The 2019 Nye Beach Banner Auction takes place on Sunday, November 10, 5-8pm, at the Newport Visual Arts Center (777 NW Beach Dr., Newport). A catalog of banner art is available for sale. Musicians Barbara Lee Turrill and Bill Merkens & Friends will perform at the event.
Auction bidding closes at 7pm on Sunday, Nov. 10. New this year, pre-auction bidding will be allowed from 1 to 5pm on Saturday, November 9, and Sunday, November 10.
Now in its eleventh year, the Nye Beach Banner Project not only celebrates local artists; it beautifies the coastal neighborhood of Nye Beach while raising funds to support youth arts education and permanent public art through the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts.
The Nye Beach Banner Project is a program of the Nye Beach Merchants Association. Area artists are encouraged to paint depictions and themes related to the area onto double-sided canvas banners, which are then hung on light posts throughout the neighborhood from spring to fall. Many artists include textual statements on their banners. In 2018-19, many artists chose to pay homage to Newport’s Sister City, Mombetsu, Japan.
“It is an honor to create a banner for your enjoyment,” writes Rhonda Chase in her catalog statement. “This year’s Sister City theme inspired me to discover the similarities between Newport, Oregon, and Mombetsu, Japan—both port towns that pride themselves on a crab-based economy.”
During this year’s Banner Project, 43 artists donated their creative talents. The following artists participated: Robin Beckwith, Barbara Breaden, Linda Briggs, Colleen Caubin, Rhonda Chase, Annie Clark, Mario Danna, Cheri Dessero, Tish Epperson, Lauren Graece Gabriel, Arlon Gilliland, Bo Harrington, Eileen Hearne, Bridget Herbers, Cynthia Jacobi, Elijah Jarrett, Cristina Kartsioukas, Kay Kartsioukas, Marcy Kenyon, Luke LaMont, Jennifer Larsen, Rowan Lehrman, Bobby Love, Carlo Navarra, Helen Nighthawk, Caroline O’Brien, Amy Jillaine Pattison, Sandra Roumagoux, Gilbert Schramm, Sara Siggelkow, Julie Smith, Ben Soeby, Ken Spencer, Dian Seslar Svendsen, Emy Syrop, Jeff Syrop, Anita Tanner, Linda Taylor, Marilyn VanBuren, Hanna Vokos, Shonnie Wheeler and Sara Young.
“After completing my first full year as a resident of Newport, I am excited to contribute to the Nye Beach Banner Project,” adds Cheri Dessero. “Each of us can achieve anything that we can visualize, but it takes action to do it.”
“Walking around the narrow streets of Nye Beach in Newport, it’s hard not to notice the creativity of area residents—banners hang from light posts like beckoning sentries, inviting residents and tourists alike to watch for the next piece of original artwork at the next street corner,” says OCCA VAC director Tom Webb. “We encourage the community to attend the banner auction and support their efforts.”
The Nye Beach Banner Project extends its special thanks to Veronica Lundell at Jovi, Jennifer Larsen, David Cantua, Janet Webster and The Crafters Group, Sara Siggelkow and Tom Webb, the OCCA Youth Arts Advisory Group, the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts, the Nye Beach Merchants Association and Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital.
Special thanks go to Nanci Courtney, Amanda Canepa, Charlotte Boxer, Tables of Content, Off The Hook Restaurant, Panini Bakery, Café Stephanie, The Chowder Bowl, and Nye Beach Café for providing delectable treats.
“We honor and thank every artist involved with the banner project over the years,” says project founder Veronica Lundell. “They have helped to build a strong youth arts program through OCCA at the VAC.”