On Saturday, July 11, 2009 Coos Art Museum opened its 16th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition. The juried exhibition displayed maritime-themed artwork by major artists from across the United States. Seventy-five works by forty-one artists were featured. The works, in a variety of media including oil, watercolor, acrylic and sculpture, ran through September 19.
The Coos Art Museum Annual Maritime Art Exhibition is the oldest annual Maritime art competition on the West Coast. Jurors for the 2009 show included ASMA Fellow Paul Mullally of Seattle, plus Signature Members Louis Steven Gadal of Los Angeles and Dutch Mostert of North Bend.
Awards presented at the opening reception included Best of Show to Austin Dwyer for “The Whalers,” Oregon International Port of Coos Bay Award to Harold W. Johnson for “Tillamook Bay,” and the Coos Art Museum Board of Directors Award to Frank Gaffney for “Nice Row of Seats.” Awards of Merit went to artists Richard Boyer, Jon Olson and Grant Saylor.
Buck Braden, of Tualatin, was the featured maritime artist and numerous works by this talented artist were highlighted in the Museum’s Perkins Gallery during the Exhibition.
Other artists with works in the exhibit included Allen A. (Tony) Adams, Lori Aylesworth, John Benjamin, Scott Berger, Sather Brugiere, Donald Curran, Michael S. Ferguson, Jim Griffiths, Susan Hazard, Curt Hitch, Paula B. Holtzclaw, Donald Howard, Jeffrey Hull, Don Jenson, Steven Thor Johannesen, Geri Keary, Beverly Major, Bob Martin, Mike Mazer, Don McMichael, Jerry D. Mitchell, Linda M. Norten, Robert Parks, Ronald R. Parry, Gene Poole, Sharon Rajnus, George A. Rothery, Alan Ryall, Val Sandell, William A. Seldon, Jeanne M. Tubman, Bruce Von Stetina, Ken Wallin, Keith Wilkie, and Terry Woodall.
Following the public opening the museum hosted its annual maritime fundraising dinner. The event featured a silent art auction, beer and wine. Food offerings were provided by Fresh Beginnings Catering of North Bend, Oregon. Auction artworks included pieces by participating 16th Annual Maritime Art Exhibition artists and local artists. A special facet of the auction event was the sale of plein air maritime paintings completed during the opening weekend.
Coos Art Museum has been a cultural focal point of Oregon’s scenic Southern Coast since 1966. It occupies a historic 1936 Art Deco US Federal Building at 235 Anderson Avenue in downtown Coos Bay and offers a wide range of arts activities including exhibitions, art classes and lectures. Hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm, Tuesday through Friday and 1:00 to 4:00 pm on Saturday. Museum admission: $5 general, $2 students and seniors, free to museum members. The Museum can be contacted at (541) 267-3901, or through its website www.coosart.org.
All of the works in the 2009 Maritime Art Exhibit can be viewed on the website at http://coosart.org/maritime/2009/slideshow/index.html.
To see Award-winning works from the previous 15th Maritime Exhibit in 2008, go to http://coosart.org/maritime/maritime_winners_2008.html, and a tour of last year’s show is at http://coosart.org/maritime/maritime_tour_2008.html.
Images of all works shown in the 14th Annual Maritime Exhibit in 2007 are on the website http://www.coosart.org/maritime/maritime_entries_index2007.html.
