Oregon Coast Council for the Arts (OCCA) invites the public to celebrate the new “All Things Newport” mural in Nye Beach on Saturday, October 11th, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Newport Visual Arts Center (VAC). The event takes place indoors and out, and will include kids’ art activities, face painting by Rebecca Sinnhuber of American Mayhem, light refreshments provided by Tastee Tiki, and live music by Chayag Band (12 pm-1:30 pm) and Your Song My Song (2 pm-4 pm). Admission is free!
12:30pm
Official ribbon cutting and remarks by Mayor Jan Kaplan and Newport Visual Arts Center Director Chasse Davidson
12:00pm – 1:30pm
Live music with Chayag
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Live music with Your Song My Song
12:00pm – 3:30pm
Face painting and children’s art activities
12:00pm – 4:00pm
(or as long as supplies last)
Tacos by Tastee Tiki
The multi-artist “All Things Newport” mural is located at the large cement staircase adjacent to the VAC, which connects the Nye Beach turnaround area to the streets above. Formerly more functional and less fun, the staircase now plays host to the colorful work of many talented local mural artists – including Crystal Akins, Kim Bush, Gary Herd, Khara LeDonne, Miguel Martinez, Casey McEneny, Ram Papish, Carol Shenk, and Ken Spencer – as well as a panel designed and painted by local Latinx youth, guided by artist Emy Daniels (sponsored by Oregon State University).
A project of the Public Arts Advisory Committee for the City of Newport, managed by OCCA, the multi-artist mural was conceived by Chasse Davidson, director of the VAC, as a way to make the formerly drab staircase more visually appealing. Each panel of the mural represents a unique take on what Newport means to that particular artist (or collection of artists), with one common element – the inclusion of one of Newport’s native hummingbird species.
Chayag Band – Our family band of 4 musicians performs traditional Andean music using handmade instruments. During our performance, we share a wide variety of songs from across Latin America, highlighting the richness of our culture through music.
Your Song My Song is an upbeat, funky indie band that sings songs about nature and, specifically, oceanic ecosystems.
Artist Info…
Ram Papish is a professional wildlife enthusiast whose varied career includes biologist, educator, photographer and wildlife artist. He specializes in illustration of interpretive signs, books and posters. His interests include flowering shrubs, birdwatching, community theater and world travel. His major achievements include appearing in the 2024 “Chicken Daddies” calendar. rampapishart.com
Gary Herd is a Waldport Artist that has been painting murals for over 18 years now. Gary also shares his talents on stage at The Performing Art Center, acting in rolls such as The Cowardly Lion (Wizard of Oz), Lenny (Of Mice and Men), and Kerchak (Tarzan) to name a few. One of Gary’s best accomplishments was being chosen to be a contestant on the NBC maker show, “Making It”. Kraken Studios
Carol Shenk is an artist living in Newport. In addition to creating mixed media art and textile assemblages, she works as an illustrator and has led multiple workshops and taught courses in drawing and other media with both children and adults. Carol currently serves as president of the Coastal Arts Guild, and she is a member of the Newport Public Arts Advisory Committee, and regularly volunteers with the Newport Visual Arts Center. Carol earned her BA in Fine Arts from the University of Oregon and her Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Washington.
Kim Bush is a lifelong creative, designer and artist, with a background in fashion and interior design. This is her third year teaching with the Sitka Center For Art and Ecology, K8 Create, school art program in Lincoln County Schools. You might notice she signs her name, as well as “Ms Kim,” so her students will recognize her and know that they can be the next generation of working artists. She has lived with her Oregon native husband, Ron and two puppies in Toledo for 4 years. Kim also is currently serving as City Council President in Toledo. Instagram is @kimbushstudio
Khara Ledonne has been a professional artist for over 20 years, working as a muralist, sign painter, gilder and miniaturist. Her murals are on the west coast, east coast, Italy, Mexico and even a Disney Cruise Ship. This mural is inspired by the idea of an intertidal neighborhood, showcasing all of our local tidepool inhabitants. Her fine art is just up the block at For Artsake Gallery in Nye Beach. www.kharaledonne.com / Instagram @kharaledonne
Tlayoli Studio – by Miguel Martinez. Miguel is a local artist who celebrates Latin-American heritage through vibrant acrylic paintings. His work is inspired by the colors, symbols, and traditions of my roots, sharing the richness of Latin-American culture with the community.
