Florence’s artistic community is in full bloom this August as the Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA) unveils its newest exhibit at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center Art Gallery. The show, appropriately titled Summer Fun, celebrates the season with vibrant colors, tactile works, and a wide range of mediums from local artists.
The collection offers visitors more than just visual enjoyment. This month’s display invites interaction, particularly with Tidepool Touch by Cleo Goss, a piece blending found shells with art-supply-crafted substitutes for delicate, perishable elements. Designed to be handled, the work merges art, nature, and sensory engagement in a way that is both playful and thought-provoking.
Other standout works include a lifelike textile rendering of a Gold-Crowned Kinglet by bird enthusiast Donna Mlinek, whose meticulous felting process results in strikingly realistic replicas, and a distinctive whale vase by ceramic artist Siobhan Holden. These pieces are joined by a diverse roster of local talent, each contributing to the exhibit’s eclectic summer spirit.
Participating artists include Crystal Barnes (resin), Kat Cunningham (acrylic collage), Debra Fralick (greeting cards), Debi Ford (ceramics), Harriet Goldman-Greene (marble stonecut print), Claudia Ignatieff (oil painting), John Leasure (oil painting), Teakki Legg (watercolor and ink), Karen Marie (watercolor and ink), Karen Mohr (watercolor painting), Brigitte Parker (oil painting), Christine Santiago (photo on canvas), Robin Siewell (watercolor painting), Lauren Suveges (acrylic painting), Patti Williams (oil painting), and Teresa Zook (textile).
Exhibit coordinator Kristin Anderson emphasized that the show reflects Florence’s rich and varied creative opportunities—from plein air painting along the coast or river to collaborative sessions at local studios. “The artwork on the walls represents the many places and ways people here create,” she said, noting that the Chamber’s gallery provides an important public platform for the arts.
Bettina Hannigan, Chamber president and CEO, said the gallery’s monthly rotations continue to surprise visitors. “I often hear people walk in, see the work, and say, ‘Wow, that’s gorgeous! You have people in Florence who do that?’” she remarked, adding that the exhibit is as much a celebration of the town’s culture as it is of individual artistry.
The FRAA, a non-profit arts organization with more than 180 members and sponsors, is dedicated to making Florence a recognized arts destination. Its main art center, located at 120 Maple Street, hosts workshops, open studios, and exhibits year-round.
The Summer Fun exhibit runs through the end of August at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, 290 Highway 101. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Saturdays through August from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More information on FRAA is available at www.fraaoregon.org or by calling 541-997-4435.