Cathlamet Art and Wooden Boat festivals offer weekend of entertainment

The second annual Cathlamet Art Festival, presented by Tsuga Art Gallery, brings in a full range of live entertainment. Beginning on Friday, August 3, Tsuga Gallery will host an opening reception for both the Art Festival and Wooden Boat Festival at the Gallery (located at 70 Main St., Cathlamet) from 4:30 – 6 p.m. Following the reception there will be a live fund-raising auction at the Gallery, featuring donated art from Gallery members and local businesses.

After the auction there will be poetry reading and music at the Cathlamet Pioneer Center from 8-10 p.m. Among those performing will be local poet and biologist Robert Michael Pyle reading poems from his collections, as well as new works set very near Cathlamet and the Columbia River. Along with Mr. Pyle, there will be Bill Yake, from the Puget Sound area, who is also a poet, naturalist, photographer and traveler. Another poet, James Bertolino will read poetry from his collection. Mr. Bertolino is from Bellingham, and is known for having a very respectable body of work. In between the poets, local musician Kerrie McNally will sing and play her songs, which reflect on life in and around Wahkiakum County.

On Saturday, August 4, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tsuga Gallery will host an “Art Walk”, with work from local artists spread among nine businesses throughout downtown Cathlamet. Adult participants of the Art Walk will visit the local businesses hosting the art and upon completion will have a chance to win $100 cash or $75 or $50 gift certificates. For the kids, in conjunction with the Art Walk, there will be a special “I Spy” treasure hunt as well as an Art Creation Station. During the Art Walk participating businesses will also feature live music from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The list of performing artists includes Joyce Orr, Julie Dalen, Rick Nelson, Chris Darby, Darrell Alexander, Harmony of Hearts, Doug Sheresh and John Crocker. In addition to the music, there will be more poetry readings, recitals and discussions by Mike Rees, Debby Neely, Kaden Moeller, and Caroline Wood.

Additionally, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., there will be an Artists Market in the parking lot of the Cathlamet Pharmacy, with fine art and food vendors.

Workshops and demonstrations will take place during the day. Jim Bergeron, a master carver from Oregon, will do a woodworking workshop at the Cathlamet Community Center from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Debby Neely will do a printmaking demonstration at the Tsuga Gallery 1:30– 2:30 p.m. This will be followed by Bob Kizziar doing a pottery wheel demonstration from 3-5 p.m.

For more information on the Art Walk as well as a complete and detailed list of performers, times and locations, pick up a Schedule of Events at the Tsuga Gallery, or check on facebook, or website http://www.tsugagallery.org.