Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum
You don’t have to be a birder to join the flock of avian art enthusiasts at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum this evening. We are all invited to the opening reception (5:00 to 7:00) for “Birds of a Feather” – a special exhibition that explores how artists depict our regional birds. Included are woodcarvings, photographs, paintings, ceramics and quilts. I can’t wait!
The work of five artists will be featured in the main room of the Special Exhibition Gallery. You are bound to know some of them or, at the very least, to be familiar with some of their work. All have had long-time connections with the Peninsula, though their backgrounds vary as widely as their chosen media.
Wood Carvings by Don Gibbons
For instance, Don Gibbons (1926-2015), painter and carver, owned a cabin in Seaview, was a Professor at Portland State University and a world-recognized criminologist. Photographer Madeline Kalbach has been a part-time Peninsula resident since 1992 and often contributes articles and photos to our local paper. Sue Raymond of Ocean Park, a long-time teacher in public and private schools, is known for her whimsical ceramic birds.
Swallows on Hand-Painted Fabric by Abby Schlingensiepen
Then there’s Kansas City Painter Abby Schlingensiepen, whose Peninsula connection is through a ‘long-time association’ (sisters?) with CPHM Director Betsy Millard. Abby “has fallen in love with fabrics,” according to exhibition announcements, and descriptions of her work suggest quilts and more. Also, long time Peninsula resident Marie Powell’s work will be on display – perhaps some of her new monoprints and, perhaps, featuring some of the waterfowl of our own Willapa Bay. Whatever Marie has on exhibit, I know I will love.
As I said, I can’t wait. See you there! (And, if not tonight, sometime between now and March 6th when the exhibition flies away. Between now and then, it promises to be one of those “enjoy thoroughly, see often” treats for birders of every sort – even the indoors sort like me.)
I definitely want to see this! I recently downloaded a bird app to my phone because I figure it might be easier than thumbing through my bird book which never is at hand.