Spring Unveiling Arts Festival May 6-8, 2022

Erik Abel

Bold colors, geometric patterns, and botanical profiles capture the eye in Erik Abel’s artwork. Inspired by his love of the ocean, surfing and travel, his work articulates the spirit of the water and awe of nature. His roots as a California surfer intermingle with his experiences traveling to the South Pacific and Central America, imparting an organic, tribal style to his subjects and compositions. Upon a closer look, Abel’s graphic imagery unfolds to tell the story of his paintings. Accents peak through unexpectedly revealing the layers of color Abel cloaks in each piece while loose strokes of colored pencil and marker create dimension.  Erik currently lives in Seaside, Oregon.

Hollywood Indian

Hollywood Indian’s artwork is primarily about the evolution of humankind as an animal and our impact on the natural world, specifically in regard to all other sentient beings.  The growing movement towards social justice, peace, and a truer embodiment of community in Western culture is undoubtedly linked to how we treat the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, regardless of species.  He continues to be inspired by the way in which animals exist autonomously, with behaviors driven almost entirely by necessity and survival.  They flourish in a capacity above greed, materialism, or vanity and do so without ever exhausting their resources.  Hollywood Indian is deeply unsettled by the incongruence of our two worlds.  His artwork explores color, texture, and surface manipulation in an attempt to achieve somewhat uncalculated results that cannot be drawn or painted by hand.   This is an allusion to the beauty of nature, which despite humankind’s endless attempts, can never be replicated nor restored once it is destroyed.  The animals and symbols rendered within these surfaces serve as reminders that we still have much to learn from our fellow inhabitants.

Nathan Bennett

Using the patina process on bronze plates as his canvas, Nathan Bennett mines new veins in painting. His landscapes have a surreal quality, a sense of otherness, which is partly due to his unusual medium. Taking the
chemicals normally used to finish bronze sculptures – the oxides, nitrates and acids – Bennett instead wields them as he would paint on an eighth-inch-thick sheet of silica bronze that becomes his canvas.

J. Christopher White

While wood and bronze have frequently been presented side by side in sculpture, J. Christopher White has done a stunning job of blending the two into a new medium, which he calls a “Bronzewood Meld”.  The transition point between wood and bronze is nearly imperceptible, due to his ability to take the wood deep into the bronze sculpture, combined with the skill of the patineur to reproduce the weathered grays of the wood.  White’s tasteful use
of high polish and contrasting rugged grays builds a platform to launch the illusion of bronze turning into wood.  The result is a sculpture with the durability and repeatability of bronze, and the warmth and one of a kind
uniqueness of wood, combining the best of both mediums and the added intrigue of having your eye fooled.

Rachel Laura, Dorota Haber-Lehigh and Debra Carnes

The Cannon Beach Gallery is excited to show three powerhouse female artists from the local community, Rachel Laura, Dorota Haber – Lehigh, and Debra Carnes. Rachel Laura aims to compose a sense of calm with her work, using soft pastels or spray paint to create landscapes that contribute to well being. For more than thirty years self – taught basket artist Debra Carnes has been handcrafting woven works of art from ever changing materials. Dorota Haber-Lehigh’s work is an approach to nature’s perfect compositions using primarily; colored pencil, watercolor and walnut stains.

Ann Cavanaugh & Andy Nichols

In a cutting-edge project of collaboration and transformation, fused glass artist Ann Cavanaugh creates thick glass abstract and landscape panels that are rolled and blown into fish by glass blower Andy Nichols.

Ann Cavanaugh is drawn to the depth and complexity made possible by layering glass into translucent images of amazing resonance. Every piece represents excitement in continuous learning and stretching the possibilities of glass. Her work reflects the textures and colors of the natural world and celebrates the transformation of a utilitarian material to luminescent contemporary art.

Andy Nichols has been blowing glass professionally since 2001. Largely self-taught, Andy thrives on approaching his craft in a non-traditional manner. He continually challenges the boundaries of glass – expanding his individual capacity and style. Working from his Columbia River Gorge studio, Andy is an ardent advocate for native salmon and trout species through his signature blown glass fish.

Mark Schult

Mark Schult is a keen observer of nature, referencing his own photography in mixed media images of birds and wildlife.  Mark perfectly captures the fine detail elements of the natural world with the etching like lines of scratchboard. The stunning contrast of lights and darks is highlighted by brilliant touches of jewel-toned watercolor and ink.

Michael Orwick

Oil painter Michael Orwick is a master of the language of light as it plays out in the northwest landscape, interpreting the textures and hues of nature in deeply emotional terms. A native of the Pacific Northwest, Michael brings a mastery of technique to his poetic interpretations of ocean, sky, mist, and forest.

