Once in awhile, something comes along that changes the direction you are going. Forks, Washington, was once a redneck logging town with an economy decimated by environmental controversy surrounding the spotted owl and the need to preserve old growth habitat. And then Twilight descended – that world created by Stephenie Meyer and the final showdown between good and evil described through the eyes of vampires, wolves, and lovesick teenagers with “issues.” The saga, which has in 2009 alone attracted over 70,000 people from all over the world to a little town of about 3,000, has given a much-needed shot of new blood in the veins of this anemic community.
For those of us who live here, it is a curious phenomenon, if not just a little bit crazy.
Quite unexpectedly, this whole Twilight thing has presented a unique opportunity for hotels, restaurants, and shops across the Peninsula. For the Quileute Nation, it has also been an important opportunity to teach the ways of their people. For artisans like myself, it is an opportunity to create things that incorporate ideas from the novels and that also reflect the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula where the stories unfold.
I have lived on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington State, for over 20 years. It is a unique place on the planet, with ecosystems that vary from semi-desert to alpine meadows, to deep rainforests, to open estuaries and coastal surf. We hike the high country, wander along the riverbanks, kayak in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and explore tidepools at low tide. I try to capture eagles, herons, elk, salmon, mountain wildflowers, rivers, and waterfalls through a camera lens. I have seen cougars, mountain goats, and bear; once we even saw a lynx. My art, crafts, and photography have always been expressions of these places that keep me grounded.
I am, by default, a Team Jacob fan. Tribal legends, art, and culture enrich the world we live in. I can easily imagine wolves here, which were hunted to extinction in the 1920s and which are now the subject of much controversy as we debate whether to reintroduce them to the wild.
Genetically, however, I confess, I am linked to those Italian bloodsuckers, the Volturi. What can I say, I grow a lot of garlic. I can’t help myself. I even grow varieties that come from Transylvania and from hidden places deep within the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. The Volturi might not appreciate it to the level that I do.
The Twilight books have made us think about these conflicts. Ok. Maybe not everyone. But regardless of how you feel about the Twilight novels, the influx of tourists, or the ultimate war between good and evil, it can still be fun – it can be an excuse to get out and explore – maybe an excuse to visit the far northwest corner of the contiguous United States.
And if you happen to be wandering around Forks, possibly looking for Twilight mementos – whether you align yourself with Edward or Jacob or across both sides – may I suggest you stop in to Leppell’s Flower and Gifts, 130 S. Spartan Ave., located just across from the Forks High School (Home of the Spartans!). Charlene, the owner, carries some unusual items you won’t find elsewhere in town (including some of the things I make). She is very supportive of local artisans, as are several of the other stores in town.
If you’re online shopping, please visit my Etsy shop, where I am selling woodburned wolves on gourds, wolf sculptures made from polymer clay, and some Twilight-inspired wildlife photography taken at La Push and in the Olympic National Park.
Perhaps many of the people passing through Forks, La Push, and Port Angeles just want a T-shirt or baseball cap with a clever saying on it. That’s ok, too. T-shirts & hats are fun and easy to pack.
But for those who explore the paths off Main Street, you will see quite a different story, one that is just as full of mystery, magic, and power.
That’s the Twilight I try to express.
Enjoy! And thank you for your support!
