Art Gallery

The Astoria Art Loft Gallery is open to visitors. The Loft presents shows every month by local, regional and international artists. Receptions for our gallery's featured artists are customarily held to coincide with the ongoing Second Saturday Astoria Artwalk from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

The Artwalk is sponsored by the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association and includes many of the community's prominent galleries and businesses. The cost is free to visitors. The experience is invaluable!

Our Gallery and adjacent space is also available for local events and meetings. For more information and to schedule, contact us at 503-325-4442.

Originally constructed 110 years ago just east of the Megler Bridge in historic Astoria, Oregon, the building's second story was used as an upholstery workshop. The Loft is directly above "Dots 'n Doodles", the Oregon Coast's premier art supply shop. With views of the great Columbia River, we have maintained much of the Loft's original charm. The Gallery, recently remodelled, provides a perfect setting to view and enjoy the work of featured artists. Join us!

Shows

WAHKIAKUM HIGH SCHOOL ART STUDENTS

January 11th, 2019

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Impressive artwork by young artists has come from the little Columbia River town of Cathlamet, Washington, artwork equal to or better than work by older and more experienced artists. At a time when many schools have done away with their art classes,

Whkiakum High School supports a vigorous art program. The art teacher, Sue Garn, challenged her students to tackle portrait painting as well as learning more about the history of Wahkiakum County. Inspired by a trip to the Wahkiakum Historical Society Museum, students became acquainted with people who lived in the county between 1846 and 1945. After meeting people of the past, students selected an individual or a couple whose story appealed to them. These were to be the subjects of the paintings. Curator Kari Kandall supplied photos and biographies of the chosen people. Because the museum’s photos were in various states of preservation, color, and backgrounds, they were converted to grayscale and the images sharpened.

The art students learned much as the portraits were created. They had to use their knowledge of facial proportions, structure of the eye, design of a portrait, appropriate and historically accurate backgrounds, how to create skin color, and how to complete a complex task. The portraits were rendered in a variety media. Most of the artists were freshmen or sophomores along with a few juniors and graduates.

The principal of Wahkiakum high school supported the portrait project by supplying quality paper and frames for all the portraits. Using high quality paper made painting more pleasurable and having appropriate frames showed the portraits to best advantage.

Why is this portrait exhibit important? It gives high school art students an opportunity to successfully render likenesses of people, something intimidating to many adults. It integrates local history with the creative process. It validates the importance of students’ artwork. It demonstrates the cooperation among school staff members, museum staff, and members of the community. It shows what can be created with limited supplies and readily available local history. It is a model for other high schools.

The portrait exhibit is open to the public in January from 10 a.m- 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday at the Astoria Art Loft, 106 Third Street, in Astoria.

THE ART EXHIBIT WILL BE ON DISPLAY FROM - January 11ththrough February 9th.