Toledo’s Yaquina River Museum of Art welcomes people to a traveling exhibition of 45 plein air (in the landscape) paintings from locations in the Yaquina Watershed of Oregon.
Michael Gibbons, Portland-born artist living in Toledo, has worked for more than 35 years to make this visual documentation of the beauty, history, health and viability of the watershed. Gibbons has also curated a selection of eight pencil drawings and oil studies to be shown called “The Mighty Oak,” which he created for a proposed commissioned painting at the Oregon Gardens.
Preferring to work alone, Gibbons isolates himself among the trees and waterways, where he can listen to the voice of the land. The artist has used painter’s tools to give substance to that voice and spirit by communicating space, color, form and light through refined execution.
“All of the world we experience, every human being, every bush, every tree and every rock is a gift to us for this part of our earthly experience,” Gibbons said.
Touring Exhibitions participation by the artist include: “Allied Artist of America Invitational” (13 museums), New York, N.Y.; “Paint the Parks” “Top 100 Best Parks, (10 museums), Topeka, Kan.; “Yaquina”, National Arts club, NYC, “Pacific Maritime,” Newport; “La Sells Stewart Center,” OSU, Corvallis.
The Yaquina Exhibition, “A Painted Voice for a Sacred Landscape,” will be shown to the public July 3-31 and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Chehalem Cultural Center, 415 E Sheridan St., Newberg. For more information, call 503-487-6883 or go to chehalemculturalcenter.org.  The center requests that visitors wear a mask and follow all guidelines posted throughout the building to help keep the community safe.
The Yaquina River Museum of Art is a qualified and registered nonprofit corporation with an exhibition space and office located  at the 1887 School House, 151 NE Alder Street, Toledo. For more information contact 541-336-1907.  The primary mission of the Yaquina River Museum of Art is the creation and preservation of an exhibition environment in which to demonstrate the power of art to inspire, educate and enrich our lives focusing on works of art generated by and about the land and people of the Yaquina River watershed region.
The art of Michael Gibbons may be seen at his Signature Gallery, 140 NE Alder St., Toledo. Located in the 1926 Vicarage Street entry level, the gallery features a large inventory of original oil paintings, limited edition prints and posters, cards and art mugs. Due to the pandemic, the gallery is presently open by calling to make an appointment with Judy Gibbons at 541-336-2797.