Cannon Beach art camp celebrates 20 years
Program helps locals discover
painting, glass, printmaking
BY NANCY MCCARTHY
For the past 20 years, for one week in the
summer, kids and adults have the opportu-
nity to create arts and crafts in the Cannon
Beach Arts Association’s Summer Art Camp.
Although the projects may have changed
over the years, the mission hasn’t. The camp
aims to provide art education for the North
Coast community.
This year, that week of creativity begins
on Monday, with lessons and events through-
out the week that culminate in a two-hour
gallery show of camp art featuring the art
produced.
During the camp’s 20th anniversary,
more than 85 participants will work with
nine teachers. Participants ages 3 and up will
explore painting, mix art with words, learn
printmaking, design jewelry, build drums
and construct sculptures inspired by the
works of Dale Chihuly.
The camp, marketing director Summer
Peterson assures, fi ts the association’s goal.
“We want to provide high quality art educa-
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tion and to make it
aff ordable for par-
ents,” Peterson said.
Though tui-
tion is charged per
class, fi ve scholar-
ships were awarded.
The fees help to pay
teachers and buy
supplies.
Serving locals was
the goal of artist Barbara
Temple Ayres, who joined
the association’s board in
2002. Together, Ayres and another
board member, Kay Aya, started the camp
with one class. It “was a lot about art through
the ages starting with the Stone Age,” Ayres
recalled. “I ran the camp, with a lot of help,
for the next 15 years or so,” she added.
The camp fi rst operated in the former
Presbyterian Community Church, now Can-
non Beach Community Church, and later
in the former Cannon Beach Elementary
School. When the school closed in 2013, the
camp returned to the church, where it will
take place again this year.
Ayres also taught a class in either book-
binding or journal making each year, hoping
to instill a love of books in her students and
to tap into their innate creativity. “I always
have held that the arts bring tremendous
value to any community,” Ayres said.
“Art is such an important outlet for
children’s joy, fears, curiosity and their
ever-growing sense of self. Art camp pro-
A sign lets
visitors know
where art
camp is held
at Cannon
Beach
Community
Church.
A child draws
in sidewalk
chalk during a
previous art camp.
vides these opportunities for resi-
dent kids and those here on vacation and is
just a fun way to spend a week at the beach,”
she added.
Classes have been taught remotely over
the past two years. In the meantime, classes,
usually capped at age 15, were opened to
adults. This year, several classes have no
upper age limits, including jewelry design,
drum making, printmaking, knitting and a
crochet workshop.
While some teachers have participated in
the camp before, Mindy Hardwick, author
of young adult books, is new to the pro-
gram. Her class will mix watercolors with
words. “During COVID, I spent a lot of time
learning watercoloring,” Hardwick said. “I
thought it would be fun to combine my new
art skills with some poetry writing and word
play, something I have been teaching and
writing myself for many years,” she added.
Summer Art Camp
Monday through July 22. Activities for kids
ages 3 and up
Tuition is $70 per class, scholarships have
been awarded
www.cannonbeacharts.org
Summer exhibits at
Cannon Beach Gallery
Beach & Bird – through July 22. Display-
ing the beauty of the Oregon coast with
a focus on wildlife and seascapes. Works
by artist Terri Neal are featured alongside
jewelry creations, painting, photography,
stained glass works and more.
Pop-Up Gallery Show – 10 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. on July 23. Featuring works
made at the gallery’s 20th annual Summer
Art Camp.
Emergence – July 27 through Aug. 21. This
exhibit features the works of artists Pam
Greene and M.J. Anderson. A gallery re-
ception will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
on Aug. 6.
Found Objects Assemblages – Aug. 24
through Sept. 25. Featuring works by
artists Dmitri Swain and Wenda Vorce
alongside poetry by Cannon Beach Arts
Association grant recipient Lauren Mallett.
A gallery reception will be held from 4:30
to 6 p.m. on Sept. 3.