These banners are otterly fabulous
The 14th annual Nye Beach Banner Art Auction will kick off this Saturday, Nov. 5, with a launch party at the Newport Visual Arts Center.
Coordinated and sponsored by the Nye Beach Merchants Association, the Nye Beach Banner Art program is a volunteer effort that celebrates the arts and local artists, bringing beautiful, whimsical, and often though-provoking banner art to the Nye Beach commercial district, all while raising essential funding in support of youth arts education.
Banner artists range from school children to professional painters.
Many of this year’s 55 banners highlight the historic Nye Beach neighborhood and the beauty of the Central Oregon Coast, while some reflect the optional, suggested theme of “Sunflowers for Ukraine.” In addition, four of the banners up for auction this year were contributed by artists in Newport’s sister city, Mombetsu, Japan, as part of an annual exchange in which locally painted banners make their way to Mombetsu.
Saturday’s launch party runs from 1 to 5 pm, with live music from Barbara Turrill and Bill Stiffler. Banners will be on display and guests will be able to bid for their favorites in an online auction.
The auction benefits the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts visual arts education programming for youth, including art days and camp at the visual arts center, along with the popular Art Bus, which brings arts activities to communities across Lincoln County.
“The Nye Beach Banner Art project is truly a community effort,” said center director Chasse Davidson. “From the craft group that helps prepare the banners with local business owner Veronica Lundell, who coordinates the overall project; to OCCA’s Newport Visual Arts Center managing the auction and hosting the free, public kick-off event; to project sponsorship from the Nye Beach Merchants Association; to musicians donating their talents for the kick-off; and finally to all the artists who contribute their creativity and heart to celebrate the arts and support OCCA’s arts education programming for youth in our region.”
“It’s for the kids,” Lundell said. “It’s about the kids.”
The banners will be available to view through Nov. 13 from noon to 4 pm Wednesday through Sunday at the Newport Visual Arts Center, 777 NW Beach Drive.
To view the banners online or place a bid, go to https://coastarts.org/nyebeachbanner. For more information, call 541-265-6569.