Galleries to celebrate the ‘Twelve Days of Earth Day’ – Daily Astorian: Cannon Beach

Jeff White is the artist of "Reeds," done in pointillist style. The painting is on display at Northwest by Northwest Gallery.

via Column: Galleries to celebrate the ‘Twelve Days of Earth Day’ – Daily Astorian: Cannon Beach.

There is a lot more to April than playing tricks on fools, dyeing eggs, eating jelly beans and filling out tax forms. One of Cannon Beach’s unique celebrations is the Twelve Days of Earth Day.

This annual event, running this year from April 12 through 28, features tree plantings, a birdathon, beach cleanup and several presentations and speakers involved with the many aspects of environmentalism. Visit Twelvedaysofearthday.com for more information.

Primary Elements

“Earth Day is an important focus for our gallery; earth, air, water, and fire are the primary elements,” said Stephanie Ainsley, owner of Primary Elements Gallery. “We are especially concerned with air and water quality and are focused on ‘living green.’”

Primary Elements Gallery features landscapes and seascapes, as well as recycled elements and repurposed objects made into works of art.

“We represent artists who are using biofuels to heat their kilns, and we feature several artists who recycle metals for sculptures or who use found wood to make useful and beautiful furniture,” Ainsley said. The gallery also represents Dave Archer, known for 40 years for making space paintings on reverse glass using a high voltage Tesla coil. He paints planets, comets and solar systems and was the artist for the Star Trek movies and series. Primary Elements Gallery is upstairs in Sandpiper Square.

Cannon Beach Gallery

The third annual green inspired show at the Cannon Beach Gallery happens in April in honor of Earth Day. The gallery will host a dynamic installation curated by Astoria resident, Jessica Schleif, entitled, “Reclaiming the Green World” from April 4 through 28. An artists reception is planned from 5 to 7 p.m. April 5. Recology of Western Oregon is the exhibit underwriter for the exhibition.

The show was conceptualized as a group show with artists exploring the concept of creative culture verses consumer culture. The exhibition features well-established artists like Agnes Fields, who will be showing two-dimensional, mixed media work inspired by her recent artist in residency in Finland.

Anne Greenewood, whose “What’s in the Bag,” is an interactive, community-based project that explores the concept of identity and reclaiming our relationship with the natural world. In addition, terrariums and installation work by Jessica Schleif, Kimberly Waites, Andee Gowing, Maurico Rioseco, Thor Andersson and Karl Travenshek also will be displayed,. The Cannon Beach Gallery is in midtown, next to Bald Eagle Café.

Jeffrey Hull Gallery

Local painter and tree-hugger Jeffrey Hull, of Jeffrey Hull Gallery, recently finished a new watercolor titled “Foggy Sentinel.”

“When I observe the older trees along the Northwest coast I often wonder what stories they would tell if they could speak. In one sense, they do communicate by their sculpted form, revealing the storms they’ve endured, as well as the beautiful days when growing is easy. Living on the edge, they’ve seen it all and taken on the characteristics we appreciate,” said Hull. Jeffrey Hull Gallery is on the second floor of Sandpiper Square.

Northwest by Northwest

Northwest by Northwest Gallery has added oil painter Jeff White to the gallery. White paints the splendor of the natural world in the Northwest in pursuit of the ethereal and atmospheric light this region is known for. He is the rare artist creating pointillist works one brush point at a time, often taking three months to complete one painting. Northwest by Northwest Gallery is downtown across from the city park on Spruce Street.

Dragonfire Gallery

Dragonfire Gallery welcomes new artists Debbie Berrow and Reed Grossnicklaus, whose intricate miniature clay sculptures capture the essence of love, spirit, healing and family. Their art is inspired by nature and is made from Oregon clay.

Also new is Josey Wise with her captivating impressions of birds, painted in oil. She tends to use a bright palette and expressive strokes, sometimes on the edge of abstract. Her goal as a painter is to capture a quick moment in time or a gesture of nature while playing with the contrast of light and shadow with a focus on color.

Lisa Arquette, a self-taught artist, is another new addition to the gallery. She creates sculptures and functional art by using her abilities as a glassblower, woodworker, welder, painter and engineer. Arquette thrives on unbridled enthusiasm for Mother Nature and the female form.

Modern Villa

Modern Villa Gallery owner David Jonathan Marshall has been selected to provide the original artwork for Stormy Weather Arts Festival 2014. Modern Villa Gallery has many Earth-centered works of art, including glass waves by David Wight and a collection of natural candles by Trapp that are soy-based and lead free.

Bronze Coast Gallery

Bronze Coast Gallery, also in the Landing, has previously sold out works by John Coleman, a member of the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America. “Into the Unknown” depicts a young Sacagawea with her infant strapped to her back, and “Kokopelli” is the image of a fertility god and music player popular among Southwestern Native American storytellers.

The gallery is full of beautiful paintings by Oregon artists Hans Schiebold and Pamela Claflin, as well as a collection of bronze sculpture, detailing many of Earth’s creatures great and small.