about us
Our mission is to provide educational opportunities in the fine arts, to foster creation of original fine art in all media, and to enhance the enjoyment of art in the community.
We are a volunteer-run non-profit that has a tradition of providing a learning environment encouraging to all. For instance, we have national and international artists teach workshops in the summer to encourage growth and professionalism for both members and non-members. During the year we have classes, workshops, and groups who gather around different mediums which are also open to the community at a low fee.
You can find a professional painting next to a beginner's first attempt in our gallery and encourage emerging artists, teaching gallery appropriate preparation of work and the opportunity for competing with other artists in our annual non-juried Judged Competition. Most important, those who utilize our organization on a regular basis will find a fellowship of other artists.
Our Membership Page includes our by membership responsibilities and benefits plus our bylaws. New members receive a more inclusive packet with policies and procedures.
We are a volunteer-run non-profit that has a tradition of providing a learning environment encouraging to all. For instance, we have national and international artists teach workshops in the summer to encourage growth and professionalism for both members and non-members. During the year we have classes, workshops, and groups who gather around different mediums which are also open to the community at a low fee.
You can find a professional painting next to a beginner's first attempt in our gallery and encourage emerging artists, teaching gallery appropriate preparation of work and the opportunity for competing with other artists in our annual non-juried Judged Competition. Most important, those who utilize our organization on a regular basis will find a fellowship of other artists.
Our Membership Page includes our by membership responsibilities and benefits plus our bylaws. New members receive a more inclusive packet with policies and procedures.
Our History
The Daddy Train stops in Gearhart
The Building
The unassuming building housing Trail’s End Art Association has quietly watched Gearhart history unfold before her for over 117 years. The building has witnessed the years when the old Gearhart downtown thrived with visiting families; hotels; carnivals; and County Fairs until a series of fires between 1913 and 1917, some accidental and some arson, gradually wiped out Gearhart’s tourist industry, destroying the major hotels and cottages of prominent summer visitors (and incidentally the livelihoods) of local residents, who in 1918 gathered to form their own City of Gearhart with, at last, its own fire department. She's seen generations of kids growing up in Gearhart and originally acted as an additional classroom and gym for the old Gearhart School that was located on the Ridge Path. But in 1946, a Fuller Brush Man saw customer Mabel Keck painting a picture and said, “We need an art club here. How about you and I starting one?” So they did, and bought 'The Little Red Schoolhouse', with $1,000 from rummage sales (Cumtux, 2011). By 1950 around 50 artists were trying to meet at houses with classes in churches and anywhere they could find to offer them. This expanded group of artists purchased the building which was in disrepair. Trail's End Art Association was born, and the beginning of the loving care of the building by artists began and has continued for
70 years.
The unassuming building housing Trail’s End Art Association has quietly watched Gearhart history unfold before her for over 117 years. The building has witnessed the years when the old Gearhart downtown thrived with visiting families; hotels; carnivals; and County Fairs until a series of fires between 1913 and 1917, some accidental and some arson, gradually wiped out Gearhart’s tourist industry, destroying the major hotels and cottages of prominent summer visitors (and incidentally the livelihoods) of local residents, who in 1918 gathered to form their own City of Gearhart with, at last, its own fire department. She's seen generations of kids growing up in Gearhart and originally acted as an additional classroom and gym for the old Gearhart School that was located on the Ridge Path. But in 1946, a Fuller Brush Man saw customer Mabel Keck painting a picture and said, “We need an art club here. How about you and I starting one?” So they did, and bought 'The Little Red Schoolhouse', with $1,000 from rummage sales (Cumtux, 2011). By 1950 around 50 artists were trying to meet at houses with classes in churches and anywhere they could find to offer them. This expanded group of artists purchased the building which was in disrepair. Trail's End Art Association was born, and the beginning of the loving care of the building by artists began and has continued for
70 years.
Gearhart
The Trail's End Art Association building has been shown in photographs as early as 1908. The original history of the building has several conflicting stories, but Gearhart School Alumni from the original Gearhart School on the Ridge Path remember it as their gym and an additional classroom. Historical background passed on by Edna Ellen Bell about Gearhart’s halcyon days from her childhood (1912-15) mentions what Gearhart was like during that time — the grand hotels both downtown and on the ocean front, Chautauqua (on what is now the school property), which was still in full swing. According to Miss Bell, across the street from the first Hotel Gearhart (near present City Hall) was a row of small businesses propped up along the boardwalk — soda fountains, ice cream parlors, art galleries, even a roller-skating rink and more. Most of those buildings disappeared with the death of the tourist industry and the onset of World War I. One building — an art gallery — may have survived to be moved down to the meadow behind and converted for use as a classroom and gymnasium for the school. (Special Thanks to Bill Berg and Liisa Penner, Archivist, the Clatsop County Historical Society).
