VERNONIA – Vernonia Hands-On Art Center, the local nonprofit arts and heritage organization, presents an evening of art and community at the Vernonia Community Learning Center (939 Bridge St.) and the Blue House Café (919 Bridge St.) starting at 6 p.m. Friday, May 18.

The event is a fundraiser for the Vernonia School Arts programs, and features customized salmon by Vernonia art students. The students are supplied with a 9- by 14-inch blank pressboard salmon that they use to create their own unique vision.

At 7 p.m. the artworks will be auctioned off in the VCLC by local auctioneer Bill Yeo, with a minimum starting bid of $10. Also up for auction are several chairs and tables that the students decorated using themes from popular artwork. Profits go to support Vernonia School Arts and Hands-On Art programs.

In addition to the auction, there will be an art exhibit and sale at the Blue House Café. This will include art from Vernonia artist Nathan Bower and Vernonia students.

Bower is a recent transplant to Vernonia who specializes in oversized, brightly-colored, joyful paintings. He has recently exhibited in the Columbia County Courthouse, JCafe in Portland, and with Activate, sponsored by RAWartists.org

Browse the art, enjoy hors d’oeuvres at the Blue House, chat up the artists, and preview the salmon and furniture to be auctioned. Come early to sign up and be ready to bid at 7 p.m. For pictures and more information, check out the Facebook pages, Vernonia Jr. Salmon Auction and Vernonia Hands-On Art Center.

For more information, contact Kathy Larsen at (503) 449-3591 or Erika Paleck at (503) 704-5970.