To reclaim the once pejorative term “nerd” to mean anyone who obsesses over created content, the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center and North Olympic Library System are hosting opening festivities for “Obsessed: The Art of Nerd-dom” on Saturday, Jan. 11.

Festivities kick off with a VIP members event from 4-5 p.m. and a public reception from 5-7 p.m., both at the fine arts center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd. An Art Blast! follows from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St. Tomo Nakayama, a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter from Seattle, will begin performing at 7 p.m.

“With artwork ranging from literary illustration to comics to game design, this exhibit celebrates the irrepressible creativity and playfulness of nerd culture in the Northwest,” event organizers say.

Renne Emiko Brock’s artwork “Super Color Cape Series” will be shown in the “Obsessed: The Art of Nerd-dom” exhibit. Submitted photo

Participating artists include Sequim’s Ginny Holladay and Renne Emiko Brock, Port Angeles’ Maureen Heaster, Caleb Koch, Cammy Lapka and Britney Robinson, Hanna Charlton of Spokane, Ronald Cole of Peshatin, Chris Corbitt of Mount Vernon, Cassandra Greye of Seattle, Lindsay Holladay van Damme of Kenmore, Joseph John Sanchez of Wenatchee and Bronwyn Thomas of Tacoma.

Co-curated by Holladay and Sarah Jane, “Obsessed” will be on exhibit at the library through March 11; see www.pafac.org/obsessed.html.