A layered approach to community
Lasagnathon is just a slice of what the Bay City Arts Center has to offer
By Chelsea Yarnell
Oregon Coast TODAY
What do you call an unending dinner of lasagna? Lasagnathon.
The beloved fund-raiser for the Bay City Arts Center returns this Saturday, Dec. 7. Tickets include an evening of music, art, community spirit and dinner. Live music by local musician Matt Didlake will begin at 5:30 pm with the lasagna dinner, vegetarian and gluten-free options available, beginning at 6 pm. Finish the evening with warm berry cobbler for dessert. During the event, a silent auction will be held with artwork by local artists, items from local businesses and gift cards to local restaurants.
“Our organization is membership-driven and supported through community funding,” said Bay City Arts Center President Hope Montgomery. “That’s a huge portion of where we get money to do anything. Lasagnathon is our biggest fund-raiser at the end of the year, so it’s huge. It’s a ton of fun. If you’ve never been before, we eat lasagna, we auction lasagna; it’s hilarious.”
The center is a multifaceted organization that supports art, music, its very own radio station and just about anything the community dreams up.
“It’s a part of our mission,” Montgomery said. “We’re not just an art center. We’re not just a community center. We’re trying to do both of those things. We are community-centric and it’s a lot about relationships. The pandemic introduced the idea about ‘third places.’ We need a place that’s not home, work or school. We need that third place that really connects us to the community. I think that our board right now is really in touch with that. We want the base of the Bay City Arts Center to be that for a lot of people.”
Each month the center rotates displays of work from local artists. For December, the gallery features work from any Bay City Arts Center member who wished to submit a piece. An open house for the gallery will take place from 5 to 7 pm this Friday, Dec. 6. The reception is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Weekly and specialty family and art workshops are offered at the center, often free or for a minimal fee.
“We’re going to meet you where you are and show you that you are a creative person,” Montgomery said. “We all have that in us. It’s a low barrier to entry and experience it for yourself. It’s unintimidating.”
Live performances are also a growing offering for the center. In December, the venue will host a free performance of “A Christmas Carol” performed by the Oregon Adventure Theatre at 7 pm on Saturday, Dec. 14. Later in the month, “A Night of African Music” with Blessing Bled Chimanga from Zimbabwe featuring Mike Olson will be held from 6 to 8 pm on Sunday, Dec. 22. Concert admission is by donation.
The center is run by a volunteer board and supported by membership dues.
“Attend a board meeting: they’re public,” Montgomery said. “Or, get more involved. There’s lot of ways to do that. Being on the board is a great way to do so. Our programs are shaped by our board’s interests. I would just encourage people if they’re interested in us to get in touch.”
The Bay City Arts Center has roughly 300 members whose annual membership fees of $20 per individual keep the doors of the organization open.
“A membership keeps you connected with our newsletter,” Montgomery said. “It reminds people that you don’t have to be on the board to support what happens here. We’ve got the ocean, the trees, the mountains, and then there’s an art center right here. I definitely think it’s a part of bringing souls to our community.”
Lasagnathon kicks off at 5:30 pm this Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Bay City Arts Center, located at 5680 A Street. Tickets are $35 per person. For a full list of upcoming classes, workshops and membership information, go to baycityartscenter.com or call 503-377-9620.