Image: Glass Orb created at Fernhill Glassblowing, November 2019 by Darby and Claude in Astoria, Oregon

Our sojourns from San Francisco to Astoria, Oregon began in September 2017. Up the majestic 101 stopping overnight in Bullard’s State Park to camp, stopping in Yachats, onward to Astoria crossing over Youngs Bay Bridge on U.S. 101 into downtown Astoria. We were carrying on valuing the arts, viewing an art show at Imogen Gallery, experiencing Astoria for the first time. We had sold an artwork Titania to writer Anne Lamott to fund this trip. We found out Astoria is also known as “Little San Francisco.” For the next 3 years, our family would travel to Astoria for performances at The Liberty Theatre, Fisher Poets, and glassblowing with Claude and Chris at Fernhill Glassblowing at its past location on Duane. We were drawn to the abundance of the arts on the water near the forest and how artists were/are respected there. We would see it in all the seasons with its natural beauty and characters with all their deep stories. Some of the times, we would go up I-5, and stop in Ashland for Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which our family has attended many times over the decades (a post about this will follow) and through Portland, where we would stop in Powell’s Books and Blue Moon Dark Room on the way. One of our artists utilizes their dark room services and she would drop off her film. We would also take the train from Emeryville, CA to Portland and take the bus to and from the coast. Sometimes we would fly through PDX. One particular trip one winter, we drove from Seattle after visiting a gallery there (more details to follow about what was collected). Our trips north continued, establishing a 1925 small Craftsman home on Grand Avenue in Astoria as an artist space. It needed a lot of TLC. Bit by bit over many years. A number of local artists worked and contributed to the space (more details about their efforts to follow). We supported local Arts organizations – such as The Liberty Theatre, $1,800 during their renovation time, KMUN Public Radio, $1,080 and $720 adding up to $1,800 during their fundraisers, and, Astoria Visual Arts, $1,800 for their youth art programs on behalf of Auerbach Artist Colony. Read our Mission Statement below for why this is important to us. Over the years, we have attended Open Artist Studios in July (a more thorough post is coming for that). We have gone to Art Walks, Sunday Farmer’s Market for local farmers and artisans goods, and notably Cliff Taylor’s moving book reading at the past Gathered space. Of inclusive note, attended Kala music/poetry gatherings, listening to dear friends musicians before they moved to Scotland (more details to follow about their essential oils, albums, and book) along with gallery shows up at the local community college and frequented their art library. One of our artists who lived/worked at/on the house, would go with a neighbor in her 80’s, who has a BFA, to get and return art books together there frequently – their collection is a treasured resource. Since there purposely isn’t internet at AAC North, the library provides a place for emailing and research within walking distance. There is so much more to say and write of this almost decade going and being in Astoria. There are many special people that make up the community that we are grateful to be part of in our small way.