Victoria Express

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is a great place to visit once you’ve ridden the Victoria Express from downtown Victoria to downtown Port Angeles. The PAFAC offers a diverse series of exhibits that rotate every two or three months. A recurring exhibit is Strait Art, which promotes artists from the region around the Straits of Juan de Fuca. While it is a goal of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center to promote local art, the center also looks around the globe for artists and exhibitions. One of the most popular exhibitions in recent years was Dreamtime: Contemporary Australian Aboriginal Art from Yuendumu, which showcased the burgeoning art movement of Australia’s indigenous peoples.

In mid-May, PAFAC will launch Portfolio 2009, its fourth annual showcase of Clallam high school student artists. Barabara Slavik, ArtPaths education director, acts as a mentor to the 26 students whose work has been selected for the show. During the three months leading up to the show, she helps instill a sense of professionalism in the students, and instructs them on how to create a coherent portfolio that underlines their individual talents. It is worth checking out the work created by these students from Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and La Push.

When you visit PAFAC, make sure to allow time for strolling through Webster’s Woods, home to an outdoor exhibit since 2000. According to the museum’s website, in this museum without walls “there is a playful and not-always-distinct border between the artists’ creations, the flora and the natural features of this spectacular property. The transitory nature of many of the artworks makes for a visible evolution in the collection, even for the new or infrequent visitor, as marked through the constant changes manifested by the passage of the seasons.”

The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center is located approximately two miles from the Victoria Express Ferry Terminal. Indoor exhibits are open for viewing Wednesday – Sunday, 11Am – 5PM. Webster’s Woods are always open. Admission is free.