Beach your artistic potential

The breathtaking Cascade Head Marine Reserve will serve as the backdrop for a unique celebration of artistry and environmental conservation in Lincoln City this July 4.

Join members of the Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative for an extraordinary event: Art on the Beach. Created in partnership with Chinook Winds Casino Resort, this event seeks to captivate audiences with the creative expression of the stunning marine reserve.

Art on the Beach invites onlookers and would-be artists to partake in an immersive experience of transforming the sandy canvas into works of sand art. The ebb and flow of the tide adds an element of excitement and urgency, as the sands become a temporary gallery for creations inspired by humanity’s inter-dependence to the marine environment.

"Art on the Beach is an incredible opportunity to engage with art, nature and the community," said Duncan Berry, local artist and co-director of the collaborative. "Using the medium of sand to express not only our love and appreciation for the Cascade Head Marine Reserve, but how dependent we are on the ocean and vice-a-versa."

While the main art piece — a giant Pacific octopus — will be created by Berry and his team of volunteer artists, participants of all ages and skill levels are also encouraged to showcase their own artistic talents during this event.

“There will be a special Community Sand Art Circle where all can demonstrate their own personal connection to our ocean,” he said. “We are also going to showcase the event from the sky, as we stream part of the day via a drone to Facebook. In previous years we have captured the imagery, but this year we hope to cast a real-time video component, too.”

Art on the Beach starts at 9 am on the beach in front of Chinook Winds Casino Resort, 1777 NW 44th Street, Lincoln City. For more information, go to www.cascadehead.org.