Art show explores ocean’s changing face

The Newport Visual Arts Center will welcome a colorful collection of ocean-inspired artwork beginning on Wednesday, July 1, with the opening of "Sea Change," a solo exhibition by Lincoln City artist Julie Fiedler.

An opening reception will be held Wednesday, with light refreshments and an artist talk by Fiedler at 6 pm.

On view through August 30 in the COVAS Showcase, the exhibition features Fiedler's hand-formed ceramic fish, tidepool-inspired sculptural busts and acrylic paintings inspired by a lifetime spent exploring the Pacific Coast. The collection reflects both a fascination with marine life and a deep appreciation for the ecosystems that support it.

Fiedler's ceramic sculptures begin with extensive research into the species they portray. Working in low-fire sculptural clay, she carefully forms and glazes each piece to capture the markings, textures and personality of fish and other marine creatures. The resulting works balance scientific observation with a sense of playfulness and wonder.

Her tidepool busts take a more personal direction. Using plaster casts of her own face as a foundation, Fiedler layers the forms with barnacles, seaweeds and other coastal organisms. She describes the series as an exploration of both attraction and repulsion toward the intricate life found in tidepools and along the shoreline.

Many of the works also carry a conservation message. Fiedler hopes that presenting familiar Oregon fish species through art will inspire greater appreciation for Oregon Marine Reserves and the habitats they help protect.

Her work has been exhibited throughout Oregon and beyond, including at Hatfield Marine Science Center, Coos Art Museum, Cannon Beach Gallery and Oregon Coast Aquarium. Fiedler recently retired from directing St. James Santiago School in Lincoln City, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade arts-and-science school she co-founded with her husband. Her artwork is currently represented by Volta Gallery and Local Faire in Lincoln City, as well as Sea Sister Island Gallery in Key West, Florida.

Wednesday's reception runs from 5 to 7 pm at Newport Visual Arts Center, located at 777 NW Beach Drive. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-6569.