Icefire Glassworks

Jim Kingwell

What began as a five-year experiment evolved into a life-forming fascination with glass for Jim, who has been playing with fire for more than 40 years. His chemistry teacher’s observations about reality inspired him to enroll in art classes, so it is fitting that melting glass requires a grounding in both chemistry and physics. His Icefire Glassworks logo incorporates the alchemical symbols for Earth, Air, Fire and Water, honoring the linkage of art and science. From that, beautiful pieces of blown glass emerge that seduce the senses and stimulate the spirit. “I like to bring random elements of color into the walls of my work as a reminder that glass is made from naturally occurring materials.”

Suzanne Kindland 

Suzanne was not reared to be a glass artist. It was her connection to the dream world that led her to become one at the age of 38. There were always hints, persistent nudges that would not be ignored, from favorite childhood words (horizon, crucible) to a vision of dancing in flames that led her to Cannon Beach and propelled her into the passionate world of soft molten glass. Inspired by the places she has lived, she makes blown glass pieces that express nature in the tangled patterns of woodlands, the stark horizons of deserts, and the mysteries of deep water. “Suzanne Kindland uses layers of color and precious metal leaf to lend an “unearthed” quality to this series, suggesting age and patina.”

Mark Gordon

Mark Gordon began blowing glass in 2003.  His first experience with the medium was at Icefire Glassworks in Cannon Beach, and he now lives and works in Bend.  His current body of work is focused on blending colors and balancing them with individual forms. The challenge of combining colors in different ways, and working with a hot and fluid medium, keeps every day of working with glass new and exciting. In these Strata Series pieces, Mark Gordon uses a variant of the ancient “battuto” technique to carve through colored layers of glass. Differently shaped sintered diamond grinding wheels produce variations in the patterns.

John Santellano

John Santellano is a new artist for us. For this piece, he worked collaboratively with a Portland street artist who goes by VoxxRomana. John made the experimental glass sheet when he used to work at Bullseye glass in Portland, and cut VoxxRomana’s image on the glass (with the other artist’s permission).

Kathleen Sheard

Kathleen Sheard’s unique glass fusing techniques, developed over decades, result in work of uncommon depth and complexity. She is a conservation artist who actively works to preserve species across the globe.

Randall J Hodges

Randall J Hodges has been capturing images of the Western United States and Canada as a full time professional photographer for over 19 years. Most of his work comes from time spent hiking and backpacking the wilderness areas of the west where he has hiked and photographed over 28,500 trail miles. Randall does not alter his work in any way and considers himself an “All in Camera Shooter” as he spends the time to wait for the right light and color and uses “Old School Techniques” rather than post-processing to capture his remarkable images.  Only the smallest adjustments are made to insure the finished print matches the back of the camera as closely as possible.

Jeffrey Hull Gallery

Jeffrey Hull

Jeffrey began his painting career more than 40 years ago in Cannon Beach, and it is from its coastline that he draws his inspiration. Today he is widely known for his ability to capture the beauty and moods of the places where water joins land, controlling the difficult medium of watercolor, often in very large paintings. Recently he has returned to painting in oil as well, and is rarely found far from the ocean’s edge. His deep love for the area is clearly seen in his original paintings and prints.

Northwest By Northwest Gallery

Ann Fleming’s figurative bronze sculpture is inspired by an artistic narrative on myths and legends of life’s journeys, the great shared stories of our lives. Her bronzes range from small depictions to significant Public Sculpture. Her Public Sculpture “Midori” celebrates spring and rebirth.

Christopher Burkett

Oregon’s Christopher Burkett is a Contemporary artist recognized as a seminal figure in the history of Photography. Burkett was recently featured on National Public’s Television PBS NewsHour. “His masterly eye and remarkable printing skills capture the divine beauty of nature untouched by man”…The Washington Post. The image is “Resplendent Leaves at Sunset, Oregon”.

Don Stastny

Don Stastny is the architect for the Warm Springs Museum, Native American Study Center at Portland State, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and many large projects for cities around the world.

Georgia Gerber

Georgia Gerber defines many NW Public Places; Rachel the Pike Place Pig at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, 26 sculptures in Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland and Tufted Puffins part of the City of Cannon Beach Public Art Collection. Gerber will share a new collection of work, Pond Dance is pictured. Fox, Sage Lodge Trout, Tufted Puffins, Rabbit with kits, Turtle and Yearling, Golden Retriever, Standing Otter. Gerber is the first woman in America to have her own bronze foundry. She is the leading Public Sculptor working today.

