Try This: Artists Spring Show and Sale, Birds and Blooms. ‘Vancouver’s First Black Families’

Art to art

The Society of Washington Artists Spring Show and Sale, one of the largest in Southwest Washington, is noon to 7 p.m. today and Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Vancouver United Church of Christ, 1220 N.E. 68th St., Vancouver. The show features 200 pieces of art by Southwest Washington artists, including paintings and sculpture. Admission is free. For more details, email info@swavancouver.com.

Feathers and petals

The Water Resources Education Center will host Birds and Blooms of Burnt Bridge Creek from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Adults and families with children ages 8 and older can take a guided springtime walk and learn to identify flowering native plants along the trail, while listening for migrating song birds. Learn how the health of the water supports local ecosystems. Register at clbn.us/birdsandblooms. Expect to walk 2.5 miles on mostly paved and flat pathways. Stairs descend from the street parking to the Stewart Glen trailhead. For more details, email vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us or call 360-487-7111.

Bright idea

Starbird Theatre presents “These Shining Lives” in the Thomas Jefferson Middle School Theatre, 3000 N.W. 119th St., Vancouver. The drama is based on the true story of the women who worked at the Radium Dial Company in the 1920s, painting watch dials with radium-based paint. The women initially took pride in their work but soon developed severe health issues from the toxic exposure. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 if purchased at starbirdtheatre.com or $22 at the door.

Founding families

The Clark County Historical Museum presents “History on Tap: Vancouver’s First Black Families” with historian Melissa Williams at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. Williams, policy associate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, will explore the African American experience in Vancouver from 1940 to 1960. Attendees will learn about Black communities during World War II, the systemic challenges many families faced after the war and the enduring legacies of Vancouver’s first Black residents. Admission is $5 or $10 at the door. Get tickets at www.kigginstheatre.com.

Starry night

Magenta Theater, 1108 Main St., Vancouver, presents “Silent Sky,” based on the true story of 19th century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, whose pioneering work in astronomy went largely unrecognized in her lifetime. This play explores how, during a time of immense scientific discoveries, women’s ideas were dismissed until men claimed credit. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Performances continue through May 18. Tickets are $26 at magentatheater.com. For more details, call 360-949-3098 or email info@magentatheater.com.

…And more

For more details about these and other events — including Metropolitan Performing Arts’ presentation of “Alice by Heart,” Heritage High School’s performance of “My Fair Lady” and “The Sound of Music” at Hockinson High School — see  events.columbian.com.