Whether your Oregon adventure is focussed on getting behind the state’s thriving arts scene or you’re just seeking a flavor of the Pacific Northwest, the chances are Cannon Beach is already on your radar. It’s often said to be the most accessible spot on the Oregon Coast. A ninety-minute drive from Portland, Cannon Beach feels as if it were designed for day trips to escape the city.
In reality, you’ll soon realise that Cannon Beach is worthy of far more than a day trip. Sure, it’s home to less than 1,500 people, but this coastal paradise will capture your heart in a way that makes you never want to leave. Home to the best hotels and restaurants on the Oregon Coast, a surfer’s paradise and nature-lover’s dream, Cannon Beach has a grip very few small towns can lever.
By the same essence, you’ll soon see just how far the arts scene in Cannon Beach goes beyond the usual. Portland may, quite rightfully, claim to be Oregon’s indie-art capital, but Cannon Beach has a trump card to play. And play it, it does. Unlike Portland, and unlike all the usual contenders guidebooks dub “art capitals”, the arts scene in Cannon Beach has nature on its side.
Discover the Arts Scene in Cannon Beach’s Galleries
Now it’s all too true that quantity doesn’t mean quality, but there has to be something to be said of the sheer number of art galleries supporting the arts scene in Cannon Beach. There can be few towns of this size with 18 permanent galleries. In other words, there’s one gallery for every 83 residents. To put these figures into perspective, New York has roughly 1,500 art galleries. That’s one for every 1,563 residents.
If time’s on your side, the best way to explore the arts scene in Cannon Beach is simply to amble along the main street, Hemlock, and pop your head in the door of every gallery you pass. With such a big world to unearth, we know only too well that sometimes, there’s simply too much of a good thing.
That’s why we’ve brought together our favorite galleries you really won’t want to miss whilst your enjoying the arts scene in Cannon Beach. To maximise time and do them all justice, we’ve started at the southern end of Hemlock and worked north. Making things even easier, there’s a free shuttle bus which works its way up and down Hemlock to get you between galleries.
Start off at House of Orange, a female-owned gallery with a heavy focus on oil painting. They run regular art classes and even host a weekly ukelele lesson with an award winning local musician. Working your way north, with a pit stop at Cannon Beach institution Pelican Brewing to sample a whole different kind of art, the next gallery you’ll come to is Icefire. Founded by glassblowing champion Jim Kingwell in 1975, Icefire is the top spot for glasswork in the arts scene in Cannon Beach.
Steidel’s is our next stop. Proving the rule that something which looks quirky deserves exploration, this old timber shack which looks like a haunted house straight out of a picture book will draw you in. Once inside, their fantasy-themed artwork only adds to the allure. If you’re intending to buy, it’s worth remembering that Steidel’s are cash only.
Closing in on the northern end of Hemlock, Sesame & Lilies isn’t strictly an art gallery, but it’s well deserving of a stop when you’re seeking out the arts scene in Cannon Beach. They stock everything from vintage prints and retro furniture to chic homeware.
Our next gallery is a firm favorite with traditionalists. If you’re looking to take a piece of the Oregon Coast home with you, the Oregon Gallery is the place to find it. Featuring the photography of the late-Ron Keebler, his life’s works cover the length and breadth of the state from the dramatic beauty of Ecola to the rugged peaks of the Cascades.
Randall Hodges’ gallery Images of the West is another must for photography lovers. As the name suggests, his images depict scenes from all along the west coast. There’s plenty from in and around Cannon Beach, but Randall’s love for the natural world has taken him from the southern tip of California to the wild extremes of British Columbia.
Cannon Beach’s northernmost gallery, White Bird, rounds off our favorite art spots in town. It may come last on our list, but White Bird is one of the oldest places to soak up the arts scene in Cannon Beach. Opened in 1971, it features paintings, prints, photographs, sculptures and glassware all under one roof.
The Arts Scene on the Streets of Cannon Beach
The arts scene in Cannon Beach isn’t confined to galleries. Once you’ve gallery-hopped your way along Hemlock, you can turn the walk back into a DIY sculpture trail.
Start off in Whale Park, just beyond the White Bird gallery on the edge of Ecola Creek. At the center of the park, a bronze whale sculpture commemorates explorers Lewis and Clark’s visit to Cannon Beach in 1806. Their party set up camp around 30 miles north of the town the previous year and found Cannon Beach by pure chance. Two of their crew ventured out in search of food, returning with 300-pounds of blubber from a beached whale. Intrigued by their discovery, Lewis and Clark themselves set off to see the carcass with their own eyes.
Take the back way out of the park so as not to miss the Welcome Pole on the beach by Ecola Creek. Carved by Native American artist Guy Capoeman, it’s intended to replicate the poles created by the Clatsop-Nehalem tribe who called the area home in the days of Lewis and Clark’s expedition.
Passing the Whale Ribs on East 3rd Street, you’ll reach the most recognized sculpture of the arts scene in Cannon Beach. Sharon Warman Agnor’s The Wave is a stainless-steel representation of the power of the ocean.
All Around: the Natural Arts Scene in Cannon Beach
Art may often be considered a medium for human expression, but the arts scene in Cannon Beach is firmly rooted in nature. The inspiration for so many of the artists who call this corner of the Oregon Coast home was here long before art galleries and sculptures came into being.
235-meter-tall Haystack Rock is the symbol of Cannon Beach. Designated a Marine Garden and National Wildlife Reserve, the rock is an important nesting site for seabirds including puffins and terns. At low tide, it’s possible to walk right out across the beach to the sea stack, though climbing it is forbidden and highly dangerous.
If you’re seeking inspiration for a piece of your own, taking the 3-mile hike north from the town center to Ecola State Park will provide everything you need. To escape the summer crowds, head beyond the popular viewpoint to Indian Beach.
Beyond the Art
As impressive as the permanent arts scene in Cannon Beach is, festivals and events held throughout the year only enhance it further.
Tolonova Arts Colony host regular art masterclasses along with music and dance sessions. Spring kicks off with their Comedy Festival, followed by Get Lit, a beach-side literary festival. Every summer, they organise live music concerts in City Park, plus an annual mini golf tournament. The Holiday Bazaar, hosted over the first two weekends of December, marks the start of the festive season.
The calendar highlight of the arts scene in Cannon Beach is the Spring Unveiling. Hosted by the Cannon Beach Gallery Group, it takes place during the first weekend of May. The end of the season is marked by Stormy Weather Arts Festival. A chance for artists from across the Pacific Northwest to showcase their year’s work, it has taken place in November for the last 38 years.
A slightly more niche date in Cannon Beach artist’s diary is the annual sandcastle contest. Every June since 1964, local sand sculptors have turned the beach into their workshop. If you want to see their creations, you have to be quick. They’re made on a Saturday afternoon, just in time for judging before the evening tide removes all trace of them.
About the Author
Originally from the south of England, Alex is currently based in the remote Shetland Islands, spending every minute possible discovering new places. When he’s not traveling, he is writing to suppress the wanderlust. Alex is the author of the travel books A Long Weekend in Ulaanbaatar and Running the Milk and when not traversing the United States gathering material for the next, is always on the hunt for new destinations to provide inspiration. Alex thrives on all things travel, but his main areas of interest are transportation, accommodation, and off-the-beaten-track destinations. He has a particularly keen interest in the UK, Eastern & Northern Europe, Türkiye & Caucasia, the Levant, and the USA.