PORT ANGELES — With his art and his words, Roger Fernandes wants to lift people up.
He seeks to honor the teachings of his ancestors, family members and other creative people, all while helping students and others find their own voices through art, storytelling and cultural wisdom.
A member of the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, Fernandes lives in Seattle, but he and his work are at Peninsula College over the next few weeks.
While “Proof of Spirit,” his solo art exhibition, is on display at the college’s Longhouse Gallery through December, Fernandes will make two public appearances: today during the Studium Generale program and next Thursday, Oct. 8, during a storytelling workshop at the Longhouse.
Admission is free to all of these events on the main campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
Little Theater
Today, Fernandes will give a lecture at 12:35 p.m. in the Little Theater inside the college’s J building.
After that 50-minute talk, a reception with the artist will be held in the Longhouse, which is on the southwestern side of campus.
The Oct. 8 program, Fernandes’ “Hero’s Journey” storytelling workshop, will go from 10:20 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Longhouse; he’ll give a presentation for the first hour and then give attendees the chance to work directly with him on storytelling projects during the second hour.
The public is also invited to see “Proof of Spirit” at the Longhouse, where the art gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Due to the construction of the new Allied Health building, however, there is no longer parking available in front of the Longhouse.
No vehicles are allowed in the construction zone, so visitors are asked to park only in the main Peninsula College lot off East Lauridsen Boulevard.
For more information and to arrange a tour of the Longhouse gallery at an alternate time, email longhouse@pencol.edu or phone 360-417-7992.