Noel Thomas
The Association:
The early history of Trail’s End Art Association was researched by Sylvia Coumont and written down in 1990. Her account gives a bit of the history of the art climate in the 1940s and noted that it was vastly different from what it is today. With the exception of a few galleries in Cannon Beach there was very little evidence of any interest in the art on the north Oregon coast.
Sylvia Coumont wrote additional information about the Association’s story: “It was at that time (the late ‘40s) that a group of artists formed a group of people in Seaside interested in pursuing art started getting together to hold painting sessions, sharing their knowledge with each other and encouraging those who had little experience in art. They met in each other’s homes during the first year or so, and eventually decided to form an organization which they called Trail’s End Art Association. The name was chosen to honor Seaside, known as the Trail’s End City because of its association with the Lewis and Clark Trail”. (Her information was gleaned from the minutes of those early meetings, newspaper articles in the TEAA scrapbooks, and from our one remaining charter member, Leona Evans.)
Sylvia continues, “Included in that original group of about 20 were several accomplished artists who freely shared their knowledge and techniques with those of less experience. It appears, from the minutes of the meetings and from newspaper accounts, that it was a real up-and-coming organization”. By the end of April of 1950, the Seaside Signal reported, "Weekly classes in drawing were being held on Fridays at the Pacific Power and Light Company office; Lynette Ross was instructing a class in watercolor at her home on Tuesdays; an oil and pastel class was being taught by members Mr. and Mrs. Gordon White at Gearhart school on Wednesdays, and a class in ceramics was being taught on Thursdays by Carol Firebaugh of Cannon Beach".
That first year also included a paint-out at Ecola Park with members of the Oregon Society of Artists and Pacific Art Guild of Astoria. Other outstanding events that first year were two art exhibits, one with the Seaside Garden Club annual show, and the other with the AAUW annual art exhibit. Also, a demonstration by one of Oregon’s best-known artists, Arthur Selander, was held August 25 at Gearhart School. By September 15 of that first year, membership had increased to 50, and by the end of the year to 63 members.
But according to Sylvia, “Members were still meeting in each other’s homes for painting sessions, but what they were really wishing for was a place where they could get together and paint, hold classes, and keep their easels, paint and other equipment. One June 19, 1952, a general meeting was held to discuss finding such a building. When Rosella Ober, one of the members, reported that the old two-room school building in Gearhart could be obtained at a nominal cost, the meeting immediately adjourned and everyone came to Gearhart to look at the building”.
Sylvia continued, "The building had fallen into disrepair after it was vacated on completion of the new Gearhart school. But it offered wonderful possibilities with one room to be used as a studio and the other as a gallery. Eight of the original members offered to advance funds to cover a large part of the purchase price, and the association signed a mortgage for the balance, giving a second mortgage to the members who loaned money toward the purchase. For the record I’ll list their names: M. J. Miscoe, Rosella Ober, Myrtle Meyer, H. E. Plummer, Dr. Martha Lowe, Leona Evans, Lynette Ross, and Jane Keeler".
Before purchasing the building, the organization became a non-profit corporation registered under the laws of the State of Oregon, and on September 15, 1952, there was a unanimous vote to authorize Mike Miscoe to arrange the purchase of the building at the best terms available.
From Sylvia’s notes, “The building had been used last as an extra classroom and gym while the school was still located on Ridge Path. After being vacated when the school moved, it had served a number of purposes, including the initial art club, and being used for square dances. A tremendous amount of work was needed to put it in shape as a studio and gallery”. According to a story in the Seaside Signal, “Members turned out in a body to put their house in order. Brushes and sketch books were traded for hammer and nails; a house-jack was obtained to raise one corner of the building and place new cement blocks. Windows still containing glass were taken out and installed in the room planned as a studio and the roof was patched in the leakiest places”.
From the minutes, “The members worked feverishly as American Art Week was scheduled for November 8 and 9, and they planned to hold an open house in observance”. Apparently, they were successful, since a story in the Signal states that “200 persons signed the guest book on those dates while members demonstrated their skills for the visitors. Myrtle Meyer finished one oil painting and completed most of another during the two-day event. Gordon White painted watercolors. Ann White cut a linoleum block. Roselia Ober (grandmother of Randy Curs, former owner of the Gearhart Market) sketched in pen and ink. Mrs. George Jefferies demonstrated rug-hooking and Mattie Hermann provided a display of ceramics, her specialty. Classes resumed the following Monday”.
The next project was paying off the mortgages. Those early members were motivated. Rummage sales, bake sales, paintings donated by members were sold to raise funds – all contributed to the treasury. In the minutes of the July 6, 1953, meeting it was reported that the first mortgage had been paid off. Later on the members who had contributed to the purchase price were also repaid.
During the following years, it appears from newspaper articles that the Center was alive with activity. Art exhibits in the gallery, including a traveling exhibit of watercolors by Oregon’s best-known artists; displays in the Pacific Power and Light Building on Broadway (where Legg’s Pharmacy was located in the Town Center and is now the Carousel Mall) and other downtown locations; paint-outs at various sites, and, of course, classes in all media, mostly without charge to the members. These included summer classes for children taught by Leona Evans for several years with an attendance of about 22 students. Minutes of the meetings during these years report a membership of as many as 75 members.