Hazel Schlesinger

Hazel Schlesinger shares her enthusiasm for life and the natural world. Works range from traditional to abstractions of oceanscapes. Winner of the 2017 Plein Air & More People’s Choice Award. Her oil paintings are seen around the world in movies, TV series, commercials and publications including Southwest Art Magazine. Hazel Schlesinger will have her paintings in a TV Series. The show is called “Shrill”. Her work was used in the “Leverage” series and Movies & International Commercials.

Ivan McLean

Ivan McLean is a leading public sculptor including clients: Nike, World Trade Center in California, Nines Hotel in Portland. His “Red Sphere ” & “Re Invention” are a landmark for the NW By NW GALLERY Sculpture Garden, located in downtown Cannon Beach. His works are in bronze, steel, wood and glass.

Angelita Surmon

Angelita Surmon is an accomplished painter and glass artist. She captures the color, rhythm and movement alive in nature. Her series, “Refuge” reflects the imagery of the seasons. Her visionary paintings explore abstraction and representation, using acrylic paints with dynamic assuredness and knowing brushstrokes.

White Bird Gallery

Hazel Glass

Having spent two decades as a self-taught artist, Hazel Glass has always followed her own path. Preferring to gain inspiration through personal experience and varying cultures, she traveled extensively to study art around the globe before devoting several years to refining her skills at the Savannah College of Art & Design, and the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Though Hazel has called many places home over the years, she only ever really meant it about Portland, Oregon.

In her work she uses up to 81 layers of intricately cut paper to create otherworldly images with depth. Each layer of Hazel’s originals are hand-cut using an xacto blade, building them up from 2D drawings into bas-relief sculptures. These precious windows into abstracted worlds reveal what Hazel firmly believes: Bigger is not better. She finds both the meticulous technical challenges and the resulting delicacy of working small too intriguing to ignore. Color plays an essential roll as well. Whether the palette is vibrant or subdued, it is an integral part of her work. And while the design is what Hazel’s art is saying, color is the tone of voice through which each piece speaks.

Lisa Lamoreaux

Lisa Lamoreaux’s paintings are influenced by an enchanted life living on and around the Salish Sea. The artist often goes to the canvas with an end result in mind, only to discover that the relationship between the medium and brush results in more interesting and complex narratives and compositions than her subjective mind can conceive.  This process of “getting out of the way” holds deep meaning for Lisa, as she works at staying present with the process and noticing the connections between her internal state, her environment, and the manifestation of this on the canvas.  Systems Theory, a model found in quantum physics, is a primary source of inspiration, which demonstrates the interconnectedness of all things.  Lisa Lamoreaux is particularly interested in natural systems and how humans impact the natural world. The confluence of nature’s gifts and the artists mindfulness resonate within her abstractions, to create other-worldly scenes that reflect the heightened energy that can be experienced in natural environments.

Brooke Borcherding

Award winning painter, Brooke Borcherding uses brilliantly colored shapes cascading across the canvas to create kaleidoscopic scenes of urban and rural environments that shimmer with dynamic energy. Working primarily on-site, her innovative deconstructed landscapes and cityscapes are a contemporary take on a venerable genre.  Brooke is a full time artist working out of Seattle, WA. She has won awards of merit and honorable mentions at plein air festivals and competitions throughout the west, including 2016 Best of Show in Cannon Beach. The artist states“I believe that beauty is something that we shouldn’t neglect in our Postmodern time, which is why I have chosen to stay within the traditional realm of painting; it will never lose its ability to imitate, satisfy, and illuminate for both the viewer and creator.”

Robin and John Gumaelius

Known throughout the Pacific Northwest Robin and John Gumaelius combine steel, ceramic and wood to create animated human and bird-like sculptures. The highly detailed works incorporate imagery of plants and animals, houses, boats, wheels, masks and other symbolic motifs that reflect on the journeys of traveling through life. The husband and wife team works together on each piece. Robin creates complex decorative glazes and colorful surface imagery, John adds exquisite metal armatures and wood details that give the artwork life and transform them into kinetic sculptures. Robin and John have a fluid working relationship, trading roles constantly in their artwork as well as their home life. Their artworks reveal intricate stories fathomed by a creative couple and told through of a singular vision of their world. The Gumaelius’ live an imaginative life, raising their four children in a coastal region of Washington State where they have built their home, studios, barns and gardens. In this environment Robin and John record their stories onto the beautiful and unique sculptural works they create, breathing life and conversation into these clay and metal sculptures.