The Clark County Historical Museum is pleased to welcome back History on Tap. Join the Clark County Historical Museum for an engaging evening of film and discussion at the historic Old Liberty Theater in Ridgefield.

The Clark County Historical Museum invites you to the final installment of our 2026 History on Tap series: The Lavender Palette, presented by renowned art historian and curator David F. Martin.

Join us Thursday, October 15, at the historic Old Liberty Theater in downtown Ridgefield for an exploration of the LGBTQ artists who helped shape the cultural identity and artistic heritage of the Pacific Northwest.

Martin’s talk draws from more than thirty years of original research that culminated in his landmark publication and exhibition, The Lavender Palette: Gay Culture and the Art of Washington State. Beginning as far back as the 1910s, Martin’s research brings greater attention to pioneering gay and lesbian artists whose contributions have often been overlooked or understudied.

Through artwork, photographs, archival materials, and stories drawn from his extensive research, Martin will explore the lives and work of artists who helped define a distinctive regional aesthetic. His research was strengthened by personal relationships with several of the artists as well as connections with their families and descendants, providing access to previously unpublished biographical materials and photographs.

Originally produced in conjunction with an exhibition at the Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds, The Lavender Palette features essays and biographies of thirteen artists. The book examines the ways these artists navigated their identities and careers while contributing significantly to the artistic life of Washington State.

Thursday, October 15th, 2026

Admission $5.

Showtime 7:00pm | Doors Open at 6:00pm