Surf & Earth
Jensen French presenting his hand-shaped surfboard to a lucky raffle prize winner at last year’s Surf and Earth • Photo by Tyler Melton
By Riley Ellis
For the TODAY
Spring is akin to a deep, refreshing breath of air for Oregon Coast locals. As the wildflowers burst into bloom, we emerge from hibernation to resume our pastimes –– before the visitor season starts in earnest. Foragers take to the forests, surfers to the waves and kite-flyers to the beaches.
On Sunday, April 21, ZuhG Life will host its annual Surf & Earth to celebrate surfing, local art and Earth Day. Yet for those who live on the Oregon Coast, it feels more like a solstice ceremony — a Spring Equinox of sorts — where people gather at the Lincoln City Cultural Center to share a glass of beauty and gratitude and put the long, rainy winter behind them.
“The hope was to get everyone in one room, hanging out, sharing some stuff and hopefully making some sales, too,” said ZuhG Life Surf Shop owner Bryan Nichols.
From hand-crafted surfboards to a vast array of artwork, the event is a showcase of local creativity, all reflecting the idiosyncrasies of our coastline.
At last year’s event, artists were eager to showcase their work. Tasha Roth’s “Wander in a Mind Space,” an acrylic painting, depicting a man and his dog, wandering through a pine forest, illuminated by fingers of golden sun, proved to be a crowd-pleaser. People also delighted in Ben Soeby’s exhibit, getting their fill of coffee mugs and plywood art pieces to add to their never-ending collections.
Surfboards cluttered the space, with a variety of shapers displaying their quiver of boards. Jensen French’s “Excalibur” shocked the space with its blue and yellow hues, towering over the event center like a bolt of blue and yellow lightning — a sizable board for sizable waves.
Surf & Earth has become a tradition — a ceremonial gathering — where winter is formally retired by spring, bidding farewell to the dreary weather until next October. Whether you're a surfer, an artist or a simple beach stroller, Surf & Earth is a space to celebrate the Oregon Coast with kindred spirits.
Surf & Earth will run from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, April 21, at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 Hwy. 101.