Ribbon Cutting for 'Art Walk Alley,' May 10, 2008
Report by Horst, photos by Steve Combs

It Artist Pete Chasar started his tour of the Art Walk at 4pm sharp. First stop was the Central Building. The contemporary art of Barbara Kennedy in the back gallery showed large works of the Brookings artist that need a large room to be displayed effectively. Central Gallery (CG) is the perfect place. Thank you, Eldon, for providing this space for us local artists, and you, Christina, for running it.

At 4:15 the Brookings Chorale, under Russ Oelheim, delighted the Art Walkers with a selection of songs stretching from 1840 to 1988. Russ’s group is getting bigger and better! Immediately following was a mini-lecture by my good friend, artist and art educator, Rick Bennet. His message? When it comes to the present art scene, keep your mind open. He cited exmples from history where “new artists” (such as Manet) were rejected and ridiculed, only to be elevated to world fame later on by a more open-minded populus.

From the Central Gallery, Pete guided his group down Chetco Avenue to the “Gallery Block” where they visited Signatures Gallery, Eye for Art, Pieces of Time, and Words and Pictures, and ended up at the east side of Art Walk Alley. Lynn Guild had assembled a crowd of artists, singers, dancers, actors, and musicians to celebrate the ribbon cutting for this alley, the first alley in Brookings to get an official name and street sign.

About an hour later, a bugler and two drummers started from the Central Gallery down Chetco Avenue, collecting on the way a sizable crowd of hardy Art Walkers. Hardy because it had started drizzling. The 20% chance of rain in the weather forecast was materializing. So, while the softies stayed in the galleries, enjoying the art, the music and the food, the hardy ones marched through the rain to Art Walk Alley to join the tough crowd assembled there.

In short sequence we had: (1) a declaration and thank-you-all-for-making-this-come-true speech by Lynn Guild, (2) a march up Art Walk Alley and around the Art Block led by the B.I.Gs, our delightful and sexy Art Walk Singers, (3) a speech by Brookings mayor Larry Anderson declaring that art was an important part of Brookings, (4) Les Cohen from our Chamber of Commerce and his ribbon cutting crew of charming ladies, having waited in the rain for an hour, showing me how to cut a red ribbon with their gigantic scissors, (5) Mike Moran from the Pelican Players presenting his crew with samples of their latest musical, Oliver.

Art is already an important part of Brookings as witnessed by those who attended the ceremonies. I recognized Rebecca Brickley, the Azalea Festival Queen, with two of her princesses; County Supervisor Georgia Knowlin (she danced with me!), George Rhodes, one of the candidates running for County Supervisor with his wife Dowlene; Charlie Kocher, publisher of the PILOT; Mike McCutchen, owner/operator of KBSC-TV; and Michel Candice, his director; Dick Edmiston, Brooking’s dental authority and wife Barbara; Elmo Williams of movie fame, founder of Azalea Park. No doubt I forgot to mention others I should have mentioned, but what do you expect from a rapidly deteriorating artist brain.

As the rain got worse, the crowd was invited to continue the party at the Central Gallery. A good many walked the half mile through the rain and enjoyed music, wine and pizza for another two hours.

Briefly, here are some of the other attractions. In the Library Gallery a display of kites, reminding us of the upcoming kite festival at the harbor. This colorful show was assembled by Mary and Dan Friesen, owner of Windjammer on Chetco Ave. Thank you, Mary and Dan. The Curry County VFW hall hosted muralist Colleen Stafford with her latest large scale military murals, showing her amazing talent in the medium. Manley presented the work of the Open Painting Tuesday Group. We’d like to see this become a regular feature.

You want to see more pictures of the historical Art Walk of May 2008? Go to wildriverscoastart.com and see the photos Nola Range took. Tune in again at the end of May when the program for the June Art Walk (all sunshine!) will appear on this site.

Horst

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