Spring Unveiling Arts Festival

Each May, the galleries in Cannon Beach celebrate the new year with the Spring Unveiling Arts Festival. Participants can attend a reception and meet the artist behind a favorite watercolor landscape or chat with a renowned photographer or public bronze sculptor. With visiting and local artists providing unveilings of their latest works, demonstrations and presentations in a town known for its vibrant art scene, this festival is a great way for visitors to experience the arts in Cannon Beach.

Art galleries around town pull out all the stops, featuring new works, demonstrations and receptions showcasing their top artists all weekend long. Featured artists often include internationally known talents like master photographer Christopher Burkett, who has earned the Hasselblad Masters Award and featured in Popular Photography & Imaging and Forum magazines. Well-known sculptor Georgia Gerber also often makes appearances at the festival. Gerber is best known for her public works including the animal bronzes surrounding Pioneer Courthouse in downtown Portland, Rachel the Pig in Seattle’s Pike Place Market and locally for the Tufted Puffins at Cannon Beach’s Midtown bus stop. The festival has also featured a variety of painters including Anton Pavlenko, who creates brightly hued landscapes; and Kelly Denato, who turns paint and canvas into otherworldly beings.

Popular local artists also turn out only their very best for Spring Unveiling, including painter Jeffrey Hull and glass artists Suzanne Kindland and Jim Kingwell. Jeffrey Hull has been capturing the North Oregon Coast in watercolor and oil for over 40 years, drawing his inspiration from the ocean and landscapes of the area. Kindland and Kingwell, owners and primary artists at Icefire Glassworks in midtown Cannon Beach, have been blowing art glass since 1971.

Additionally, the restaurants around town get in on the act by serving menu items or full dinners inspired by works of art from the festival. Live music is also often featured in galleries and restaurants throughout the town during the event. Past performers have included Blues great Lloyd Jones and local favorite guitarist Bobcat Bob.

For more information on the Spring Unveiling Arts Festival, visit cbgallerygroup.com/events.