us when we reached the park, and speeches ensued. The “drag race” was a fun new addition to the festivities. Fashion consultants worked fast and furious on the brave contestants, clothing them as drag kings or queens and making bold and unexpected fashion statements such as the Joe Brown climbing helmet as vogue headwear, as well as lingerie worn on the outside of clothing (why keep support garments hidden away indeed?).
But the biggest surprise of the day was the hula-hoopers, many of whom were people who hadn’t picked up a hoop since elementary school. From hidden talents to feather boas—it was all coming out of the closet on Sunday.
Got Winthrop news? Tell Ashley