Ken Spencer is a resident of Newport and operates Newport Signs. He’s been in the sign business creating all manner of signs and creative pieces for 41 years. Ken’s creativity comes out in a variety of artistic mediums, from painted pieces and serigraphs to sculpture and three dimensional designs. About the Art: “I remember hearing about Jump-Off Joe when we moved to Newport years ago and never really understood where it was since there wasn’t anything obvious. The only part of this formerly massive sandstone monument left are a few rocks in the sand, but once at the turn of the century it was 100 feet tall. What a sight to once behold. When the jetties were constructed in 1980 the changes to the tides eroded away the rock structure. There are some interesting articles online about this feature and many other tales of old. Just a side note, Jump-Off Joe was also called Slipper Rock and you can certainly see how it got that name.”
Crystal Akins Meneses is an Oregon-based artist, educator, and community organizer whose work blends creativity, healing, and social change. She leads large-scale collaborative art and music projects that foster belonging, intergenerational connection, and cultural storytelling across the state. Crystal weaves together music, visual art, spiritual care and community engagement to create spaces where people can imagine, heal, and connect. Her work has been recognized through residencies, fellowships, and partnerships always guided by a vision of art as a vessel for collective transformation.
Casey McEneny is a muralist and illustrator who grew up in the small coastal town of Seal Rock, Oregon. His father was a wood sculpting artist and his mother ran the family gallery. Casey was surrounded by art from the very beginning. Drawing came naturally and early; he can’t recall a time when art wasn’t part of his life. From a young age, when asked what he wanted to be, the answer was always clear: an artist! The support that Casey felt as a young artist contributed to the full circle concept of working and giving back to the community that gave so much to him. Casey pursued this lifelong dream with dedication, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Illustration from the Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, California. After completing his undergraduate studies, he relocated to Long Beach, where he earned an MFA in Illustration. In 2006, he returned to Newport Oregon, the place he has always considered home and continued to build his artistic career. Casey has always been captivated by the power of murals with their immersive quality, large scale and vivid color. Murals have remained his preferred medium of expression since the age of 16. He believes that public art has a unique ability to uplift the human spirit, and he has been consistently inspired by the emotional responses and personal connections that viewers share with his work. Since 2015, Casey has also served as a full-time commercial art instructor at Newport High School, with a focus on public art. Teaching has allowed him to not only grow as an artist but to inspire the next generation to the potential of meaningful, viable careers in the arts. Casey has had exciting opportunities to work with Mercedes Benz, Edison Capital, Compact Computers, Opera Pacific, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Rogue Brewery, Newport Brewing, Billboards and much more. He is continuing to expand his mural work beyond his local community, collaborating with a wider range of clients and government organizations. His art continues to be driven by a deep passion for color, connection, and creativity. Instagram @caseymcenenyart
Emy Daniels creates paintings and sculptures exploring the intersection of science and culture. She teaches art-science classes and this mural synergizes motifs developed in workshops she taught to Latine students (ages 5-11). These youth workshops explored cultural heritage while raising awareness about coastal hazards like tsunamis, sneaker waves, and landslides, and culminated in the kids helping Daniels paint the mural. This collaboration is a project of Cascadia CoPes Hazards Research Hub and Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service, in partnership with Arcoíris Cultural and OSU College of Earth Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and co-facilitated with artist Miguel Martínez. For more information about this collaborative project, visit https://beav.es/muralnewport (Website: EmyDaniels.com, Instagram: @EmyDanielsArt)
Emy’s team: Felicia Olmeta Schult, Emma Gleeman, Miguel Martinez Medrano, Ivette Alonso Garcia, Bibiana Balderas, Odilia Vargas Ramirez, Andrea Domingo, Yolanda Corral Ventura, Laura Campos, Blanca Cabrera, Deisy Perez, Mauricia Cardona, Francisca Jaspar, Abelina Pablo, Maria Anjelica, Alex Llumiquinga, Mauricia Cardona.
Emy’s Youth Participants: Yari Mejia, Axel Mejia, Romelia Garcia, Joselin Hernandez, Kendra Patiño Rodriguez, Luna Balderas, Johanna Ramirez, Ruby Balderas, Fernando Balderas, Ariana Gonzales, Darcy Jeronimo, Yakelin Jeronimo, Shaira Cardona, Eulalia Ramirez, Karla Elizabeth Cardona, Ashley Nicolas.