force
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CLATSOP COMMUNITY
COLLEGE ART FACULTY EXHIBIT
HONORS ROYAL NEBEKER
Royal Nebeker, who passed away last year, is GXHLQQRVPDOOSDUWWR5R\DO1HEHNHU+LVLQÀX
generally considered the best artist ever to work ence continues in another way, as artists and mu-
in the lower Columbia area, and he is being hon- VLFLDQVFRPHWRWKHFRDVWLQÀXHQFHGE\KLVVRQ
ored with a singular Clatsop Community College singer-songwriter Israel Nebeker.
art faculty exhibit. This exhibit will present work
Many if not most local artists were at one
by current faculty who teach both credit and com- time Royal Nebeker’s students, and it is likely
munity education classes. A large portion of the that many of those who were not his students are
show will be devoted to Nebeker’s work as well, nonetheless able to quote him secondhand.
in recognition of his central role in developing
I include myself in that group. I tell my pho-
and advocating for the department and the gallery. tography students in the community education
³5R\DOZDV¿UVWRIDOOH[WUDRUGLQDU\DVDQDUW program, “If something is not interesting, you’re
ist,” says instructor David Lee Myers. “He was an not looking closely enough,” a Royal Nebeker
enormous creative force in the college, and he set saying that I heard from painter Rhonda Gruden-
very high standards in both art and teaching — ic, who was one of his students.
and met them.”
There will doubtless be many local artists
Ceramics instructor Richard Rowland says, “I at the reception for the faculty show trading
feel a sense of responsibility in
Nebeker anecdotes and apho-
honoring him, from the sense of
risms, one after another. The
hope that he gave his students
stories always speak of how
and the faculty, and his contribu-
Nebeker inspired others, how
tion to the community.”
he convinced artists that they
Nebeker’s work will be on
could and should make a liv-
the main wall of the gallery.
ing with their art, and how he
County Commissioner Sarah
considered it every artist’s re-
6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12
Nebeker says the works on dis-
sponsibility to give back to the
CCC Art Center Gallery
play will span the last decades of
community. Royal Nebeker
1799 Lexington Ave., Astoria
her husband’s life and will show
believed in community, be-
some of the various mediums he
lieved that an artist was not a
503-338-2472 • Free
worked in and taught: watercol-
lone individual in a studio but
or, monoprints, etchings and his
an important part of the human
favorite medium, oils. The major
whole and of our shared human
piece on exhibit, “Untitled Memory 44” is part of experience of the sacred.
CCC instructor Kristin Shauck says, “Royal
a traveling museum exhibit of the artist’s work.
The CCC exhibit will, Sarah Nebeker says, Nebeker was a driving force behind the art de-
“show that he was a master of these mediums, partment and its involvement in the community,
that he was equally comfortable working in each and his presence in the department will be felt for
one, although they are very different.” She recalls generations. The CCC art faculty are committed
KRZ³,QWKHVSULQJZKHQ,ZDVEULQJLQJÀRZHUV to carrying on Royal’s extraordinary legacy.”
The reception for the faculty show will be held
in from the garden, he would hone his skills by
painting watercolor still lifes.”
at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12 at the CCC Art Center
While the opening of a show is a fun social Gallery. Light refreshments and special treats will
event, returning to spend time with the art is time be provided by WineKraft and Fort George Brew-
well spent, especially in the case of Royal Ne- ery. The exhibit continues through Jan. 14.
beker’s work. In addition to, “his love of color
The CCC art faculty will present examples
and his profound expression and humor,” says of their recent work in a range of disciplines, in-
Sarah Nebeker, “His paintings reveal so much of cluding drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics,
his process and what he was thinking. The content sculpture, photography and calligraphy. Art fac-
is dynamic; there is so much depth. His works re- ulty represented in the exhibit are: the late Roy-
veal meaning, more and more as you spend time al Nebeker, Bill Antilla, Dwight Caswell, David
with them.”
Homer, David Lee Myers, Rebecca Read, Ben
7KDW WKHUH LV D ÀRXULVKLQJ DUW FRPPXQLW\ LQ Rosenberg, Richard Rowland, Lucien Swerdloff
Clatsop County, and in Astoria in particular, is and Kristin Shauck.
Opening
reception
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1: “Untitled Memory 44,” an oil painting by Royal Nebeker.
2: “Tyco at Zion” by Lucien Swerdloff .
3: “Stones of Stennis” by Dwight Caswell
4: “Manikin in Charge” by David Lee Myers, a found scene in Coimbra, Portugal.
5: From left, David Lee Myers, Richard Rowland, Lucien Swerdloff and Kristin Shauck recently speak about the Clat-
sop Community College art faculty art show on KMUN 91.9 FM.
the arts
VISUAL ARTS • LITERATURE • THEATER • MUSIC & MORE
Story by DWIGHT CASWELL
November 12, 2015 | coastweekend.com | 9