The Arts

Theater and Film

The Orcas Theatre & Community Center (360/376-2281, www.orcascenter.org [1]) hosts a variety of events nearly year-round in Eastsound, from concerts by nationally known musicians to theatrical performances and productions for kids.

Every Thursday at noon during July and August, head to the beautiful Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Eastsound for a free Brown Bag Concert.

Check out the latest movies at Sea View Theatre (360/376-5724) in Eastsound.

Galleries

Orcas has a number of craft shops and galleries kept well supplied by the artists and craftspeople who live there. Olga’s artist co-op is Orcas Island Artworks (360/376-4408, www.orcasisland.com/artworks [2], 10 a.m.–6 p.m. daily in summer, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily in winter) with an assortment of locally made arts and crafts in an old barn (built in 1936) at the junction of Horseshoe Highway and Doe Bay Road. This is one of the oldest artist-owned cooperatives in the Northwest.

The Right Place (2915 Enchanted Forest Rd., Eastsound, 360/376-4023) has an assortment of local crafts, from pottery to blown glass.

Not far away is Orcas Island Pottery (338 Old Pottery Rd., Eastsound, 360/376-2813, www.orcasislandpottery.com [3], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily), the oldest pottery studio in the Northwest.

Crow Valley Pottery (2274 Orcas Rd., Eastsound, 360/376-4260, www.crowvalley.com [4]) is housed in an 1866 log cabin between Orcas Landing and Eastsound, and features the works of more than 50 artists, with pottery, paintings, jewelry, and other locally produced pieces. The cabin is only open between Memorial Day and mid-September, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, but you can catch the artwork 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily at the Crow Valley Pottery store at 296 Main Street in Eastsound.

For something completely different, head west from Eastsound on Horseshoe Highway and look for the bizarre and playful welded metal mobiles hanging along the road. Follow the signs up Two Hills Road to reach Howe Art Gallery & Kinetic Sculpture Garden (360/376-2945, www.howeart.net [5], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily in summer, winter by appointment), where more of these large kinetic sculptures fill the grounds and a gallery. Don't miss this place!