The Art Walk of 8 March 2008, reported by Horst with photos by Steve Combs and Richard Rahmlow

We lucked out again: after a week of rain, Art Walk Saturday brought sunshine. Brookingers came out to enjoy the arts - not in record numbers, but enough to make a good party. Still no tourists in sight, although we had visitors from the south to play jazz for us (Jazz duo Bob and Al from Crescent City) and visitors from the North to learn in Brookings about organizing an Art Walk (Richard Rahmlow and friend Ellen came from Bandon to spy on us. They want to start Art Walks this summer in Bandon).

Let’s follow the special events, which started at 4:15 at the Central Gallery with a performance by Cheryl Seaton and her “Italian Dancers,” a first on the Art Walk. Dressed in country costumes, they first showed how to do a Tarantella, a traditional Italian dance, which was followed by a second round where the spectators were asked to participate - and they did, and enjoyed it! Immediately following were the Limericists under their queen Lynne Guild. The theme was “Going Green!” They babbled about every green imaginable: from Irish to plants to money to greenhorns and so on. For some reason the audience applauded every one of the 5-liners, although I couldn’t figure out why in a few cases. Following that, the resident band, Horst and Friends, went into a drumming frenzy. WIth four congas and two sets of bongos and various other noise makers, they were able to empty the hall within half an hour. It was clear though that THEY had a lot of fun.

At the same time, over at Manley, Janeen Vick had assembled a group of people in the class room and showed them how to paint. The group ranged from bloody beginners to accomplished artists. I wasn’t there, but from what I was told, everyone had a ball. Meanwhile in the gallery guitarist/vocalist Billie Ruth alternated with the new kid on the block, singer/guitarist Dave Brusseau from Fort Dick, who wasn’t bad either - from what I was told.

At 5:30, at Words and Pictures, the same Billie Ruth read from her works during the “15 minutes worth of fame” introduced recently by Earl Mohr of Gold Beach. In the back gallery, the exhibit of Pete Chasar and Buzz Stewart showed a side of those two artists that only few of the locals have seen: both are dabbling in abstract art! And some of their stuff is pretty good - in this reviewers opinion.

As Art Walkers came to the last station, the library gallery, they were treated to an unusual sight. Dawn Mitchel from the local college demonstrated how to spin yarn - with a spinning wheel. Carl Rovainen had a band of six assembled. He is Brookings’ sing-along king and he did it again. At the end of the festivities he combined forces with the b.i.g.s (don’t ask me what this means, they won’t tell anyone), the charming vocal foursome that warms your heart. All this surrounded by the works of four woman painters from Gold Beach, who show us the people and beaches and landscapes of their town in colorful oils and watercolors. Magda, Sharon, Dauna and Alexandra, we like your work. Come back again soon.

You may want to look at www.wildriverscoastart.com for another view of this Art Walk as reported by Nola Range. And don’t forget to read the PILOT for a third opinion. I saw Bill Schlichting on the beat, and if luck is with us, he will find space to put a few photos and words in the next weekend edition.

That’s all for today. Tune in again towards the end of March, when you find the program for the April 12 Art Walk right here. Stay healthy and drink lots of water.

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