Second Saturday Art Walk Expands

Ten venues will be participating in the June 8 Second Saturday Art Walk scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. in downtown Brookings.

“This is the largest number of venues taking part in this monthly event in several years,” said Bill Schlichting, Art Walk coordinator. “This month a new venue will be added, located inside a building that housed one of the original four when the Art Walk begin in 2004”

The original venues were Chetco Community Public Library, Manley Art Center, Brian Scott Gallery and the former Words and Pictures, which is the same building that houses Queen Bee Boutique today, the Art Walk’s newest participant. All venues must be located within two blocks of Chetco Avenue between Alder and Fifth streets.

Queen Bee Boutique, which recently expanded to take possession of the entire building, has added space dedicated to art exhibits. The shop’s initial artist is Sondra “Soni” Bartow who was born and raised in Eureka and has been artistic her whole life and dabbling in many media. She will be showing her collection of oil paintings that span nearly 50 years. Shop owner Amber Thrasher will interview Bartow at 5:30 p.m.

The boutique will also offer audio recordings of the music play and compositions of children from as young as 2 years old provided by Harmony and Me. A listening station will be provided to hear the music stylings of local youth composers. Live music will be provided by SwingTime — Shirley Hyatt and Dan Hannum. Wine and refreshments will be served. Queen Bee Boutique is at 407 Oak St. For more information, call 503-779-6599.

Scott Gallery introduces the art of mother and daughter duo Magda and Maja Druzdzel of Gold Beach. Magda utilizes numerous media, including acrylics, oils, pastels and watercolors to capture a specific moment in time. Her goal is to portray on paper and canvas, the wetness of the rain, the thickness of the fog, ad the heat of a sunny day. Magda has been an active member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon since 1996.

Maja also uses watercolor and acrylic as a medium as well as pen and ink in drawings of wildlife, whales and birds. She paints on canvas and also on driftwood pieces. Their show will be on display the month of June. People may also view their art at their Blue Raincoat Gallery in Gold Beach.

Magda and Maja will be interviewed during the Art Walk at 4:30 p.m.. Music will be provided by Ken Dobberpuhl on guitar and refreshments will be served. The gallery has three floors of art displays, which includes Signatures, a gallery within the gallery. For more information, call 541-412-8687 or visit brianscottgallery.com.

Manley Art Center’s artists of the month are Mike Griffith and Ashlee Harper. Griffith turned his first wood bowl when he was in high school, but has gained much knowledge and skills from work and life since then.

“Now in my retirement years I have time to explore my hobby of wood turning,” Griffith said. “I like to make platters, bowls and vases and spent some time on small boxes with exotic wood inlays. I really enjoy the challenges of large vessels.”

Harper is a three-time first-place winner in the Art at the Port display at the Port of Brookings Harbor boardwalk, which is now happening through Labor Day. The public is welcome to vote on their favorite paintings in three divisions.

“Creativity has always been a part of who I am, from writing and illustrating books at age 3 to painting my first mural at 12, to spending my high school years wrist-deep in paper mâché,” Harper said. “My staple is acrylic paint. Other media I have dabbled with include pencils, pastels, sidewalk chalk, clay, and natural or mixed materials.”

Griffith and Harper will be interviewed at 3:30 p.m. In addition the gallery will feature a variety of fine art by Pelican Bay Arts Association members. Wine and appetizers will be served at the gallery, 433 Oak St. For more information about the association and its programs, visit manleyartcenter.com or call 541-469-1807.

Returning to the Art Walk scene is Dots Yarnden where live knitting and crochet demonstrations as part of World Wide Knit in Public Day will take place. There will also be a sock yarn dying station set up where visitors can add dye in their own design. There will be a drawing to give away hand knitted socks made out of the yarn dyed during the Art Walk. In addition to the many fiber art pieces on display, the venue will feature the watercolors of Levi Austin Schubkegel, whose paintings are inspired by nature.

Refreshments will be served. Dots Yarnden is at 537 Hemlock St., across from Ambiance by the Sea. For more information, visit www.dotsyarnden.com or call 541-256-2774.

Ambiance by the Sea features colored pencil drawings by Gail Arceneaux. Desserts will be served. The venue is at 530 Hemlock St. For more information, call 541-254-3727.

Forecastle Books and Gallery will announce the winners of Miniature Paintings People's Choice Contest. First-, second- and third-place awards will be announced at 3:15 p.m. Homemade ice cream, wine and coffee will be served. For more information about the bookstore and gallery, call 541-813-2665.

Wild Rivers Film Festival will show the Siskiyou Mountain Club's film “A Long Way to Nowhere.” The documentary follows young Americans as they restore hiking trails across Oregon's rugged Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Appetizers and wine will be served. The venue is at 615 Chetco Ave. For more information about the festival, call 541-425-7000 or visit wildriversfilmfestival.com.

Next door at Whimsical Griffin, also at 615 Chetco Ave., Hailey Dickerson will be featured with her abstract acrylic pouring art. The venue will continue to display celebrity portraiture by shop owner Vincent Chiantelli and tile art by Dave Christie, The Working Mouse. For more information, call 949-672-8645 or visit whimsicalgriffin.com.

At the Curry County Democrats headquarters, 619 Chetco Ave., Tom Bozack, Mary Jo Wheeler, Karen Rossman-Clark and Lisa Neher are displaying their crafts. Music will be performed by Steve Nelson. Snacks, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be served. For more information, call 541-412-3367 or visit currydemocrats.org.

Semi Aquatic Gallery will be featuring artist Scott McDougall, a self-taught artist who has been working professionally since 1972. Growing up in Humboldt County in northern California, Scott began surfing in 1965, sparking a lifelong fascination with waves. His first commissions came in 1970, creating hand-lettered and illustrated concert posters. His paintings, illustrations and posters will be displayed. More of McDougall’s work can be viewed at scottmcdougall.net. Live music will be performed by Luke Mathison. Appetizers and wine will be served. For more information about Semi Aquatic Gallery, including reading the entire blog about Pearson, visit artandsurf.com or call 503-451-3775.

The intent of the Second Saturday Art Walk is to promote the artists in the community. All events are free with no obligation to purchase merchandise. An after-Art Walk report with photos will be posted at www.wildriverscoastart.com.