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About Seaside signal. (Seaside, Or.) 1905-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 2018)
November 23, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com • 5A New study looks at who visits North Coast Traffic, lodging costs are concerns By Brenna Visser Seaside Signal When international travel- ers come to the North Coast, they are enamored with the nature that surrounds them and the Oregonians they meet. But a few more signs tell- ing them how to get around wouldn’t hurt. The observations are a part of recent study by Travel Ore- gon and the University of Or- egon’s Institute for Policy Re- search and Engagement that looks at who visits the North Coast and what they like to do while they are here. About 750 visitors from Astoria to Pacific City were surveyed in August in cities and state parks about what they felt were the region’s greatest assets and weaknesses. The information is aimed to inform tourism leaders on how to make tourism sus- tainable environmentally and economically through a mul- tiyear rural tourism studio program. “It gives us the opportuni- ty to understand who is there and what they value there,” said Linea Gagliano, Travel Oregon communications di- rector. In many ways, the study shows what one would ex- pect. About half of the vis- itors reported being from outside of Oregon but from the United States, with about another 30 percent coming from Portland — but almost all of them are coming for leisure. About 80 percent of visi- tors come for entertainment, including restaurants, shops and breweries. About 70 per- cent of people are then inter- ested in getting active with land-based activities like hiking and about 60 percent in water-based activities like beach walks. Only about 27 percent reported dabbling in arts and culture. The ocean and general nat- ural beauty was predictably the biggest visitor draw. One of the region’s greatest assets is its “vibe”, as many com- mented on the area’s ability to “offer them a calm, quiet, and relaxing escape from their busy lives.” While about 75 percent reported having a pleasur- able time on the North Coast, the study also illuminated constraints that, if left un- addressed, could affect the visitor experience. About a quarter of participants said they anticipate not returning, and in varying degrees cited issues such as too much traf- fic, a lack of parking, crowds and high costs of lodging as reasons why. Good hosts Outdoor recreation con- tinues to be one of the fast- est-growing travel markets in the United States. On the Oregon Coast, outdoor recre- ation accounted for about 10 percent of all visitor spending in 2017, amounting to about $200 million. Accommodating the out- door recreation market not only has room for growth, but also means attracting the type of visitor the destination mar- keting organization is looking for — someone who tends to stay multiple nights and spends more when they are here, Gagliano said. While the North Coast is known for outdoor opportuni- ties, and the report found that visitors enjoy the outdoor ex- perience, signs and infrastruc- ture could improve. Despite having about half of respondents surveyed in state parks, only 7 percent re- ported camping. Cycling, one of Oregon’s fastest-growing outdoor recreation industries, didn’t make the list at all. The findings are likely not due to lack of interest, but lack of certain infrastructure, Travel Oregon Outdoor Rec- reation Specialist Stephen Hatfield said. “Camping is low com- pared with the state, but that’s probably because they’re at capacity,” he said. Safety issues on U.S. Highway 101 and the gener- al lack of opportunities for mountain biking on the coast in comparison to the rest of the state is likely the reason for little cycling. Recommendations in the report include development of new recreation and camping areas, as well as better publi- cizing existing underutilized areas to help disperse crowds and limit environmental deg- radation. Making smaller changes like adding bike lanes, light- ed pedestrian crossings and adding more cautionary signs would also aid not just recre- ation, but overall congestion issues for locals and visitors. Diversity Some of the congestion issues could be addressed by better information about ac- tivities — a concern especial- ly expressed by international travelers. Several visitors commented on the difficulty they had with finding information about at- tractions, activities and events, suggesting more can be done to elevate lesser-known attrac- tions. Some visitors are also looking for more diversity. Between 19 and 23 percent of respondents said new events, different restaurants and shop- ping locations and activities would encourage them to visit the North Coast more frequent- ly, and took issue with the lim- ited hours of local shops. More diversity within lodg- ing wouldn’t hurt, either — about one-third of respondents said more affordable accom- modations would make them return more frequently. There aren’t easy answers to addressing any of these bar- riers. But a better understand- ing of the visitor experience is a place to start. “It’s good to know what people value, who they are, so you better understand why you’re developing the products that you are,” Gagliano said. Local quilters share their creations with those in need Church volunteers provide comfort, warmth By Katherine Lacaze Seaside Signal NANCY MCCARTHY Wavy felted wool lines in coral and maroon are featured in Robin Montero’s piece, “Study in Coral.” NANCY MCCARTHY A close-up of felted wool sand dollars on Robin Montero’s “Atomic Beach” hanging shows their three-dimensional quality. Robin Montero shapes art according to her imagination By Nancy McCarthy For Seaside Signal Poseidon awaits. His face is in profile, eyes focused ahead, his white hair flowing back in felted woolly waves, outlined against a black back- ground. “He’s my favorite,” said Seaside textile artist Robin Montero, who nods at the felt- ed head of the mythological Greek god of the sea. “He’s the one that told me I could do this,” she said. “He’s the one who gave me the con- fidence to keep going.” The bas relief sculpture, along with several other of Montero’s wall hangings, all formed with felted wool, are on exhibit at the Cannon Beach History Center & Mu- seum through November. She also has a show at SunRose Gallery in Seaside. Her innovative pieces re- flect Montero’s imagination, skill and experimentation with a variety of techniques. Montero, a former pro- fessional theater costume de- signer, knows how to work with fabric, but she had never encountered felted wool until she “stumbled” across it while talking to a woman in a fab- ric shop. After reading some books, she thought, “I could do this.” “When I discovered this, the very first thing I made was a sand dollar. And then I wanted to do something more dimensional. I thought, ‘Well I can draw faces, so why don’t we try a face?’ ” Poseidon hooked her. “There are so many things you can do with fiber,” Mon- tero said. Her wall hangings range from multi-hued ocean waves and beaches in blues, tans and whites covered in three-di- mensional sand dollars, to delicate daisies and a geisha mermaid. She uses a combination of needle felting and wet felting in her work. Needle felting is done by poking strands of wool fibers through fab- ric with a barbed needle; the barbs catch the fibers and lock them into the fabric. Wet felted wool is created by layering strands of woolen fibers perpendicular to each NANCY MCCARTHY “Coastal Daisies” by Robin Montero. Delicate daisies on a felted wool background is one of Robin Montero’s simpler sculptures. other, soaking them with hot water, brushing those layers through a mesh screen until they are combined and rolling them in bubble wrap until the fibers are bonded into a mate- rial, that, after it is air dried, can be cut and shaped. Then the fun begins. It’s up to Montero to decide what she wants to create and how to do that. “This medium is wonder- ful because there are no rules, there are no limitations,” she said. In the center of the felted wool waves of one her works, lying on the felted, beaded wool sand is a glass bottle with a message inside. “My dearly beloved, I can’t wait to be with you again,” says the message, written in Italian. “Here is the key to my heart. I will always love you. Love, Georgio.” “There is a key in the bot- tle,” Montero said. “It’s the skeleton key to my bathroom door.” That piece took about 150 hours to create, including sew- ing individual beads to look like small rocks among the sand dollars, which took the most time. “But every now and then when you catch the twinkle — that’s what it’s all about. It’s all about the details,” Montero said. History center Director Elaine Trucke asked Montero to exhibit her work because “I am a huge fan of felting and what artists do with it. I was especially partial to the lamps that she created.” Some of Montero’s work, including Poseidon and his wife, Amphitrite, look like Greek or Roman sculptures, Trucke said. “But instead of cold stone you have soft and warm fab- rics…. Her love of the sea, of historic art, and even her back- ground in costume design. It’s just so different from what most people are doing with textile.” But the details present challenges. When Montero knows what she wants to do, she usually develops her own technique — something that’s not found in a “how to” book. In her felted sculpture of a geisha mermaid on display at the SunRose Gallery, she used a variety of methods and materials. Along with a purple velvet jacket, sewn of leftover costume material, the mer- maid wears a skirt of sequined black, blue and green fabric. Her fins are layers of silk or- ganza and metallic threads. The pearl necklace hanging from a hook beside her reflects Montero’s other interest in jewelry design. Entitled, “Pro- posal at Sea,” the piece has a felted wool and beaded back- ground in blues and lavenders. Always thinking of the next project, Montero keeps a notebook of ideas, where no boundaries restrict her creativ- ity. “There are no rules,” she said about her textiles. “That’s the best part.” On Thursday mornings, a fellowship hall at Our Sav- iour’s Lutheran Church in downtown Seaside bustles with the activity of a small but dedicated group of vol- unteers working meticulous- ly to construct quilts that are sent across the world to peo- KATHERINE LACAZE/FOR SEASIDE SIGNAL ple in need. “We work with whoever Volunteers with a quilting group at Our Saviour’s Lutheran comes,” said Claudia Hall- Church in Seaside work on putting together quilts. iburton, who co-chairs the group along with Kathy Wo- The quilters rely on do- group boxes the quilts at nated fabric for quilt tops, the church and a volunteer erndle. Even those who do not sheets for backing, and yarn delivers them to the parent have a knack for sewing for ties. The only compo- organization in Portland for can be assigned a task, nent they purchase for the wider distribution. A recent such as tying yarn or cut- quilts is batting. To that end, drop-off brought in about 65 ting squares. The members the volunteers also create quilts for donation. Darby Gott has been – which rarely exceed 10 at quilts that can be purchased a time — routinely gather by the public, with all pro- involved in the group for for about three hours each ceeds going directly back about four years, although her contribution tends to- week to construct the quilts, into crafting more quilts. Besides using their time ward selecting attractive which are distributed in- terstate and worldwide by and skills to create a prod- fabric to donate and cutting Lutheran World Relief, an uct that benefits others, the it into squares for “these international outreach or- volunteers also see the time wonderful sewers” to put ganization. Lutheran World together as a chance for so- together. Her volunteerism Relief also provides hygiene cializing, with each Thurs- is worthwhile, she said, be- kits and kits with items for day morning session includ- cause she knows the quilts infant care. In 2016, the ing refreshments and a Bible are going to people in need. “You’re doing some- most recent year for which study. “We’re kind of a support thing, even if it’s a small numbers were reported, the organization distributed ma- groups, as much as a work- thing, that will bring people terials valuing $13.3 million ing group,” Halliburton comfort and a little bit of to 534,144 beneficiaries in said. “We’re here to enjoy hope,” she said. To continue their work, 16 countries. Each year, the ourselves and do something the group is continually Seaside group contributes at the same time.” Woerndle agreed the val- seeking donations of ma- about 140 to 180 quilts, which are used for comfort ue of the group is the cama- terial in half-yard or larger and warmth, or in some cas- raderie, “the giving and the pieces, made of 100 percent es, shelter. taking.” cotton or cotton/polyester “It’s a service,” said Hal- “I have a lot of talent in blend. They also need clean liburton, who has been part the sewing department,” sheets, sized for a double of the group off and on for she said. “It’s a good way to bed or larger. To make a do- more than 50 years. “You’re make use of that and to give nation, contact Halliburton at 503-505-1626 or email helping other people, that’s to somebody else.” why we’re all here.” Two times per year, the nursejane5895@gmail.com. Breathe easy Let’s clear the air. And your lungs. We can help you quit smoking. Creating health together. colpachealth.org M @columbiapacificcco A CareOregon Company