Photo exhibit presented

Sequim resident Judy Larimore will celebrate her 85th birthday with a photography/painting exhibit at the Waterfront Cafe at Field Arts & Events Hall, 201 W. Front St. in Port Angeles, from April 1 through May 15. It will be Larimore’s 35th exhibit since 1975 and she figures it will be her last.

A resident of Washington for the past 22 years, Larimore’s work was purchased by the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, D.C. She sold six framed photographs to Hewlett Packard for the company’s private collection. Her work was also purchased for the collections of the Monterrey Beach Hotel, the Santa Cruz Farm Bureau and the Federal Aviation Agency during the 17 years she lived on the Monterey Peninsula in California.

Larimore’s photography has been published in several books, including “Inspired by Art,” published last year by Olympic Peninsula Authors & Artists. Her photos are hanging permanently in the council chamber at Sequim City Hall and at the Physicians Clinic across from Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles.

DRNC hosts film screening

The Dungeness River Nature Center is excited to host a special screening of “The Grand Salmon” on Friday, March 28, from 6-8 p.m. at Rainshadow Hall. Tickets are $10 per person, with proceeds supporting the River Center’s educational programs.

Following the film, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with one of the film’s producers.

Following three women on a 78-day paddling expedition, “The Grand Salmon” explores the effects of four dams on the Lower Snake River and their impact throughout the watershed on rapidly dwindling wild salmon populations. For over 1,000 miles, the women navigate the same waterways wild salmon have navigated for generations, connecting the source of the Salmon River to the Pacific Ocean.

From high water to extreme temperatures, this team not only faces the same natural challenges the fish do each year but bring viewers along to experience what the construction of these dams has done to our ecosystems and wildlife.

This film has particular significance for the Pacific Northwest, including the Olympic Peninsula, where salmon are central to the environment, economy and cultural heritage. The fate of wild salmon in the Snake River watershed has direct impacts on the health of the greater Puget Sound and coastal ecosystems.

“The Grand Salmon” is part of the River Center’s ongoing film series, which highlights environmental stories that deepen our connection to nature. For more information about the screening or to reserve tickets, contact the Dungeness River Nature Center.

Meet the artists

Jeannine Chappell and Jolene Sanborn will share windows at Blue Whole Gallery, 129 W. Washington St., during the month of April, presenting their work in a show entitled “Styles.” Both women will be available to meet and talk with gallery visitors from 5-8 p.m. on April 4 during First Friday Art Walk.

Chappell likes experimenting with different styles of painting. Her April display will showcase abstract and semi-abstract pieces created using the gel plate, a flexible monoprinting device that she finds to be a valuable addition to her artmaking toolkit.

“I especially like the gel plate because of the spontaneity it provides; the paint is rolled onto the plate with a brayer, a sheet of paper is placed on top, and as that is pulled off the result is always a surprise,” she said.

Chappell may add more “pulls” from the plate or continue with collage, drawing, or more traditional painting to reach the final piece.

Sanborn is a traditional watercolorist. Her paintings are done in a representational style, often depicting experiences from her life.

“For me, watercolor is about lifetime learning,” she said. “I can have an idea and a direction for a painting ready to go, but then the weather changes, the humidity goes up or down and the paint and paper decide they are in control of the day, not me!”

For more information on Blue Whole Gallery, visit bluewholegallery.com.

Concerts in the Barn fundraiser

Concerts in the Barn will hold a pre-season Gala fundraiser concert on Saturday, March 29, in the newly renovated milking shed next to the iconic barn. The farm opens to visitors at noon, and the performance begins at 1 p.m. The De Koch family, which purchased the venue for Concerts in the Barn in 2023 and renamed the farm Quilcene Lantern, is co-hosting the event.

“From the beginning, we wanted to make the milking shed a year-around venue,” said Laurie De Koch. “We hope that Concerts in the Barn patrons and other groups will find it a nice, cozy place to hear music throughout the year.”

To fulfill that goal, the De Kochs raised the ceiling, insulated the interior, and in addition to a heater, have installed a large woodstove that used to be in the farmhouse adjacent to the Barn.

The program on March 29 includes two blockbuster viola quintets: Mozart’s Viola Quintet in G minor, K. 516, and Dvorak’s Viola Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 97, written while Dvorak was in Iowa on a holiday with his family. The theme is said to have been inspired by the music of the nearby Kickapoo tribe.

Musicians include members of the Fulton St. Chamber Players, which include Dawn Posey (violin), Brittany Boulding (violin), Katie Liu (viola), Rachel Swerdlow (viola) and Walter Gray (cello). Several of these musicians have performed at Concerts in the Barn in previous years and are contributing their professional fees for this concert to help raise money for the summer season.

“We’re excited to partner with the De Koch family on what we hope will be the first of many chamber music concerts held throughout the year,” said volunteer director Leigh Hearon. “This concert is a fundraiser, so, unlike our summer series, we’re charging ticket prices. This is to ensure we can pay our musicians what they’re worth and let the public in without charge. This has been our mission since our inception, and we intend to keep our promise to the community.”

Tickets to the event are $100 per person, which includes complimentary champagne and finger food served in the milking shed. The milking shed seats about 180 people on comfortable folding chairs, about half the capacity of the Barn. Patrons can reserve their tickets through the TicketStripe, the same way patrons reserve free seating during the regular season. The links to TicketStripe are https://ticketstripe.com/event-list/concerts-in-the-barn and https://www.quilcenelantern.com/events/2025-concerts-in-the-barn-gala-fundraiser.

After the concerts, patrons will have the opportunity to talk to the musicians and learn more about the summer season ahead.

Concerts in the Barn encourages patrons to watch its website and social media for updates and to sign up on its mailing list to stay connected with the concert seasons.

To ensure the safety of our musicians, staff, and volunteers, no one will be allowed on the farm property except those invited by prior arrangement or with reserved seating.

Details on programs, artists bios, and Gala tickets can be found at concertsinthebarn.org.

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One Family in Gaza play in PT

“One Family in Gaza,” an original play by Crystal Zevon, will be performed at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Quimper United Universalist Fellowship, 2333 San Juan Ave. in Port Townsend.

RSVP at marnykit@gmail.com to reserve your free seats and Palestinian food.

This non-fiction drama is based on the friendship between Zevon and a young father named Yasser in the Gaza Strip. The story is told through their correspondence since the fall of 2023, reflecting Zevon’s efforts to help the family, intertwined with short news reports that give context to the messages.

The main focus is the messages received from the young father which, while telling a story that in some ways reflects universal truths about living through any war, offers insights into this particular conflict. The piece is a rare telling of a war experienced in real time, calling upon us to never forget our humanity.

Although the event is free, donations to feed families in Gaza through savenorthgaza.org will be accepted at the venue. Palestinian food and merchandise will be available.

Photo courtesy of Blue Whole Gallery| “News of the Universe” by Jeannine Chappell.