State of the Art: Holding Hands

January 25, 2026 

I think I am joined by many today as I run through the gamut of emotions this weekend brought.

Yesterday, as I was composing this essay, I felt pride and amazement at the peaceful, organized, and determined protest against ICE and immigration enforcement tactics that are endangering human lives like that of Renee Good.

That quickly shifted to horror in the wake of an ICE patrol’s brutal killing of a young man, Alex Pretti, as he tried to help a woman in the street. I avoided watching any video of the violence.

Outrage at ICE agents walking away and leaving the crime scene unprotected then gave way to despair: The country I live in feels unrecognizable — deteriorating, morally corrupt, murderous and callous — a police state.

Calling family to check in, walking dogs with a wonderful group of people I see daily, and going down to the gallery to see Northwind’s Exhibits Team working collaboratively and creatively together reminds me that humanity exists. More than that—it thrives through focused care and sparks of brilliance.

The gallery team is weaving together artworks by many different artists in ways that elevate each piece to its best expression. Guided by exhibits designer Suzanne Lamon and supported by our Northwind team, the work is done with deliberation, communication, and resilience when things don’t work as planned. A willingness to listen and change in order to make things better guides everything they do.

There has probably never been a time when humans didn’t need reassurance and connection, but now feels especially urgent. We need to hold hands and work together.

Today, many people will gather around a TV to watch the Seahawks and cheer them on. I often wish there were public interest in art to match the love of sport. Still, I love the idea of our battles being played out by proxy — by athletes trained in sportsmanship and love of the game — rather than by people playing the tough guy against innocent human beings.

I began this writing project for Northwind with the idea of more love. I stand by that as the way forward. Nonviolence, resistance, and protest resonate throughout the art world today.

It is our goal to weave human connection, creativity, and love into the mix.

— Martha Worthley, Northwind Art Executive Director

 

State of the Art: December 2025

As 2025 comes to a close, my thoughts turn naturally to gratitude. I am deeply thankful to live in this community and to be working in the arts—two things that are inextricably linked for me. I truly believe I would not have spent my entire adult life here without the warm and supportive foundation of a community that holds a deep love for creativity.

People here know how to show up, pitch in, and make meaningful things happen. I am more delighted than ever by everyone who walks through the doors of Northwind’s school and gallery to learn, share, and celebrate creativity together.

Your financial support this year directly strengthens Northwind’s ability to serve our community. It brings to life our shared vision: a community rich in the arts, where creative culture is a local legacy—fostering generations of artists and makers while preserving a vibrant quality of life for all.

Thank you for making this possible and for helping Northwind move into 2026 with even greater promise.

— Martha Worthley, Northwind Art Executive Director

 

State of the Art: Why a Gallery?

November 2025

Art shapes nearly every aspect of our daily lives. It’s in the newspaper headlines we read, the buildings we inhabit, the clothing we wear, the dishes on our tables, and the advertising that surrounds us. It’s present in the aisles of a grocery store and at the heart of the film industry.

Art is the foundation upon which humans build meaning. We are pattern-seeking, story-driven creatures. From the cave paintings of Lascaux to Leonardo’s genius to Kara Walker’s Unmanned Drone sculpture — a “reconstruction” of a de-accessioned Confederate monument — art continues to tell our stories. The conversations are necessary and juicy.

Artists, through persistence and fearless exploration, manipulate materials in pursuit of resolution and understanding. Their work, both the polished final piece and the accidental beauty of the process, enriches all of us. Even the drop cloth beneath a painting or the artist’s paint-splattered shirt carries a kind of poetry.

I’ve spent my life in this realm, endlessly drawn to color, pattern, and the act of making. Whether knitting, sewing, cooking, gardening, or most centrally, painting, creating is how I make sense of the world. Wherever I travel, I seek out other artists and their work to see how they interpret their own exprience and shape meaning. I read about exhibitions in London, Paris and New York, but I also crave inspiring, challenging art in my own town.

And here in Port Townsend, I am fortunate to be part of an organization that provides exactly that. The galleries at Northwind Art are beautiful spaces that present exceptional work. They are free and open to all — humans and dogs alike — and they offer artists a vital platform.

Part of making art is sharing it. This year alone, Northwind Art has exhibited the work of 167 artists. Is there another organization in Jefferson County that does this for the visual arts?

People often ask what the gallery has to do with Northwind Art School at Fort Worden. While there isn’t always a direct line from classroom instruction to the gallery walls, the two form a powerful circle summed up in the motto: Learn, see, grow. Students learn new techniques at the school, then see professional examples in the gallery, and their own work grows as a result.

Another common question: “If you sell art and classes, why are you a nonprofit?”

The answer is that, while sales support part of our operations, they cannot sustain the mission. As a nonprofit, we are committed to education and public benefit. Sometimes that means exhibiting work that is large, high-priced, or otherwise challenging to sell. To leave out such work would mean failing to fully tell an artist’s story — and exposing the public to new ideas is central to Northwind's purpose.

Often, the most exciting work emerging from our school catches our attention. That’s part of how art historically makes its way from studio to gallery to museum: Local recognition grows into regional, national and sometimes international visibility.

We also offer open-call exhibitions, inviting artists across the Pacific Northwest to apply and be considered by jurors and staff. They're among the many ways artists can join the vibrant creative community that has shown work at Northwind.

I invite you to enrich your life by visiting Northwind Art — seeing exhibitions, listening to artist talks, and browsing the course offerings — during this holiday season and onward into the coming year.

Art deepens our understanding of one another and of ourselves. And the gallery is where that shared experience begins.

— Martha Worthley, Northwind Art Executive Director