Fall Exhibit Opening

Friday, October 6, 2017

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Location
Cannon Beach History Center & Museum

Categories


On October 6, 2017, the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum’s latest art exhibit featuring the work of local artists Scott Johnson, Debra Carnes with a memorial to Cannon Beach’s Steve McLeod.

Scott Johnson’s love of nature and background in plein air is evident in his beautiful and intricate watercolors. Johnson developed the soft washes of the Japanese tradition, as well as the refined line work of the Persian miniature.

Johnson’s love of nature, refreshed by frequent trips and hikes, is evident in his work, but its mood, often portrayed by impending weather, dominates the objects in the landscape. There are subtle references to change in the clouds and stronger references to death and loneliness in the leafless trees of his latest work, yet the mood is never hopeless, but lets us know that the next season, bringing the tiny leaves of spring, is just beyond and approaching.

For more than thirty years self-taught basket artist Debra Carnes has been handcrafting woven works of art from ever changing materials. Her pieces have been displayed in juried shows and galleries in Michigan, Florida, and Oregon. Her baskets and sculptures are currently inspired by her concern to create express sustainability in art making. Carnes won the Steve McLeod Earth Day Award two years in a row for creating pieces from recycled marine debris.

The work that Carnes and Johnson will be displaying in this exhibit is in part inspired by the late work of Cannon Beach artist Steve McLeod.

Cannon Beach artist and devoted beachcomber passed away just over two years ago. An evolving artist known for his seascapes and abstract sculptures were greatly inspired by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. McLeod didn’t like being pigeonholed to one thing. He experimented with beach detritus, wine boxes, watercolor, and more. McLeod had a vision that wasn’t lost on the community he left behind.

Steve McLeod was a huge part of Cannon Beach’s art movement during the 1960’s. He along with Evelyn Georges had an idea to open a gallery that showcased the work of local artists, crafters, and professional artists in the same space. The White Bird Gallery was one of the first of its kind. This idea has formed the artistic identity of Cannon Beach, and some might argue, the community as a whole.

The fall exhibit will open on Friday, October 6 at 6:00 p.m. with refreshments and live music. Both Johnson and Carnes will be on hand to discuss their work and how McLeod has inspired them over the years.

This exhibit was made possible with funding from Clatsop County and will be on display through December of this year. The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is a private non-profit located in mid-town Cannon Beach. The museum is home to the cannon that Cannon Beach is named for, as well as a replica longhouse, tide pool exhibit, and seasonal art exhibits. The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum’s mission is to keep the history of Cannon Beach and Arch Cape alive for Oregonians for generations to come.