4 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Visual arts, literature,
theater, music & more
Experience
art in
the forest
SUBMITTED PHOTO
During September’s art-hike ex-
perience, dance instructor Trixie
Gunn, left, performed along the
trail with three of her students.
Lewis and Clark National Historical
Park becomes a stage, art gallery
By DWIGHT CASWELL
unday in the Park
with Art, the inspi-
ration of Astoria
luminary and bon
vivant Marco Davis,
took place for the
fi rst time last Sep-
tember, and an even
bigger and better
version takes place
from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May
15. The National Park Service
is celebrating its centennial this
year, and Sunday in the Park with
Art is being put on in partnership
with Lewis and Clark National
Historic Park, where this inter-
active back-to-the-forest art/hike
experience takes place.
This community stroll through
the woods is fun and family
friendly, with trails suited to
all ages. “You see art in a way
you might not otherwise,” says
Davis. “There is some interactive
art, but mostly it’s to walk and
experience and take it all in.” The
hike takes an hour and a half and
Davis says, “It’s a great way to
spend an afternoon.”
The route has been changed
somewhat this year to make it
more accessible. Beginning at the
Fort Clatsop Visitor Center Picnic
Area, event goers can choose
between a shorter 1.5-mile walk
near the center or the full 3-mile
hike with a volunteer guide on
the Kwis Kwis Trail loop.
S
Last year, 20 artists partic-
ipated, creating music, dance,
visual arts, and installations for
the 100 or so people who came
for the experience. Visitors would
hike along the trail and suddenly
there would be a paper mâché
unicorn, or a gnome village, or
someone singing or dancing.
Artist Renia Fick created a large
mushroom and installed it above
the trail. Strings representing the
mushroom mycelium ran into the
forest; when a string was plucked
a distant bell would ring.
This year, 40 artists have
been invited, and some of the
presentations will be larger.
There will be a 30-voice choir
from Astoria High School, under
the direction of instructor Matt
Pierce, and Kristin Shauck’s
design students at CCC will be
creating installations. There will
be tango dancers, and Jessamyn
Grace will belly dance. Visual
artists who will be participating
include Rebecca Rubens, Darren
Orange, Becky Tonkin, Jesse
Jones, Roger Hayes, Sally Lack-
aff, Miranda Rinks and Gabriela
Helesicova.
Visitor participation in some
of the art will be invited. Last
year a lot of people came in
costume. In addition to people in
their hiking gear there were fair-
ies, a raven, and a boy who came
as Batman.
“It’s like an improv score, in
a way,” Davis says. “I really like
SUNDAY IN THE
PARK WITH ART
2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 15
Fort Clatsop Visitor Center
92343 Fort Clatsop Road,
Astoria
503-861-2471
Dress for the weather, and
come prepared for a moder-
ate hike
Takes place rain or shine;
dogs are welcome on leashes
Participants will be let onto
the trail every 15 minutes.
Last tour starts at 4 p.m.
All ages and family friendly
Free with admission to the
park
PHOTO BY DWIGHT CASWELL
Astoria performance artist and collaborator Marco Davis originated the
idea for Sunday in the Park with Art after he was inspired by the beauty of
the forest on the Kwis Kwis Trail in Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.
collaboration and improvisation. I
like bringing people together who
have different views about life
and art, in the same area, experi-
encing art. Last year I was moved
to tears half a dozen times. It was
a powerful experience.”
Davis is quick to point out
that Sunday in the Park with Art
is completely ephemeral. “The
artists have to pack everything
in on their backs. They set up in
the morning, do the experience
for three hours, and then leave
without a trace.”
You can see views of last
year’s event on YouTube (https://
youtu.be/IT8oW7OOeZM),
and hear Davis speak about the
process that led him to propose
the idea to two park employees
at the Voodoo Room. He says,
“A lot of my drive in doing this
was getting people into nature,
and feeling the experience of
the power of the forest and how
it can bring us into our own life
force.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A curious installation by Kim Waits
at last fall’s Sunday in the Park with
Art event.