Friday, June 21, 2019 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com • A3
“Kid, kayak and heron on Beaver Creek Marsh,” on
display at the Ode to the Tides exhibit presented
by the Wetlands Conservancy.
Brian Booth
ODE TO THE TIDES
By CARA MICO
For Seaside Signal
At fi rst glance the “Ode to
the Tides” exhibition seems like
an ordinary fi ne art exhibit, but
at second glance the exhibit is
much more than that.
The exhibit is curated and
supported by volunteers for the
Wetlands Conservancy, an Ore-
gon nonprofi t which has worked
to protect the state’s wetlands
since 1981 through education,
conservation and stewardship.
The conservancy does more
than protect Oregon’s Wet-
lands, the nonprofi t educates res-
idents and visitors alike about
the beauty and ecological signif-
icance of one of the states most
precious resources; the estu-
ary and tide pools that grace the
coastline.
To show people just how
spectacular Oregon’s waterways
are the conservancy is touring
an exhibit of Oregon’s best art-
ists featuring imagery of the
area where the land meets the
sea. The exhibit, which opened
this month at both Fairweather
House Gallery and Broadway
Books Art-in-Loft Gallery show-
cases over 100 works by regional
Pacifi c Northwest artists includ-
ing paintings, sculpture and
photography.
The idea for a touring exhibit
got off the ground a few years
back when a long-time supporter
of the organization and artist
saw a need to inform people of
the important work beaver do
within the state. That fi rst tour-
ing exhibit included works from
over 50 artists with the proceeds
of the art sales supporting the
conservancy’s programs. Esther
Lev, director of the conservancy,
Dave Pitkin
The Wetlands Conservancy’s Lower Yaquina Preserve on display at the Ode to the Tides exhibit.
PROMOTING INTERTIDAL HABITATS
The goals of the exhibition are to celebrate the aesthetic and ecological signifi cance of Oregon’s estuaries,
tide pools and intertidal habitats, and build a diverse community of Oregonians and coastal visitors to pro-
mote protection and conservation for generations to come. The exhibit will focus on the plants, animals,
fi sh, land formations and the magic of estuaries and tide pools, the rich mixing zones where freshwater
from the land meets salt water from the sea. This blend – also known as brackish water – creates a unique
environment with abundant and diverse life. Estuaries gather nutrients from both land and sea, forming an
ecosystem that contains more life per square inch than the richest Midwest farmland. Oregon’s 22 major
estuaries are ecologically essential for many fi sh and wildlife species, including salmon, herring, fl ounder,
crab, oysters, clams, wading birds, ducks, and otters, providing habitat for reproduction, rearing, resting
and foraging.
A portion of the sale of each piece of art will support The Wetlands Conservancy’s program to acquire and
conserve Oregon’s Coastal estuaries.
helped to get that tour going.
“Although beavers are the
state animal, it’s really a love
hate relationship with people.
Beaver do good things but peo-
ple see them as black or white,
good or bad,” said Lev.
The fi rst exhibit didn’t end
up having that many pieces fea-
turing beaver but the work high-
Tourism leaders look at impacts on natural resources
By KATIE FRANKOWICZ
The Astorian
Staff with the Haystack
Rock Awareness Program
know one side of Cannon
Beach’s popular landmark is
not like the other.
The tide pools that are
open for the public to walk
near and poke their fi ngers
into have a wealth of crea-
tures, but even more life
abounds in the areas closed
off to people, said Alan Qui-
mby, an environmental inter-
preter for the outreach and
educational
organization,
during a busy April morning
at low tide.
That morning, he was
splitting his time between
pointing out puffi ns and
reminding people to stay out
of the protected marine gar-
den around Haystack Rock.
They kept coming any-
way, seemingly deaf to the
instructions Quimby gave
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
People spend time at the beach near Seaside as the sun sets
behind them.
prior groups and oblivious to
signs that told them to stay
out.
In Ecola State Park, vis-
itors intent on getting down
to beaches where no estab-
lished access exists exacer-
bate erosion on coastal cliffs
when they clamber down
anyway. Park staff have
started to add portable toi-
lets where they’ve never had
them before to curb the issue
of human waste on increas-
ingly popular hiking trails.
Tourism is a billion dollar
industry in Oregon and mil-
lions of those dollars fi nd a
home at the coast. But as the
number of visitors continues
to grow, tourism leaders are
rethinking their approach and
the environmental impacts of
hosting so many people.
lighted the way people feel when
they see signs of the elusive
mammal including chew marks
and dams. More than 50 artists
were featured in that fi rst show.
By comparison, the current tour-
ing exhibit had over 300 submis-
sions with fewer than 200 being
accepted.
Ode to the Tides is intended to
draw attention to the importance
of the sensitive marine intertidal
and estuarine habitat where the
land meets the sea. The purpose
of the exhibit is to support and
educate people about the diver-
sity of species including marine
plants, shellfi sh, fi sh and birds.
The reception, which opened
on the fi rst Seaside artwalk in
June, drew visitors from across
the region.
“There was an incredible
energy,” said Lev.
The funds generated from this
exhibit will support Wetlands
Conservancy’s programs. A big
part of what the Conservancy
does is protection of sensitive
habitats through ownership with
most of their land being located
between Newport and Reedsport
with a small parcel in Manzanita.
The nonprofi t works to restore
native species on their lands and
their partner lands. The Conser-
vancy also supports coastal com-
munities and healthy ecosystems
preferring to work with willing
communities. Lev said that their
informal motto, “is there any
way we can help” is a guiding
principle.
The Ode to the Tides exhibit
tour started at Oregon State Uni-
versity in May before coming to
Seaside. It will be on display at
the Fairweather House and Gal-
lery, 612 Broadway Street and
the Art-in-Loft Gallery at Beach
Books, 616 Broadway Street,
until the end of June before head-
ing out to Newport, Hood River,
and fi nally Beaverton where it
will culminate in a celebration at
the city hall and library.