Cannon Beach Gallery Presents: Into the Woods
Opening Reception: Friday, Oct 3, 4:30–6:30 PM
Exhibition Dates: Oct 3 – Nov 2, 2025
The Cannon Beach Arts Association invites you to step off the beaten path and into the quiet poetry of the natural world with Into the Woods, a multi-artist exhibition celebrating the Pacific Northwest’s rich landscape. Featuring works by Connie Dillon, Erin Kendig, Adrian Stanciu, Mel McRobert, Martin Conley and Darryl Cox, Into the Woods explores the forest not just as a backdrop, but as a living, breathing subject.
For photographer-turned-painter Connie Dillon, the forests surrounding her new home in Astoria, OR, became a source of daily inspiration. Her intricate paintings transform photographic impressions into mosaics of light, shadow, and color—abstract up close, yet photographic from afar—capturing both the mystique and the embracing presence of the woods.
Seattle-based Erin Kendig blends watercolor, gouache, ink, and collage to reimagine nature in surreal, stylized landscapes. Inspired by trees, clouds, moss, mushrooms, and lichen, Kendig’s work brings overlooked elements of the natural world to the forefront, creating narratives in which the human self becomes both lost and found within vast ecological systems.
Adrian Stanciu draws from over 25 years of woodworking experience and an architectural background to create intricately turned bowls, vases, and sculptural forms from salvaged wood. Each piece rescues the hidden beauty of fallen or diseased trees, giving them a second life while honoring the environment.
Portland native Mel McRobert has been painting since childhood, inspired by the serene landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. His work invites viewers to pause, breathe, and immerse themselves in scenes that radiate tranquility and appreciation for nature’s quiet grandeur.
For over a decade, Central Oregon artist Darryl Cox, Jr. has been creating his distinctive Fusion Frames—singular works of art that merge the organic beauty of reclaimed branches and roots with the crafted elegance of picture frames, some of which are over a century old. His approach defies convention, embracing the avant-garde.
A third-generation Oregonian, Martin Conley has explored many creative avenues—painting, photography, and wood sculpture among them. With formal training in sculpture from the University of Oregon and decades of hands-on experience as a contractor, Conley has developed an intimate understanding of wood’s potential.
When approaching a new piece of natural wood, Conley lets intuition lead the way. His process celebrates both positive and negative space—the interplay of form and absence—inviting the viewer’s eye to move in and out of carved cavities, tracing the colors, textures, and rhythms of the material. The result is sculpture that feels alive, honoring the natural beauty of wood while revealing hidden worlds within it.
An Invitation to Wander
Into the Woods is more than an exhibition—it’s an invitation to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the interconnected world we share. Visitors will experience the forest as a place of beauty, mystery, and resilience, told through the diverse perspectives of five accomplished artists.
Opening Reception: Join us on Friday Oct 3 from 4:30–6:30 PM at the Cannon Beach Gallery for an evening of art, conversation, and refreshments.
For more information, visit cannonbeacharts.org, or email us at info@cannonbeacharts.org.
