"California Impressionism: Selections from the Irvine Museum," an exhibit of 50 paintings that showcase an array of California landscapes, shows Saturday, Nov. 17, through Feb. 17 at Whatcom Museum's Lightcatcher, 250 Flora St.

The works, created between 1830 and 1930, embody the regional variant of American Impressionism associated with California.

Jean Stern, Irvine's executive director and curator of the traveling exhibit, talk about the works at 2 p.m. Saturday Nov. 17, and at a special "Impressions Improv" - a night of improvisation by local poets, dancers and musicians performing their interpretation of the paintings - during the Downtown Art Walk on Dec. 7.

Admission is $10 general; $8 student/senior/military; $4.50 children 5 and younger; and free for museum members. Thursdays feature $5 admission. Details: 360-778-8930, whatcommuseum.org.

Reach Margaret Bikman at 360-715-2273 or margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com.