Creating a Scene: The Legacy and Vision of Esther Webster
On view until April 25
Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm
On view until April 25
Thursday – Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Images by Nora Pitaro
Esther Helen Barrows Webster (American, 1903-85)
Esther was a fiercely independent woman whose remarkable life took her from rural Oregon to the heady world of Prohibition-era NYC and finally to the rugged north coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Compelled by a lifelong passion for creativity, Esther became an award-winning painter as well as an outspoken community leader and champion of the arts, and the founder of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.
About the Exhibit
Creating a Scene traces the arc of Esther Webster’s development as an artist and community leader and explores the ongoing significance of her vision today.
Displayed in the space where Esther herself once lived and worked, the exhibit includes a wide-ranging collection of original paintings, drawings, collages, and prints from across her six-decade career. Alongside completed works of art, visitors will find a selection of the artist’s informal notes, sketchbooks, and original printing blocks. Alongside a handful of key artifacts, these items offer an intimate glimpse into Esther’s life and creative work.
Beyond her own creative practice, Esther became an outspoken advocate who believed that everyone could benefit from greater access to the arts. She taught classes, curated exhibits, hosted salons, and generously supported the work of local arts organizations including the Port Angeles Symphony and the Port Angeles Community Players. In her final years, Esther outlined a vision and set in motion the plans that transformed her home and estate into the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.
Although Esther’s story reaches into the past, her impact on local arts and culture continues
to the present day. We hope this exhibit may inspire a new generation of artists and leaders
whose powerful vision will shape this community into the future.
Esther was a fiercely independent woman whose remarkable life took her from rural Oregon to the heady world of Prohibition-era NYC and finally to the rugged north coast of the Olympic Peninsula. Compelled by a lifelong passion for creativity, Esther became an award-winning painter as well as an outspoken community leader and champion of the arts, and the founder of the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.
About the Exhibit
Creating a Scene traces the arc of Esther Webster’s development as an artist and community leader and explores the ongoing significance of her vision today.
Displayed in the space where Esther herself once lived and worked, the exhibit includes a wide-ranging collection of original paintings, drawings, collages, and prints from across her six-decade career. Alongside completed works of art, visitors will find a selection of the artist’s informal notes, sketchbooks, and original printing blocks. Alongside a handful of key artifacts, these items offer an intimate glimpse into Esther’s life and creative work.
Beyond her own creative practice, Esther became an outspoken advocate who believed that everyone could benefit from greater access to the arts. She taught classes, curated exhibits, hosted salons, and generously supported the work of local arts organizations including the Port Angeles Symphony and the Port Angeles Community Players. In her final years, Esther outlined a vision and set in motion the plans that transformed her home and estate into the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center.
Although Esther’s story reaches into the past, her impact on local arts and culture continues
to the present day. We hope this exhibit may inspire a new generation of artists and leaders
whose powerful vision will shape this community into the future.
Related Events
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Esther's House Experiences
Available to book until April 24 Thursday–Saturday, 8am–9pm The home of Esther Webster is a beautiful work of architectural creativity. It was designed in 1951—by renowned Northwest architect, Paul Hayden Kirk—as both a residence and artist’s studio. We have the opportunity to share Esther's home with you by offering three unique experiences to savor this remarkable space. Book your date and prepare for a memorable experience.
• An Intimate Evening at Esther’s House • Creative Escape at Esther's House • Vintage Coffee Hour at Esther’s House |
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Virtual ArtBites: On Curating Esther
Join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation via Zoom with exhibition curators Sarah Jane, our Gallery and Program Director, and Amy McIntyre, the Executive Director of NOHC. They will outline their curatorial work behind the finished exhibit and highlight a few artworks and discoveries that didn’t make it into the final show.
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North Olympic Voices is a free, public, monthly arts and lecture series of the North Olympic History Center. Presentations are live-streamed every second Sunday of the month. This month, exhibition curators Sarah Jane, our Gallery and Program Director, and Amy McIntyre, the Executive Director of NOHC, will team up to discuss the history of our region as it relates to Esther Webster's life in Port Angeles.
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