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Now & Then

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

For the second year in a row, we are delighted to share an exhibition featuring now-and-then images by PTHS photography students in our Community Gallery (formerly Women's Jail Gallery) downstairs at the Jefferson Museum. Featuring roughly 60 sets of photos, Now & Then visually illustrates some of the ongoing evolution of Port Townsend. Referencing historic images from JCHS's collection, students in David Egeler’s Photography and Advanced Media classes locate where the photos were taken and work to recreate the framing and angle of view in the present day. The resulting photo essays in this year’s Now & Then exhibition are on view through the end of March.

Land & Seascapes by Jesse Watson

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Local artist Jesse Watson's artwork often reflects his passions—drawing on themes of social justice, diversity, humanity, as well as environmental beauty and conservation. His work has appeared in many places and publications, but you may recognize it from some of the cafes, pubs, and galleries right here in Port Townsend. We're thrilled to present a selection of Jesse's land and seascape paintings, which will be on view in our classroom through the end of April.

Landscapes: Real & Imagined

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

From the abstract to the realistic, Landscapes: Real & Imagined focuses on Joan Jonland, Stephen Yates, and Thomas Wilson (1931 - 2015)—three painters who have lived and worked in Port Townsend for the majority of their lives as artists. Each artist's reverence for our natural environment emerges in their unique approach, creating art that inspires and challenges us to see the land differently. Along with the work of Jonland, Yates, and Wilson, this exhibition features many selections from our permanent collection and local collectors that have never been publicly displayed. Landscapes was co-curated by Cliff Moore and Ann Welch. Special thanks to the artists, JCHS's Art Advisory Committee, and all our members, donors, and volunteers who support exhibitions in the Ferguson Gallery!

Under Water Street

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Casting most of his sculpture in bronze, local artist David Eisenhour portrays and interprets organic forms to tell stories of natural history and human experience. Visit this selection of Eisenhour's work exploring climate change and rising sea levels at the Jefferson Museum through July 30. Special thanks to Suzanne Lamon for Under Water Street exhibit design.

Ruby Woods

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Local artist Frank Samuelson's play with form and color draws upon movement, adventure, romance, and the subtle portrayal of excitement for life itself. Visit this selection of Samuelson's paintings at the Jefferson Museum starting in August. Original artwork: Frank Samuelson, Wind in the Woods, 2022, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36 in.

Journey Stories

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

This educational poster exhibition exploring how movement has shaped the nation takes a broad look at American expansion and migration—from the earliest European settlers and Native American displacement to the effects of transportation advancements on modern mobility. Select items from JCHS's collection will appear alongside the posters organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Historic image from JCHS collection: PT Electric Railway Co. streetcar on Water and Adams Streets. Horace Tucker Building in background. (ID 2005.80.39)

We Are One

Jefferson Museum of Art & History 540 Water Street, Port Townsend, WA, United States

Curated by Brian Perry, this exhibition features the work of four Indigenous artists. Using both traditional materials and mediums more recently associated with Indigenous art, these artists carry ancient culture, images, and stories into the present. Artists featured as part of We Are One: Brian Perry (Port Gamble S'Klallam): Carving and prints Dan Friday (Lummi): Glass sculpture Raya Friday (Lummi): Glass and cedar sculpture Kelly Sullivan (Port Gamble S'Klallam): Weaving Original artwork: Brian Perry, Heron Ritual, 2020, print, 22 x 22 in. Presented with major support from Tulalip Cares Charitable Contributions

Jeanne K Simmons: Photographs, Artifacts, and Intimate Works

Captivating Art Exhibition “Jeanne K Simmons: Photographs, Artifacts, and Intimate Works” Opening at JCHS Museum of Art + History We're excited to present a dynamic art exhibition, "Photographs, Artifacts, and Intimate Works," Showcasing globally acclaimed artist Jeanne K Simmons. This highly anticipated exhibition welcomes the public on Saturday, March 2, 2024, delivering a unique and thought-provoking experience that delves into the profound connection between humanity and the natural world. Within the immersive realm of Simmons' exhibition, visitors are invited to explore and contemplate the profound relationship shared between humans and nature. Jeanne K Simmons, renowned as both a land artist and environmental artist, masterfully weaves captivating narratives through her photographs, objects, and intimate works. Simmons' art echoes her deeply held belief that humans and the natural world are inseparable. Her creations often showcase women harmoniously integrated into natural settings, surrounded by meticulously organized foraged materials. These art pieces serve as an expression of her deep reverence for the environment and her concerns regarding the delicate bond between humans and nature. The exhibition offers a diverse range of works, each possessing its unique story and source of inspiration. Notably, Simmons’ artistic prowess extends beyond photography to include tangible objects and sculptures, […]

Tessa Hulls: Feeding Ghosts

We're thrilled to announce the opening of the exhibition Tessa Hulls: Feeding Ghosts. This showcase will be on display from March 2 to July 7 in the downstairs gallery of the museum. Featuring excerpts from the newly released nonfiction graphic novel of the same name, written by Tessa Hulls, "Feeding Ghosts" delves into Hulls' profound quest to bring peace to her family's ghosts, as chronicled in her deeply moving memoir. To complement the exhibition, the museum is hosting a special event – the "Feeding Ghosts Book Talk" with Tessa Hulls, moderated in discussion by Lisbeth White. This event will take place on March 7 from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at the Cotton Building in downtown Port Townsend. Admission is free, and signed books will be available for purchase during the event. Tessa Hulls: Feeding Ghosts is a graphic memoir that explores three generations of Chinese women, navigating themes of love, grief, exile, and identity. Hulls portrays the lives of her grandmother, mother, and herself, revealing the intergenerational impact of trauma and the enduring power of love. Tessa Hulls is an artist, writer, and adventurer known for illuminating the connections between the present and the past. With a rich background […]

Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific 

Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific reveals the deep and historic connection between people of African descent and the Pacific Ocean. On Exhibition September 12 – November 3 Most accounts of the United States’ maritime enterprises are disproportionately populated by white seafarers. Yet, from the 16th to the 20th century, Black whalers, commercial mariners, fishers, explorers, soldiers, and sailors traveled along the Pacific Coast and traversed the high seas. The stories of these mariners, their impact in shaping the American Pacific, and their legacy in the context of development of society and identity, are all explored in Take Me to the Water: Histories of the Black Pacific. Black seamen onboard ship . Miriam Matthews Photograph Collection, African American Museum and Library at Oakland. Capt. and Mrs. William T. Shorey and family studio portrait at Oakland, Calif., after 1886. Courtesy San Francisco Maritime Museum. West African canoes, c. 1820-1850. Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, VA. Importantly, this exhibition recenters the relationship between Black folks, water, and ships. Take Me to the Water moves beyond the entrenched narrative of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and towards the understanding that Black people have not only existed in the Pacific region for centuries, but […]