PORT TOWNSEND — The Northwind Arts Center’s exhibit “Environmental Variations” features ceramic and wood sculptures by Krista Lutz, contemporary landscapes by Jeff Olson and panoramic photographs by Paul Shapiro.

The exhibit opens at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at 701 Water St. and will be on display until Nov. 26.

Lutz works with clay using molds derived from custom models to produce the building blocks of her sculptures. Her current work takes inspiration from geological forms. She challenges herself to look beyond the surface of these forms and to transform them through association with an “unfamiliar yet instinctively recognizable” context, according to a press release.

Olson’s central theme lies within the primacy of the brushstroke. The structure of his paintings borrows from the natural occurrences of depositing and erosion: a shared history of stacking, digging, piling and scuffing. He repeats these processes in his paintings. Each individual brushstroke shares a common history of layering, stacking, rubbing, smearing and spreading, organizers said.

Shapiro creates stitched panoramas using multiple images to frame a 180-degree view as far as the eye can see. He explores both the natural world and urban environments, capturing the shared connection between people and the breadth and depth of landscapes. He strives to capture the awe-inspiring and often solo experience of being alone in the midst of something much larger, according to the release.

For more information, contact the Northwind Arts Center at 360-379-1806 or email info@northwindarts.com.

Krista Lutz’s ceramic and wood sculptures, including “Buen Camino,” will be on display Thursday until Nov. 26, at Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St., for a new exhibit, “Environmental Variations.” (Krista Lutz)