At one Historic location on Orcas Island, you'll find hundreds of beautiful works from nearly 40 local Orcas Island Artists that call this place Home.
On your next visit to Orcas Island, be sure to head over to the east side of the island where you'll find an impressive collection of work by locals artists at The Orcas Island Artworks Gallery.
Located in a historic building in the hamlet of Olga on Orcas Islands east side, you'll find The Orcas Island Artworks Gallery and Catkin Cafe (breakfast & lunch).
The Gallery is a favorite destination for local islanders and visitors alike. Filled with unique crafts, paintings, pottery, sculptures, custom leather sketchbooks & journals and jewelry, just to name a few.
A Historic Location
The Artworks Building, which houses the Gallery, dates back to 1938. Once a strawberry barreling plant, the building now serves as a home to roughly three-dozen local Orcas Island artists, including "The James Hardman Gallery" occupying the loft of the building (we missed upstairs the first time we visited).
While Hardman is the most well-known artist in the Gallery, you'll be delighted to find other great artists and their works on site - in fact, the artists they run the gallery themselves, and can share with you some of the fantastic pieces made right here on Orcas Island.
In July of 2013, a fire consumed much of the east side of the building, where Cafe' Olga was previously located. The damage from fire and water displaced the artists for some time. Fortunately, many found temporary homes in the surrounding areas and the main village of Eastsound. The Artworks building is now on the Washington Heritage Register by the Governor's Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the San Juan County Land Bank purchased an easement to maintain the space and feel of the area, avoiding overdevelopment.
The building beautifully restored with much of the same original character and charm reopened in April 2015 and now welcomes guests to explore the art and crafts.
Don't miss this unique collection of local talent. Learn more about the nearly 40 artists that call The Artworks Building home on their website and Facebook Page.
Orcas Island Artworks & Catkin Cafe
11 Pt. Lawrence Road
Olga, WA 98279
Phone: 360.376.4408
Website: www.orcasartworks.com
Facebook Orcas Island Artworks
Catkin Cafe serving Breakfast & Lunch - www.catkincafe.com