It's Summer and the famous Gorge winds are blowing out our way. Windsurfers have arrived on their annual migration up from Baja like the Grey whales and we had our first 105 degree day.     There are now 27 acres of beach at the mouth of Hood River which weren't there last year.  This new beach was created compliments of last Winter's heavy rains, which brought tons of silt from the slopes of Mt. Hood down to the Columbia River.  The flood reached the bottom of the Hood River bridge at crest stage.  This area is geologically young and sometimes we are reminded of that fact by these events.

April 14-15 brought the first annual Gorge Artists Open Studios which was a big sucess, with 34 studios throughout the Gorge region opening their doors to the public.  Art tourists from as far away as Laguna Beach and Joseph Oregon visited my studio over the weekend and we all enjoyed ourselves very much.  Other studios reported as many as 175 visitors over the weekend.  

Since this project was something I had only dreamed of a couple of years ago, seeing it come to fruition was really exciting.   With a group of six dedicated volunteers, we managed to pull off what some some said couldn't happen-a Gorge wide event.  We got television coverage on OPB's "Oregon Art Beat" and were written up in the Oregonian newspaper as a "Show To See" by DK Row.    Approximately 500 art tourists made their way through the Gorge, using the Tour Guide, complete with photos of artists' work and maps of the area. 

Gorge Artists now has a board and is applying for a 501 (c)(3) status as a non-profit organization.  Thanks to all the hard work from the volunteer board!

For info regarding next years Gorge Artists Open Studios (April 12-13 2008) see www.gorgeartistsopenstudios.com

My last show was at Coos Art Museum Feb. 18 through April 22 where I showed my new mixed media work.  You can view these new pieces on the ORIGINALS page.

After completing several large collage and painting on panel for shows, I am now back to completing smaller mixed media on panel and plexiglass (reverse painting) works.  I am accepting commissions on portraits, which are also mixed media on panel.

John Maher