PORT TOWNSEND — Would you like to know more about that interesting sculpture you found at a garage sale, the painting in your living room or that box of art that’s been in your family forever and moved from attic to attic?
The Jefferson County Historical Society is hosting “Get Smart About Your Art” on Saturday to help visitors identify, explore and learn about the local art in their collections.
The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cotton Building, 607 Water St.
A panel of local art historians will be on hand to help identify pieces, provide more information about specific pieces of art or artists, and answer general questions about Jefferson County art.
People are encouraged to bring in items they’re curious about — or would simply like to show off.
“The two main goals of the event are to help people identify their historical Jefferson County art pieces and to help them understand how to care for them,” said Bill Tennent, historical society executive director.
The historical society had a lucky find when the descendants of a prominent Port Townsend family donated several family pieces to the collection.
“We were removing items from an old trunk they had given us when down at the very bottom we found something wrapped in tissue paper. It was an Adeline McCormick painting in flawless condition,” said collections manager Becky Schurmann.
McCormick, Sarah Willoughby’s daughter, was a Port Townsend artist who was active in the 1800s.
Examples of art from different eras in Jefferson County from the historical society collection, spanning the mid-1800s to the present, will be on display.
Schurmann will have computer access to the historical society collection so other works of artists not displayed, or additional works of those who are, can be accessed and compared.
A trained conservator, Laura Reuter — who has a master’s degree in art conservation — will offer advice about the condition of any prints, paintings and ceramics brought in. She’ll demonstrate the proper care and handling of art pieces.
Once pieces have been identified, they may be photographed, and a publishable quality photograph will be emailed to the owner.
A photography booth will be set up and professional art photographer Ann Welch will take photographs.
The historical society will add the photographs of art pieces to a database that is being developed that will record art works, and who owns them, with the owner’s permission.
“There’s so much wonderful art in Jefferson County scattered around people’s homes that I feel we’re all caretakers of this large collection of art — it just happens to be on our walls,” said Jenny Westdal, historical society president.
“The purpose of this event is to increase awareness of our local art. We’ve all heard horror stories of pieces being sent to thrift stores, or even worse, the dump, or being found at garage sales. We want to educate people about what they have. And, I think this will be a fun event,” Westdal said.
Those who attend the event will be given a free pass to the museum for that day so they can see the work of area artists that is currently on display in the “Palouse to the Peninsula” exhibit.
For more information, call 360-385-1003.
