Photo left Courtesy Of Pacific Artists’ Co-Op Gallery, right Bob Gibson EXPLORELINCOLNCITY.COM 41 ART GALLERIES Beyond glass, Lincoln City is home to local artists exploring painting, photography, sculpture, mosaics and other art forms. The Pacific Artists’ Co-op Gallery is an artist-owned-and-operated gallery showcasing the works of 25 celebrated local artists, many of whom draw their inspiration from the oceanic world around them. The gallery is open to the public seven days a week, though the best time to visit is during one of its quarterly art receptions, when member artists provide live demonstrations. The Freed Gallery is another top stop for art lovers in Lincoln City, showcasing the works of more than 90 artists from the Northwest and beyond. Don’t miss the display of wind-powered kinetic sculptures by artist Lyman Whitaker on display in the gallery’s garden. It’s not all glass art at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, where many galleries and spaces co-exist in a single cultural hub located inside a former schoolhouse. Within the center, find The Fiber Arts Studio Gallery, offering exhibits on fiber creations from rope weaving to quilts, as well as fashion and basketry. On the same campus, the PJ Chessman Gallery presents 12 art shows annually, focusing on local and regional artists. Ceramicists of all levels are welcome to get their hands dirty at Studio 3, a clay studio with pottery wheels and plenty of space for throwing pots or attending a mosaic workshop. Art education is the main focus at the Artists’ Studio Association, a nonprofit offering workshops on topics ranging from mixed media to creating art with pastels and pencils. Open studios in media such as mosaic arts, painting and drawing are free to members, and some have instructors on hand to guide artists. ART IN BLOOM Stroll through the Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy, a brilliant oasis of rhododendrons, magnolias, maples and native Oregon plants, where winding paths, serene ponds, and lush garden beds invite peaceful exploration year-round, although the best blooms are in April and May. Just north of town, the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology offers visitors the chance to experience the intersection of art and nature, with workshops, artist residencies, youth programs, and community events set within the inspiring Cascade Head Scenic Research Area. Both destinations provide unique ways to connect with the region’s creativity and natural beauty, whether through hands-on experiences or quiet reflection. For Alison Dennis, a love of art and nature has always gone hand in hand — from sketching animals as a child to building a career that connects creativity and conservation. That passion eventually brought her to Lincoln City, where she leads the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. “When people include a Sitka workshop in their trip, they don’t just fill their own sketchbooks or write a new poem; they also help make Sitka’s free K-8 Create arts education outreach possible in local public school classrooms, inspiring the next generation of creative and caring Oregonians,” she said. In her free time, Alison can be found at the Bijou Theater, browsing Robert’s Bookshop, or catching “the best free art on the coast” — a Lincoln City sunset. LOCAL SPOTLIGHT ALISON DENNIS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT SITKA CENTER FOR ART AND ECOLOGY Painting by Beth Capen at Pacific Artists’ Co-op Gallery Connie Hansen Garden Conservancy
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