PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Fine Arts Center will host the Summertide Solstice Art Festival from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
The free, family-friendly celebration will be at Webster’s Woods Sculpture Park, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
The outdoor festival will include live music, lawn games, nature art stations, poetry readings and local food and drink vendors.
The center coordinates the annual changeover of sculptures in the open air exhibition with the celebration of the solstice.
This year, five new installations have been added to park as a part of the exhibit called Elements of Nature Transformed: A Consideration of Color.
“The theme of this year’s installations really focuses on color and how it can transform perceptions,” said Stacey Rekkedahl, the gallery and program director. “It’s been wonderful to see how artists interpret the use of color, whether reflecting the natural palette or emphasizing bold contrasts.”
The new works are by Gary Stecca, Greg Neal, Jennifer Kapnek, Jessica Bruning and Nathan Shields.
The new pieces will join the existing works placed across the 5-acre forest and remain on display for the next year.
Also on display for the next year are 18 original poems in the the Poetry in the Park collaboration with Olympic Peninsula Authors.
The poems are printed on signs placed throughout the sculpture park.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a self-guided poetry walk through the park or meet the authors and enjoy live readings in the gallery courtyard starting at 12:30 p.m.
Participating authors include Joan Enoch, 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.
Other activities include exploring the annual “Blooming Artists” exhibition in the Esther Webster Gallery and hands-on nature art stations like bubble wand making, solstice flower crowns or felting with Cabled Fiber and Yarn.
Beginning at 1 p.m., attendees will be able to enjoy live music by Jack Dwyer; Jack Tierney at 2:30 p.m.; and the Mort Crim All Stars at 4 p.m.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair for the performances in the meadow.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase from local vendors Pacific Pantry and Angeles Brewing.
For more information, visit www.pafac.org/summertide-festival.
