Fort Worden State Park

2009 Free Fridays at the Fort

For more than two decades, Centrum has produced a free summer concert series for visitors, residents, and families in Port Townsend. From its humble beginnings downtown to its roomy home on the lawn outside the Fort Worden Commons, the series is an excellent way to sample what happens at Centrum in the summer.

We call it Free Fridays at the Fort, and we hope you can join your friends for our 2009 performance series, sponsored by the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. Seating is provided (or bring your favorite blanket), local and sustainable food is available, and the entertainment is free.

Each performance starts at noon on the lawn at the Fort Worden Commons, and is weather dependent (except for August 7, which will be rescheduled if needed).

• July 3: Festival of American Fiddle Tunes Sampler
• July 10: "Blues-Grass" 12-string guitarist Daniel Macke
• July 17: Readings from the Port Townsend Writers' Conference: Camille Dungy and Shane Book
• July 24: Jazz Port Townsend Workshop Performances
• July 31: Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival Workshop Performances
• August 7: Dream City Idol Contest Final Performance

For more than two decades, Centrum has produced a free summer concert series for visitors, residents, and families in Port Townsend. From its humble beginnings downtown to its roomy home on the lawn outside the Fort Worden Commons, the series is an excellent way to sample what happens at Centrum in the summer.

We call it Free Fridays at the Fort, and we hope you can join your friends for our 2009 performance series, sponsored by the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader. Seating is provided (or bring your favorite blanket), local and sustainable food is available, and the entertainment is free.

Each performance starts at noon on the lawn at the Fort Worden Commons, and is weather dependent (except for August 7, which will be rescheduled if needed).

• July 3: Festival of American Fiddle Tunes Sampler
• July 10: "Blues-Grass" 12-string guitarist Daniel Macke
• July 17: Readings from the Port Townsend Writers' Conference: Camille Dungy and Shane Book
• July 24: Jazz Port Townsend Workshop Performances
• July 31: Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival Workshop Performances
• August 7: Dream City Idol Contest Final Performance

FORT WORDEN’S MOTHERS’ DAY BRUNCH AND OPEN HOUSE

Join us at Fort Worden for our annual Mothers’ Day Brunch and Open House.  There will be activities and events for visitors throughout the day, Sunday May 10th.

While the Fort celebrates 107 years, this will be Bon Appétit successful second Mothers’ Day Brunch at Fort Worden.  Bon Appétit, specializes in fresh locally grown produce and artisan products, they’ve quickly won over foodies and are honored to have exceptional culinary flair, such as Executive Chef Jay Payne, and Souse Chef Hope Borsato, among the member of their talented team.

The lavish Mother’s Day Brunch 10AM and 3PM will be offering advance reservations, call 360.344.4441.  Price is $26.95 per adult, with children 4-8 $13.95. Featured edibles will include: a selection of local, fresh, and sustainable goods featuring Pane d’Amore bread and pastries, cage-free scrambled eggs with Beecher’s Flagship White Cheddar cheese, roasted organic potatoes, waffles and French toast with warm maple syrup, local Mt. Townsend cheese, locally grown vegetables and salad greens, homemade dressings, regionally grown and sustainable roasted meats, and hand crafted breakfast items. Black Forest Ham, Prime Rib of Beef, Eggs Benedict and all the Brunch favorites.

Between bites, and available to be enjoyed by all park visitors, a fort full of information and opportunities will be available.

In the Commons lobby visitors will find volunteer information and opportunities from many of the fort’s campus partners.

Outside of the Commons many of the forts enterprising partners will be open with plenty of special reasons for folks to visit.  Among the offerings, visitors will enjoy:
•  Madrona MindBody (Gym – building 300) will be will be open from 8:30 to noon and will offer free classes for Mom’s during Sunday’s 8:30 a.m. Yoga Class and the 10:00 a.m. SoulFull Sunday Class.

•  Recently refurbished guest rental Houses 336 and Blissful Vista will be open to the public.  Featuring lighting by Port Townsend’s Vintage Hardwardware, and well appointed craftsmanship by dedicated Fort Worden maintenance staff.

