The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center will host the Summertide Solstice Art Festival, a free, family-friendly event from 12:30-5 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, to celebrate the longest day of the year and welcome new artwork and poetry to Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park.
The festival features live music, lawn games, nature art stations, poetry readings, and local food and drink vendors.
Held at 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., the Summertide Festival is free, family-friendly, and open to the public with donations appreciated and encouraged. Learn more about this and other events at pafac.org/summertide-festival.
This event marks the yearly changeover of sculptures for the open air exhibition. Five new artwork installations have been added to Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park as a part of “Elements of Nature Transformed: A Consideration of Color”. These new arrivals will be on display for one year and join the other existing works of art nestled into five acres of rugged second-growth forest.
This year’s artists include Gary Stecca, Greg Neal, Jennifer Kapnek, Jessica Bruning and Nathan Shields.
“The theme of this year’s installations really focuses on color and how it can transform perceptions. It’s been wonderful to see how artists interpret the use of color, whether reflecting the natural palette or emphasizing bold contrasts,” said gallery and program director Stacey Rekkedahl, who joined the PAFAC in January.
Poetry in the Park, a collaboration with the Olympic Peninsula Authors group, contains a selection of 18 new original poems. The poems will also be displayed on signs throughout the woods for one year.
Participating authors include Joan Enoch, MD, Angela Terry, Nina Burokas, Carrie Sanford, Chris Kleinfelter, Francis Opila, Eva McGinnis, Laura Garrard, Gina Hietpas, Eelka Franziska Lampe, Gary E. Bullock, Melinda Gelder, Emma Amiad, Nancy Fowler, CarolAnne Modena, Dianne L. Knox, Clair Dunlap, and Linda B. Myers.
Visitors will be able to meet the authors and enjoy live readings in the gallery courtyard starting at 12:30 p.m. or enjoy a self-guided poetry walk through the park.
There are plenty of activities to explore throughout the afternoon from viewing the “Blooming Artists” exhibition in the gallery to hands-on nature art stations like bubble wand making, solstice flower crowns, or felting with Cabled Fiber & Yarn.
Attendees can also enjoy live music from the meadow stage throughout the event. Song-slinger and returning performer Jack Dwyer will kick off music in the meadow from 1-2 p.m., followed by alternative folk singer-songwriter Jack Tierney from 2:30-3:30 p.m., and finally, Mort Crim All Stars will close out the festival with ’90s ska punk from 4-5 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair and listen to the performances down in the meadow, or enjoy the melodies throughout the park as they explore the new artwork or make art at one of the hands-on stations.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase from local vendors Pacific Pantry and Angeles Brewing.
Summertide is sponsored by the Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau, 7 Cedars Hotel & Casino, and Cabled Fiber & Yarn; and in-kind sponsors KONP, Cherry Hill Florist & Gifts, Tampopo Farm and Angeles Millwork & Hartnagel Building Supply.
Find information about Summertide including the full list of participating artists and additional information about all programs provided by visiting pafac.org.
