Art by association
Story & photos by Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
The list of Oregon Coast organizations that have lasted for longer than 75 years is a small one. Add the fact that the group’s mission is to provide free art education and supplies to all who seek them, and it becomes even more impressive that the Yaquina Art Association has thrived for so long,
“Our organization was founded by a bunch of artists that got together to teach classes and give lectures, all for free,” current President Ken Hartwell said. “Our bylaws state that we are here to give back to the community, not to profit from it.”
The YAA was formed in Newport 1947 and operated in a former bathhouse building in Nye Beach. As the group grew, it expanded into the building that is now the Newport Visual Arts Center.
“We had a complete ceramics studio, life drawing classes, art shows for local artists — it was very busy,” Hartwell said. “We paid the city a small fee, but when they thought about selling the building, the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, who had taken over managing it, had to raise the rent by a significant amount to afford to keep it, so we moved out.”
The group still operates the Yaquina Art Gallery and Gift Shop in Nye Beach, which sells art by local artists. Some of the profits from sales go to further the mission of the YAA and help find a new permanent facility for art classes.
Currently, the group offers all age classes in watercolor painting, oils, pastels, colored pencils and photography. It depends on the generosity of the First Baptist Church, which give the group a classroom space a few days a week.
Class sizes average four to six participants.
“It’s more like an open studio,” YAA member Marianne StMarie said. “Anyone can come and bring a project. We can show them techniques and get them started on something. They don’t even have to have their own supplies because we have so many things that have been donated to us. So before they invest they can put their foot in the water and see if they like it.”
Bernadette Solano saw a notice about the classes and joined because she was looking for activities after having recently lost her husband after a long illness.
“I hadn’t done watercolor since the ’80s,” she said. “I was a full-time caregiver, so I was looking for a respite in a lovely environment and I definitely found that here. I’m getting a bit more confidence in my painting, too.”
Beverly Peterson was looking to break out of an artistic rut.
“I thought I only wanted to do black and white — I was afraid of color,” she said. “Now I love color and can’t paint in anything else.”
The YAA has a close relationship with local schools, providing art related events, education and activities, primarily for elementary schools. And making sure kids can get the art supplies they need is Hartwell’s heart project.
“I contact the teachers and they give me a wish list,” he said. “Then I send out an email to our members saying what we need to gather. For example, a teacher in Waldport wanted small wooden boards to make Mother’s Day gifts. We ended up getting 190 of them — that’s the kind of thing we do. If a teacher needs something, we either scrounge it or buy it outright.”
Hartwell also works on partnerships with art suppliers like the Merri Artist in McMinnville.
“They give us discounts on everything we buy,” he said. “And they give us anything damaged for free.”
For artists looking for rock bottom prices on things like frames, portfolio cases and art books, the YAA storage supply space is open a few times a month and by appointment.
“We offer things at very reasonable prices,” Hartwell said. “The money will also go to getting a building where we can do art education. This happened because as members die or move away, there are all these art supplies that families don’t want. At one of our board meetings I was complaining that we had nowhere to store these things and one of our members stepped up and donated this space to us.”
The YAA membership is open to all, as well as are the classes.
“It’s just fun to get out again and gather with other artists,” StMarie said. “This group is the most friendly, open, warm group of people I’ve ever come across in my whole life.”
Classes are held at the First Baptist Church, 224 NW 6th Street in Newport. For more information and list of current classes, go to yaquinaart.org.