PORT TOWNSEND — Uptown and downtown historic district merchants are showcasing student artwork for the 16th annual Art Wave event — a colorful monthlong exhibit of student art — in their stores throughout May.
The annual exhibit of artwork created by Port Townsend School District students, which is organized by the Port Townsend Community Consortium, this year will feature more than 400 pieces of art beginning Sunday.
Once again this year, merchants are invited to have a PT Artscape donation jar in their stores. All proceeds from the jars will go directly to art education programs in the Port Townsend School District.
Additionally, each merchant pays $10 to participate, which is added to the fund total.
The funds raised by the event will help support such PT Artscape ventures as the Teaching Artists Programs in Grant Street Elementary, Blue Heron Middle and Port Townsend High schools.
Proceeds also will go to professional development for teaching artists and classroom teachers.
PT Artscape also supports Centrum’s Tales, Texts and Theater Program for the sixth grade, as well as special projects and materials.
The art programs of the consortium integrate arts into classrooms, help teachers enhance their curriculum through the arts, expand student access to and experience with the arts, and provide instruction and mentoring to artists who wish to teach their art, organizers said.
The Port Townsend School District is the lead agency for consortium activities, which are funded through a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission.
Special fundraisers
Some merchants have special fundraisers.
Daily Bird Pottery, 2009 Fourth St., will contribute to the district’s fundraising efforts with sales of Daily Birds, small creations that sit in the palm of the hand, in May.
The birds cost $8 each.
Last year, the shop raised $224 from the sale of the birds, and the money was donated to the arts programs, said Phoebe and Darby Huffman, co-owners of the store.
The Port Townsend Food Co-op, 414 Kearney St., again this year is letting PT Artscape place a jar in its “Beans for Bags” program during May and June.
Since its inception in 2008, Beans for Bags has allowed co-op members the choice of receiving a 5-cent refund for each container or bag they bring for their groceries, or a bean worth 5 cents that they can drop in their choice of glass gallon jars designated for three local nonprofit organizations.
One of those three nonprofit organizations is always the county food bank.
The other two choices come from nominations made by the co-op’s members/owners themselves.
For every bean collected, the Food Co-op will donate 5 cents to PT Artscape.
Where to see art
Here is a list of participants:
Aldrich’s Grocery, 940 Lawrence St.; Bickie’s Cotton Casuals, 926 Water St.; The Clothes Horse, 910 Water St.; Conservatory Coastal Home, 639 Water St.; Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Co., 627 Water St.; Frameworks, 211 Taylor St., Suite B-5; Home Staging by Patti, 835 Water St.; and Jefferson Museum of Art and History, 540 Water St.
Also, Lehani’s, 221 Taylor St.; Lively Olive Tasting Bar, 929 Water St.; Mad Hatter & Co., 926 Water St.; Maestrale, 821 Water St.; Olympic Art & Office, 220 Taylor St.; Phoenix Rising, 696 Water St.; and Port Townsend Post Office, 1322 Washington St.
Also, Shirvan Rug Gallery, 913 Water St.; Summer House Design, 917 Water St.; The Boiler Room, 711 Water St.; Tickled Pink Gifts, 825 Water St.; Whistle Stop Toys, 1005 Water St.; Wooden Boat Chandlery at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St.; and Writers Workshoppe & Imprint Books, 820 Water St.
For more information on PT Artscape or Art Wave, visit www.PTArtscape.com or www.ptmainstreet.org.
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Reporter Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
