ROAM: Art and literary pop-ups
Published 1:30 am Monday, April 6, 2026
Submitted by HALO.
The Orcas Island Library, Hub for Arts & Literature on Orcas (or HALO), art venues and businesses have teamed up to create a weekend of events that will bring inspiration and foot traffic to beloved Eastsound businesses this April. ROAM is a rare opportunity to view curated work by many of the island’s most remarkable artists — many of whom do not show in the Artist Studio Tour. It’s also a chance to meet critically acclaimed authors and poets.
Author and climate journalist Emma Pattee will discuss her book “Tilt” on Saturday, April 11, at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall. “Tilt” was longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Excellence in Fiction, was a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice and was named one of Time’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2025. At 2 p.m. the same day, the first stop on the ROAM Art Pop-Up Trail is “The Water’s Edge” at Outlook Inn, featuring a custom 7-foot-by-5-foot piece by Susan Singleton and a projected installation in the chapel in the Outlook Inn garden by Guggenheim Fellow artist and photographer Michael Lundgren, set to original music by local band The RedBarn Improvisors. The final stop is the Orcas Public Library.
“We could not have pulled this event together without our artists and the in-kind support of partners like Outlook Inn and the venues helping us showcase curated works. HALO’s contribution is made up of an [Lodging Tax Advisory Committee] grant, a percentage of proceeds from artwork sold at Darvill’s, and proceeds from our annual MUST-HALO art show at Orcas Winery,” says Ayn Gailey, a HALO volunteer. “It has really been beautiful to see how supportive the artists and venues are of one another.” Additional venues include Crow Valley Gallery, iolair arts and The Art Barn.
What excites Ingrid Mattson, Orcas Library director, is the incredibly diverse mix of voices and literary work being presented during the week. “We truly believe All Islands Read is the kind of event that brings us closer as a community, and we’re excited to watch it grow year after year. Most events like this would charge admission, but the Orcas Public Library does not charge for events. This year, by teaming up with other nonprofits and seeking in-kind support, we’re able to offer this event for free, and we’re proud of that.”
Sunday, April 12, is a chance to hear the impressive Island Verse Literary Collective from San Juan Island, along with local poets from other islands, at the Victoria room at Outlook Inn. Happy hour starts at 4:30 p.m., and readings begin at 5 p.m.
Please join us for one or more of our ROAM Art & Literary Pop-Ups below. All events are free and open to the public. We highly recommend reserving a free ticket for the All Islands Read event, as space may be limited. You can reserve your ticket on the Eventbrite page.
Schedule
Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.
Join Write Doe Bay for a reading and conversation with visiting authors and poets Rebecca Woolf, Danny Sherrard and Kathleen Alcalá at Darvill’s.
Thursday and Friday, April 9-10
Free two-day drawing workshop with esteemed teacher, author and artist Juliette Aristides. This workshop typically costs $600, and we expect high demand. Space is very limited. To apply, visit www.wearehalo.org/roam.
Saturday, April 11, 11 a.m.
Reserve a spot for the All Islands Read conversation with author Emma Pattee, whose novel “Tilt” was named one of TIME’s 100 Must-Read Books of 2025, at Emmanuel Parish Hall. Free tickets may be reserved on Eventbrite. Books are available at the library or at Darvill’s for 20% off.
Saturday, April 11, 2-4 p.m.
Roam the H.A.L.O. Art Trail and meet the artists. Explore 12 curated art pop-ups across Eastsound, including original, one-of-a-kind commissions.
Sunday, April 12, 4:30 p.m.
Happy hour and spoken word hosted by the Island Verse Literary Collective of San Juan Island, featuring the winner of the Paris International Poetry Slam, at Outlook Inn’s Victoria Room.
Maps for the events will be available on April 5 at the library, the Chamber of Commerce, Darvill’s and participating shops.
All events are free thanks to the Orcas Island Public Library, HALO and in-kind support from Outlook Inn, Darvill’s Bookstore, Orcas Center, Crow Valley Gallery, iolair, Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall and the Orcas Chamber of Commerce. The Art Trail is supported in part by a San Juan County LTAC grant, and the drawing workshop is made possible through proceeds from artists’ work. Special thanks to artists Martha Farish and Susan Singleton, supporting ROAM with proceeds from their paintings.
More info at www.wearehalo.org/roam.
Want to help? Please reach out to volunteer Ayn Gailey at www.wearehalo.org or email Samuel Gailey at sgailey@orcaslibrary.org.
