Stop and Glow
The Lincoln City Cultural Center is a vital and vibrant part of the coastal community. First established in 1992 as the Lincoln City Arts Forum, with the support from private donations, government entities, grants and annual memberships, it now has a full calendar of events, classes and a fine arts gallery with regularly changing shows.
The gallery is named after Phyllis Cary Chessman, one of the founders of the center. Her parents were the first to develop homesites in Gleneden Beach, a community named for Phyllis’ sister, Glen Cary Harper.
Once a year, the gallery honors cultural center members with the Annual Members’ Show, to which any current member may submit up to two pieces of art. The theme this year is “Glow.”
“There’s a big beautiful stained-glass window in the show which is perfect for the theme,” said Krista Eddy, curator and gallery director. “I keep the theme ambiguous though, so it can be interpreted by the individual artists.”
The show opens Friday, June 10, and runs through July 25. An opening with wine and celebration of the local arts scene will take place on Friday, starting at 5 pm. A virtual gallery tour will be posted the following day on the Lincoln City Cultural Center Facebook page.
The show is featured in the high summer season to honor members and let them know that without the help of the community, this arts and culture center would not exist.
“Some of the artists have been in the show before and some are new,” Eddy said. “There’s some embroidery, which we’ve never had before. There’s also some fiber arts, mosaic, photography, collage; we get everything.”
Though the theme is left to interpretation, the general feeling behind this year's theme is that in a time when we are coming out of hardship and unveiling our faces, it’s time for the community to glow with creativity and support for each other.
“One of the new things I’m really excited about is a big metal sculpture and it’s a very special entry,” Eddy said. “It’s kind of steampunk, very edgy and very well done. It was brought in by the artist's mother, who joined just so she could display this work that she is so proud of and so other people can see it and enjoy it as much as she does. It’s very sweet.”
The Chessman Gallery is located inside the Lincoln City Cultural Center at 540 NE Hwy. 101. The center is open from 10 am to 4 pm, Thursday through Sunday.
For more information, go to lincolncity-culturalcenter.org or call 541-994-9994.