•  Newly renovated JFK meeting and event facility will be open.

•  Traditionally popular museum’s and interpretative sites such as Commanding Offers Quarters (building 1), Marine Science Center, Natural History Center (at beach), and Coastal Artillery Museum (building 201) will all be open 12-4, and free to one mom per party.

Fort Worden is Washington's state park conference center for recreation, arts, culture, history and the environment. It is a confluence of creative learning, recreation, and retreat opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Fort Worden is a partnership of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Arts Commission, resident cultural institutions and businesses and major funders, achieving financial vitality through coordination and collaboration.

The vision for Fort Worden is one of a legendary gathering place where people are transformed through retreat, renewal and discovery.

Laying the Foundation for a Preservation Field School

The Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, Fort Worden Collaborative, the Port Townsend School of Woodworking, and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission are working to establish an historic preservation field school at Fort Worden State Park, Port Townsend.

These groups will hold a community workshop focused on potential partnerships and programming for this school on Friday, April 17 from 2:30pm to 5:00pm.  A pre-workshop walking tour of Fort Worden featuring hands-on wood restoration techniques and a discussion of cultural landscape preservation will be offered from 1:00 to 2:15pm.   A reception sponsored by the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Directors will follow the workshop.  We invite you to participate in all scheduled events.  

1:00 – 2:15 pm      
Fort Worden Walking Tour: Meet in Lobby of Fort Worden Commons
Tim Lawson, Port Townsend School of Woodworking, Thatcher Bailey, Fort Worden Collaborative, and Kate Burke, Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission will lead a walking tour emphasizing the need for skilled wood-workers and craftsmen to engage in rehabilitation of the fine wood-framed structures at Fort Worden and a discussion of cultural landscape preservation.

2:30-5:00 pm
Public Workshop: Fort Worden Commons

2:30 – 2:45 pm 
Jennifer Meisner and Chris Moore, Washington Trust for Historic Preservation will provide an overview of Preservation Field School concept. Tim Lawson, Port Townsend School of Woodworking, will explain his schools current historic preservation curriculum.

2:45 – 3:30pm  
Representatives from the Pacific Northwest Field School will be on hand to discuss their experience in providing hands-on technical training over the years.

3:45 – 4:15pm  
Introduction of National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Sustainability Initiative—Preservation Green Lab .

4:15 – 4:45pm  
Representatives from the newly established Center for Construction Excellence at Renton Technical College will provide a summary of their activities to date and a vision for the future.  

4:45 – 5:00pm  
Jennifer Meisner, Kate Burke, and Thatcher Bailey will lead a conversation about next steps.

5:30 – 7:00pm  
Reception

News Report on Orcas Passing by Fort Worden

Anchor Dennis Bounds of Seattle's KING 5 television said, "This most recent visit was first reported by a volunteer at the Port Townsend Marine [Science] Center who was letting a visiting class of third graders listen to some hydrophones when they suddenly heard dozens of approaching
orcas." Click image to go to KING 5 video.

Bring Your Bones Day

Saturday, January 17, 2009 1-4pm, Natural History Exhibit

Be in a room surrounded by huge whale bones, tiny bird bones, complete skeletons…and bring in any old bones you’ve found and treasured. Come to the Natural History Exhibit at Fort Worden State Park. Bring Your Bones Day is a free event and is for beachcombers, artists, families and anyone fascinated by the unknown.

On hand to examine, help identify and tell stores about the bones will be a master marine mammal skeleton articulator from Alaska, Lee Post, aka “Mr. Boneman,” and Dr. Tony Rogstad, the veterinarian from Chimacum Valley Vet Hospital, who is also a wildlife specialist. Bones from the PTMSC’s collection will also be on display. See grey whale, seal, otter, dolphin and bird skeletons. No formal presentations are planned.

People can drop in any time during the three-hour period and informally ask questions, compare, chat or simply feast their eyes on the wonderful shapes on display. Artists and budding naturalists are especially encouraged to come and draw, paint or visually document the collection.

2009 Winter Wanderlust Announced

Stunning photography, feats of endurance and stories of challenging travel to wild and remote places are featured at Winter Wanderlust, which begins its 22nd season on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at the Joseph F. Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden State Park.

