Artwalk adds new Gearhart Studio to it’s list.
When Janelle Baglien decided to quarantine in the Astoria area, she had no intention of falling in love with the community and relocating. The stunning scenery, affordable living, and supportive neighbors brought her new inspiration and a sense of calmness during the pandemic. She began to paint again. Two years later, she decided to relocate from the chaos of Portland’s Peral District to Clatsop County. We often have no idea how the dots are connected, and something extraordinary often develops from the worst circumstances. That is precisely the case for Station Studios, where Ms. Baglien and artist David Savinar have opened a working art studio in an old run-down service station at 3427 Highway 101 N.
Since opening about four months ago, they have been busy remodeling, creating art, and reaching out to other artists who will be displaying their art and teaching various workshops there. It will be exciting to see what develops from pottery to woodworking and sculpting, and the community is eager to learn!
On September 3rd, Station Studios will be part of the Gearhart Artwalk, which happens on the afternoon of the first Saturday of every month. They invite you to join them from 2:00-5:00 for a special exhibition of impressionistic coastal paintings by Janelle and to enjoy complimentary appetizers, wine, and music. Her series of soft, colorful Gearhart beach scenes are a lovely mix of ocean water and acrylic on canvas. The paintings are unique as they capture the beautiful days at the beach rather than the moody, stormy feel typical of artworks from the area. The paintings feature the shifting colors of the open sky, the vast ocean, and feathery dune grasses in an uplifting and serene style.
Station Studios will soon be offering “Art Salons,” short presentations from an artist or presenter on a unique subject of interest, followed by questions from the audience. Afterward, they all get to know one another over delicious appetizers and cocktails. Art salons have been around for centuries and started after the great plague as a way to learn about art (or other subjects) and strengthen bonds in the community.
Janelle Baglien is a sixth-generation Oregonian. Her family homesteaded a large farm in Woodburn with about 200 acres of hazelnuts, and today it is a popular golf course. She attended Oregon State University and lived in Bend. About 17 years ago, she founded Studio Art Direct, which currently handles large art projects for corporate clients, such as Keizer Permanete and Providence Hospital. She recently managed the procurement, distribution, and display of 994 art pieces for a new hospital in Hillsboro. Studio Art Direct specializes in regional artists from the Pacific Northwest. She is excited to call the Astoria area home and put down roots in the community.
