PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Fine Art Center will host a reception for the opening of “Water Connects Us All” from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m Friday.

The free reception will be at the center’s Esther Webster Gallery, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

The exhibition delves into the bonds created by water, explores the intersection of art, science and marine conservation, and celebrates the role that creativity plays in inspiring people toward meaningful action.

The show highlights the work of seven artists from the Pacific Northwest and around the world who bridge the gap between art and ocean science.

“We are excited to work with a rich pool of artists who have been identified for their deep connections to the science community and ability to communicate complex climate and conservation science through their works of art,” said Christine Loewe, the center’s executive director. “Each of our selected artists are combining their ocean science expertise as former or current researchers, biologists, technicians or conservationists with their artistic practice.”

Participating artists include Courtney Mattison from San Francisco, Jill Pelto from Bellingham, Diane Roy from British Columbia, Joseph Rossano from Arlington, Natasha Russell from Scotland, Erik Speer from Bellevue and April Surgent from Port Townsend.

“Exhibiting artists are using a range of mediums and methods to convey their purpose, including the use of recycled and repurposed materials to reflect their advocacy messages, print-making techniques to align with data points, scientific illustration and 3-D designs that create exact visual replicas of ocean flora or fauna,” Loewe said. “By partnering artistic work that inspires awe and reverence for the ocean or strikes a chord with nonprofit collaborators, we invite fresh conversation about our role as humans in affecting change both locally and globally.”

“Water Connects Us All” will remain on display in the Esther Webster Gallery from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through April 6.

For more information, visit www.pafac.org.