These tales from afar will bring some light to cold, dark winter nights on eight Wednesdays, through February.

A journey to Chile's Patagonia coast begins the series on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m., when Port Townsend resident Tom Stammer and partner and photographer Bev McNeil present the subsistence life of those living on a tiny remote island in the Chiloe archipelago. Their images of agricultural and maritime life among the few island families are supplemented with their adventures by sea kayak to explore the wild and isolated coast.

Other Wanderlust programs this year feature a search for exotic plants in mountainous Asia, the unique life and wonderful creatures of the Galapagos, traversing the Gobi Desert by camel, a safari to Borneo's wild jungles and rivers, an ascent of China's unclimbed Yangmolong peak, traveling across America by horse and wagon, and walking Scotland coast to coast on the Southern Upland Way.

Jan. 7
Chile's Patagonia coast

Explore subsistence life on the tiny remote island of Anihue in the Chiloe archipelago, with added adventures by sea kayak on its wild and isolated coast, with Tom Stammer and Bev McNeil.

Jan. 14
Seeking Asia's exotic plants

View the rich botanical and cultural heritage of China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces while tramping the mountains in search of new ornamental plants. This program is a light-hearted look at modern-day plant hunting with Kelly Dodson and Sue Milliken.

Jan. 21
Boobies, iguanas and albatross

Learn about the wonderful creatures of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands, their fascinating behaviors and adaptations to an isolated environment. Travel by boat and on foot through the varied terrain of these distant islands with Selden McKee.

Jan. 28
Gobi Desert by camel

Step back in time and travel across Mongolia's remote Gobi Desert on camelback, staying in nomadic ger (yurt) camps en route. Experience the complete silence of a world with no roads and no power with Juelie Dalzell.

Feb. 4
Borneo's wondrous wilderness

Journey on a family safari to the wild jungles and rivers of Borneo's Sabeh area. In a habitat of exotic wildlife and biodiversity, meet orangutans, gibbons, langurs, leopards, giant hornbills and pygmy elephants with Coke Smith.

Feb. 11
Climbing China's high mountains

Witness an attempt to summit the unclimbed peak of Yangmolong (19,800 feet) in the Tibetan region of Sichuan, Western China. Travel through areas now closed to foreigners after Tibetan demonstrations and before the recent earthquake with Richard Isherwood.

Feb. 18
Across America by horses and wagon

Travel by wagon more than 3,000 miles from New York to Montana. This program features the places and people of an 11-month journey through one of the coldest winters of the Midwest with Dave McWethy.

Feb. 25
Walking across Scotland coast to coast

View endless rain-soaked days hiking and slogging 200-plus miles through bogs, villages and local legends on the longest footpath in Scotland with Ron Strange.

A season's pass for the eight-program series costs $35 and is available at Sport Townsend, 1044 Water St., or at the door. Admission to single shows is by donation, $5 suggested or $1 for students. All shows start at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Joseph F. Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden State Park.

Proceeds from the Wanderlust series benefit two local nonprofit programs: Fort Worden's Olympic Hostel and the Jefferson Trails Coalition. Call 385-0655.

Holiday Open House at Copper Canyon Press and Corvidae Press

Copper Canyon Press is hosting a Holiday Open House on Friday, December 12, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. During the Open House, all books, signed books, limited editions, letterpress broadsides, and CDs will be sold at special holiday prices; poetry buttons will be free and treats will be provided.

Award-winning poet Emily Warn will read from her new book, Shadow Architect, at 5:30. Chinese translator Red Pine will likely make an appearance (not to read, but to eat, drink, and talk shop).

Copper Canyon is a non-profit publisher dedicated to poetry. Located in Port Townsend, Washington, since 1975, the press has received national awards and attention for its work, including the Pulitzer Prize, two National Book Awards, and features in The New York Times, NPR’s Fresh Air, and PBS’s Lehrer NewsHour.

Copper Canyon Press is easy to find:  Enter Fort Worden at Cherry Street and continue straight through the intersection, past Building 204, to the end of the road. Copper Canyon is Building 313, located right across from the gymnasium. Look for the holiday lights.

