PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Gallery Walk returns this Saturday with readings and art displays, some incorporating hearts in advance of Valentine’s Day.
The walk, lasting from 5:30 p.m. until about 8 p.m., encompasses several downtown venues, all of which charge no admission to see the art and meet the artists who create it.
Sampling of events:
■ Port Townsend Gallery, 715 Water St., will feature Wooden and Tin Hearts crafted by David Haakenson and Loran Scruggs today from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Haakenson has been carving wood for more than 65 years.
His work now focuses on functional and useful designs for home use, such as coat racks, cutting boards and wood lids for many glass jars that otherwise would be thrown away.
During February, Haakenson is adding an inlaid design to some of those pieces that suggest a heart shape, including others using the heartwood of some local trees.
Scruggs will display interpretations of the anatomical heart — a reoccurring image in her work. The hearts were created with recycled tin cans and bottle caps.
For more Gallery information, phone 360-379-8110 or visit www.porttownsendgallery.com.
■ Gallery Nine, 1012 Water St., will feature art by Heather Hart Gamble during the month of February.
Hart will be on hand from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday to discuss her work.
Hart is a fantasy artist working primarily in colored pencil, creating elaborate visual stories on paper.
Most of her art features children and imaginary creatures, the sort of images she remembers dreaming of when she was a child herself, she says.
Some of Hart’s subjects in her drawings even show her own children that she used as the figurative references.
Hart’s artistic style draws from the Olympic Peninsula’s landscape of deep forests and lofty mountains, and her use of colored pencils show layers of highly-blended colors and textures.
For more information, call 360-379-8881.
■ Sunrise Coffee House, 308 10th St., will feature Trout & Salmon Art by Robert Clements Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The coffee house is located inside the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven.
Clements is a photographer, artist and native South Dakotan who specializes in landscapes, floral and fauna images, portraits, and prairie moods and history.
Clements will be present to answer questions about his artwork during the event.
For more information call 360-385-4117.
■ Northwind Art Center, 701 Water St., during the Gallery Walk will feature award-winning contemporary author Rebecca Makkai as part of the PT Shorts program.
PT Shorts are free presentations of dramatic readings of contemporary literature, read by authors, actors and orators.
Saturday’s readings start at 7:30 p.m., with additional readings beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Makkai is the author of The Borrower, The Hundred-Year House and Music for Wartime.
Reading this month are Deborah Hammond and Catherine McNabb.
They will read material gleaned from Music for Wartime, a book of short stories.
The program for the first night of PT Shorts will include “The November Story,” “The Briefcase,” “The Singing Woman” and “Exposition.”
On Sunday evening the audience will be treated to “Couple of Lovers on a Red Background” and a trilogy of stories — “Other Brands of Poison,” “Acolyte” and “A Bird in the House.”
Makkai will be present at both performances and will be available to sign copies of her books.
A short reception with refreshments will follow Saturday night’s readings.
For more information, call 360-379-1086.
