At Astoria galleries in July: 50 local artists’ work, ‘Illuminated Astoria’
Published 9:00 am Monday, July 8, 2024
- An eagle carving by Roy Rosselli at West Coast Artisans Gallery.
At Astoria’s Second Saturday Art Walk, downtown galleries unveil new monthly exhibits and offer a chance to get familiar with the local art scene. Between noon and 8 p.m. Saturday, meet the people behind the work and find a lively array of music, wine and refreshments at the locations below.
Angi D Wildt Gallery, 106 10th St.
Enjoy artisanal, micro-batch Willamette Valley wines from Catman Cellars Boutique from 3 to 7 p.m. at this gallery, alongside the work of 25 featured artists.
ARTstoria Gallery, 1168 Commercial St.
Preview this hidden, upstairs gallery’s upcoming open studio tour with acrylic painting demonstrations by owner and artist Connie Dillon. The gallery also sells various prints, cards and gifts.
Astoria Art Loft, 106 Third St.
This location will be showing the paper collage work of Jennifer Goodenberger. The collection is inspired by symbols, sacred geometry and ancient practices.
Astoria Brewing Co. Taproom on 12th, 119 12th St.
Featuring the hyper-realistic scratchboard art of Robyn Finchum. The Portland-based artist carves images into clay by hand, which are then covered in ink.
Astoria Studio Collective, 372 10th St.
This gallery is open from 4 to 8 p.m. with “Relentless Optimist,” an eclectic exhibit from Heather July Goguen. The work includes illuminated signs, flamboyant furniture and disco ducks. “We’re making it happen,” the gallery says.
Astoria Visual Arts, 1000 Duane St.
“Artists of Astoria” highlights the work of more than 50 local artists participating in the 14th annual Astoria Open Studios Tour, a free public event on July 27 and July 28.
The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through Aug. 4, with work that spans a diverse range of artists and media from the tour.
Brut Wine Bar, 240 10th St.
Showing the work of Warrenton photographer Ross Deardorff, whose images are inspired by the landscapes, lighting and wildlife of the Oregon Coast.
Cargo, 241 11th St.
Nancy Karacand is having a pop-up show of bead and jewelry work. She has been collecting vintage pieces from the African bead trade for over 40 years and the show will feature her latest bead jewelry and cabochon necklaces.
Imogen Gallery, 240 11th St.
In “Electric Garden,” this gallery welcomes back the renowned Portland artist Tom Cramer. He brings bold, complex and saturated oil paintings, carved and painted wood relief wall pieces and wood-burned paintings.
Cramer is known to utilize almost anything as his canvas, including buildings, cars and stage sets. This exhibit is a fresh, bold abstract series, exuding the contagious, uplifting energy, of the enigmatic Cramer, both in his paintings and his personality. Meet the artist at the gallery from 5 to 8 p.m.
Jadene Studios, 1292 Commercial St.
Paintings of cabins, shacks and barns from across the United States will be on display at this recently opened studio and gallery on Commercial Street.
The featured watercolor will be “Appomattox Cabin,” from artist Jadene Wingert’s collection. Besides Wingert’s originals, the shop offers affordable matted or framed prints, tiles, mugs and other items featuring her original images.
LightBox Photographic Gallery, 1045 Marine Drive
Photographer Stu Levy is opening “All The Years Combine: Selections 1979-2024” in the lower gallery — a collection of his life’s photography work. In the upper gallery, Marc McVey opens “Pieces of Paris.”
LightBox also continues to feature the work of The Guild at LightBox, consisting of McVey as well as Jim Fitzgerald, Jody Miller, Julie Moore, Rachel Wolf, Sam Blair, Michael Puff and Loren Nelson.
Made in Astoria, 1269 Commercial St.
One year ago, Missy Strain became captivated by painting scenes from Astoria using gouache and india ink on reclaimed refractive light screens from LCD televisions.
Now, she has three defining series: “Illuminated Astoria,” depicting various popular movie scenes; “Inebriated Astoria,” showcasing the many local watering holes; and her latest series, “Indelible Astoria,” exploring Astoria’s haunts that have long shuttered their doors. Each series provides an artist’s view of the city’s captivating character and history.
Menagerie Co-op, 1162 Marine Drive
Sarah Hammond’s collection of embellished fluid artwork is inspired by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Her work represents emotional release and purification, with each piece given a splash of Pacific Ocean water mixed with the paints. Paired with the work will be live music between 5 and 8 p.m.
Paul Polson Studio Gallery, 100 10th St.
“Retrospect,” a collection of water-based paintings of Europe, will be shown with other work by gallery artist Paul Polson. On continued display will be Polson’s oil paintings — large and small — and his signature “Strata” series, done in an impressionist style that leans toward surrealism.
Port Hopper, 943 Commercial St.
Presenting original watercolor paintings by local artist Laura Janes, capturing scenes of Astoria and other Oregon Coast locales, on and off the water. Meet the artist from 2 to 6 p.m.
RiverSea Gallery, 1160 Commercial St.
In “Creating Time: Art and Archeology,” Leslie Peterson Sapp turns to the deep past as her muse in an exploration of archeological finds and the myths, legends and cultural beliefs they embody.
In this series, she depicts a selection of ancient relics, following their journey through time from their origins to the present.
“Curious Untamed Blooms” is an invitation into the enchanting and vibrantly colored world of Dayna Collins. This lively collection of abstracted florals painted in oil and cold wax is punctuated by layers of intense color in adventurous combinations and augmented with energetic brushwork and mark-making with palette knives and pigment sticks. Collins’ imaginative flowers are delicate and bold, tender yet strong and joyfully absurd.
Meet the artists during an evening reception from 5 to 8 p.m., with live music by John Orr and Clarence Robinson.
Studio 2, 1162 Marine Drive
Tranquil colors envelope this tiny space, tucked into the Menagerie Co-op, featuring wall art and home goods. Serving mimosas and refreshments with live music by folk singer Barbara Anne from 5 to 8 p.m.
Weird Sisters Freak Boutique, 1004 Marine Drive
The shenanigans of artist Sondra Carr are on full display in an immersive installation space. “The Outlands” has sprouted a garden that’s “out of sight” — make sure you look up. Carr will be on hand to answer questions at the “Experience Bar,” an experiment in social practice art.
West Coast Artisans Gallery, 160 10th St.
Featuring wood carvings of eagles by local artist Roy Rosselli.