written by Lindsay McWilliams | featured photo by Lindsay McWilliams

Art (and rain) took the city of Cannon Beach by storm last weekend at the Stormy Weather Arts Festival. In its 29th year, the festival is a culmination of the art scene has taken over in a way uncommon for beachside cities. With a population of less than 1,700 people, Cannon Beach has at least twenty art galleries, making it a destination for Oregon art collectors.

Hundreds of visitors arrived in the city on Friday, November 4, when the weekend opened with a concert by blues musician Ellen Whyte at the Coaster Theatre Playhouse. On Saturday, the community came to life with live music around downtown and galleries hosting artist talks and live demonstrations.

At Northwest by Northwest Gallery, Georgia Gerber (the sculptor behind Rachel, the famous pig at the entrance of Pike Place Market in Seattle) gave a talk about the importance of public sculpture. Her bronze work depicting local animals and figures is also present at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland and various locations in Washington.

Other hosts like DragonFire Gallery showcased artists in the midst of their work, painting inside the gallery for passersby to watch. A favorite was Archimedes Gallery, one of the few contemporary art galleries in Cannon Beach, which featured multimedia artist Erik Abel.

In addition to gallery events, the Coaster Theatre Playhouse hosted the Dancing in the Rain Fashion Show, featuring garments from local clothing boutiques. On Sunday, a visitors gathered for Blues, Brews, and Barbeques, boasting beers made by local breweries exclusively for the Stormy Weather Arts Festival.

If you missed it this year, be sure to attend the festival next year in its 30th year (which is sure to be a huge celebration).