Across the street from Copper Canyon is Corvidae Press. They will also be hosting a Holiday Open House and print sale at the same time. Members of the printmaking collective will be offering their artwork for sale, and visitors can learn about the art of printmaking.

3 by 3: Fort Worden Winter Film Series

The Port Townsend Film Festival and Centrum have partnered to create 3 by 3: The Fort Worden Winter Film Series. Curated by Tom Skerritt, Reel Grrls, and Kathleen Murphy, the series will screen nine films, one every Tuesday evening from January 6 to March 3. Each film will be introduced by one of the guest curators, and a question-and-answer period with the guest curator will follow each film.

Films will be shown in the historic Joseph F. Wheeler Theater, built in the 1940's to serve as the Fort Worden’s original movie house.

Tickets are $12; $8 with current student ID, and are available online at www.fortwordenwinterfilms.com, or by calling Centrum at 360-385.3102, x117. Series passes are $95. Tickets are also available at the Wheeler Theater box office one hour before the film begins.

Reel Grrls is a unique after-school media & technology training program that empowers girls to critique media images and to gain media technology skills in a safe, open environment, mentored by a network of multi-cultural women media professionals. Each of the three films selected by Reel Grrls will be preceded by a five-minute short film. Reel Grrls chose films that were female-directed and women-focused, taking care to match each of the feature films with Reel Grrls’ participant-created shorts  similar in subject matter or theme.

The films of Tom Skerritt, an Emmy Award-winning American actor who has appeared in over forty feature films and more than two hundred television episodes, include M*A*S*H, Alien, Top Gun, Steel Magnolias, A River Runs Through it and Smoke Signals, among many others. His television series include Gunsmoke, Picket Fences, and Cheers. The three films in this series offer a retrospective of his choices as an actor and testify to his range.

Kathleen Murphy has served on the faculties of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Washington where she founded a Cinema Studies program and headed the UW Arts and Humanities Department in Continuing Education. She has served on the selection committees of the Seattle International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival. Murphy’s selection was based on films that artfully express the complicated connections between art and life, creativity and experience.

Wildlife Art Expo tickets on-sale

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Bill Evans Returns to Fort Worden

Internationally-acclaimed dancer and choreographer Bill Evans will return to Fort Worden to teach a workshop for professional dance educators, August 10 through 17, and to present an informal concert of contemporary dance on August 15, 2008.

The dance performance will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Fort Worden Chapel, just inside the gate on the left.  Tickets will be available only at the door, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the performance.  To reserve a seat, one can email Bill Evans at billevansdance@hotmail.com.  Admission will be $10 general and $5 students.

Mr. Evans, who has taught and performed at Fort Worden on more than a dozen occasions since 1980, will perform himself in the west coast premiere of THREE PRELUDES FOR LILA (2007), a fusion of rhythm tap dance and Evans’ unique style of contemporary dance which he choreographed to music by George Gershwin.

“Evans’ dynamic control captivated the audience as his feet took on impressive runs, which looked effortless….Evans’ style simultaneously brought smiles and tears to the audience as he dance for the joy of dance…His brilliant efforts were rewarded with a standing ovation at the end of the evening.”—Scott Iwasaki, Deseret News, Salt Lake City, July 4, 2008

Don Halquist and Heather Roffe, members of the Bill Evans Dance Company, now based in western New York, will perform one of Evans signature contemporary works, ALTERNATING CURRENT, which was choreographed at Fort Worden during an Evans company residency.  Music is by David Sannella and Simon Jeffes.

Other artists include:  Debra Wright Knapp, former Evans company member who now directs the dance program at New Mexico State University, in Las Cruces;  Kerry Kreiman, artistic director of Contemporary Dance Fort Worth, Texas;  Deborah Birrane, solo dance artist based in Seattle;  Cathy Davalos, director of the dance department at St. Mary’s College in northern California;  Robbyn Scott, free-lance artist from Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, and Lori Haman, free-lance artist from Victoria, BC.

The evening will include brief informal talks with the audience by some of the artists and will include a variety of contemporary dance styles and music.