PORT TOWNSEND — Art is what makes us human and helps us to connect with each other, Northwind Art development manager Mary Black said.
“Even if we can’t speak the same language,” she said, “we can still connect with other people,” in an art gallery and in an art class.
That’s the essence of Northwind Art, the Jefferson County-based nonprofit organization which will host the Northwind Art Gala, a night of live music by the Salish Surf Rockabillies, a festive auction, a dessert dash, drinks, appetizers and dinner featuring Cape Cleare salmon.
The event is set for Oct. 19 at the Fort Worden USO Hall. Tickets, at $130, are available through Oct. 15 at https://northwindart.org. The site also accepts donations from anyone who can’t make it to the gala.
Northwind’s Jeanette Best Gallery, a large venue in the Waterman & Katz building at 701 Water St., displays and sells the work of local and regional artists, including both emerging and established painters, fiber and mixed-media artists, sculptors, printmakers and ceramicists.
Across town at Fort Worden State Park, Northwind Art School offers scores of art courses and workshops for beginners through professionals.
At both places, “we want a really welcoming culture. We want a culture where people are cooperative, where they’re open and where growth and learning are part of your every day,” said Martha Worthley, Northwind’s executive director. She succeeded founding director Teresa Verraes last December.
“We want to support artists where they live,” Worthley said, noting that, in 2023, Northwind paid out more than $200,000 to the local artists showing their work in the gallery and teaching classes at the school.
Northwind Art also curates local artists’ work for display at Jefferson Healthcare hospital.
“We have a longtime partnership with Jefferson Healthcare. We try to provide [art] work that is going to give some kind of comfort, or bright color; something that is a respite for someone who is maybe under duress at the hospital or maybe is just there for a visit,” Worthley said.
To continue offering art experiences in its community, Northwind seeks grants and direct donations, she added.
Black said the gala is an opportunity to both celebrate and support the organization’s past, present and future. In addition to purchasing a ticket, she said, bidding on the auction items is another way to contribute. The auction items include a private screening for 45 people at the Starlight Room, a garden party at the Bishop Hotel, local theater tickets, a framed, signed print by marine photographer Bill Curtsinger, private art classes with local teaching artists, and two “Spirit Stick” sculptures by the late Russell Jaqua.
Gala guests also will have a chance to bid on desserts from local chefs in a dessert dash.
All of this is in the name of supporting the coming year of Northwind programming.
“Financial gifts are absolutely essential to our very existence,” Black said.
There also will be some surprises at the gala; Whaleheart Productions of Port Townsend is producing a short documentary that will premiere at the event.
“I really believe in this project,” Worthley said of Northwind Art. Success depends on the art sales and class fees — “earned income” in nonprofit speak.
The other crucial part of Northwind’s funding comes from donors — people who want to have art in their lives.
“Those two things, joined together,” Worthley said, “can create an organization that has some long legs into the future.”