In reading through the minutes in, Sylvia found the following from the first organizational meeting on July 12, 1951: “The question of ‘Why organize, why not just paint?’ was brought up again for discussion.” She commented in 1990,“We think the answer to that question is obvious to those of us who are enjoying the benefits of those early efforts, and as we approach the 40th Annual Show of Trail’s End Art Association, we can all be grateful that they did organize and that their foresight provided us with a place to work and exhibit our work and to meet with others of similar interests".
The early history of Trail’s End Art Association was researched by Sylvia Coumont and written down in 1990. Her account gives a bit of the history of the art climate in the 1940s and noted that it was vastly different from what it is today. With the exception of a few galleries in Cannon Beach there was very little evidence of any interest in the art on the north Oregon coast.
Sylvia Coumont wrote additional information about the Association’s story: “It was at that time (the late ‘40s) that a group of artists formed a group of people in Seaside interested in pursuing art started getting together to hold painting sessions, sharing their knowledge with each other and encouraging those who had little experience in art. They met in each other’s homes during the first year or so, and eventually decided to form an organization which they called Trail’s End Art Association. The name was chosen to honor Seaside, known as the Trail’s End City because of its association with the Lewis and Clark Trail”. (Her information was gleaned from the minutes of those early meetings, newspaper articles in the TEAA scrapbooks, and from our one remaining charter member, Leona Evans.)
Sylvia continues, “Included in that original group of about 20 were several accomplished artists who freely shared their knowledge and techniques with those of less experience. It appears, from the minutes of the meetings and from newspaper accounts, that it was a real up-and-coming organization”. By the end of April of 1950, the Seaside Signal reported, "Weekly classes in drawing were being held on Fridays at the Pacific Power and Light Company office; Lynette Ross was instructing a class in watercolor at her home on Tuesdays; an oil and pastel class was being taught by members Mr. and Mrs. Gordon White at Gearhart school on Wednesdays, and a class in ceramics was being taught on Thursdays by Carol Firebaugh of Cannon Beach".
That first year also included a paint-out at Ecola Park with members of the Oregon Society of Artists and Pacific Art Guild of Astoria. Other outstanding events that first year were two art exhibits, one with the Seaside Garden Club annual show, and the other with the AAUW annual art exhibit. Also, a demonstration by one of Oregon’s best-known artists, Arthur Selander, was held August 25 at Gearhart School. By September 15 of that first year, membership had increased to 50, and by the end of the year to 63 members.
But according to Sylvia, “Members were still meeting in each other’s homes for painting sessions, but what they were really wishing for was a place where they could get together and paint, hold classes, and keep their easels, paint and other equipment. One June 19, 1952, a general meeting was held to discuss finding such a building. When Rosella Ober, one of the members, reported that the old two-room school building in Gearhart could be obtained at a nominal cost, the meeting immediately adjourned and everyone came to Gearhart to look at the building”.
Sylvia continued, "The building had fallen into disrepair after it was vacated on completion of the new Gearhart school. But it offered wonderful possibilities with one room to be used as a studio and the other as a gallery. Eight of the original members offered to advance funds to cover a large part of the purchase price, and the association signed a mortgage for the balance, giving a second mortgage to the members who loaned money toward the purchase. For the record I’ll list their names: M. J. Miscoe, Rosella Ober, Myrtle Meyer, H. E. Plummer, Dr. Martha Lowe, Leona Evans, Lynette Ross, and Jane Keeler".
Before purchasing the building, the organization became a non-profit corporation registered under the laws of the State of Oregon, and on September 15, 1952, there was a unanimous vote to authorize Mike Miscoe to arrange the purchase of the building at the best terms available.
From Sylvia’s notes, “The building had been used last as an extra classroom and gym while the school was still located on Ridge Path. After being vacated when the school moved, it had served a number of purposes, including the initial art club, and being used for square dances. A tremendous amount of work was needed to put it in shape as a studio and gallery”. According to a story in the Seaside Signal, “Members turned out in a body to put their house in order. Brushes and sketch books were traded for hammer and nails; a house-jack was obtained to raise one corner of the building and place new cement blocks. Windows still containing glass were taken out and installed in the room planned as a studio and the roof was patched in the leakiest places”.
From the minutes, “The members worked feverishly as American Art Week was scheduled for November 8 and 9, and they planned to hold an open house in observance”. Apparently, they were successful, since a story in the Signal states that “200 persons signed the guest book on those dates while members demonstrated their skills for the visitors. Myrtle Meyer finished one oil painting and completed most of another during the two-day event. Gordon White painted watercolors. Ann White cut a linoleum block. Roselia Ober (grandmother of Randy Curs, former owner of the Gearhart Market) sketched in pen and ink. Mrs. George Jefferies demonstrated rug-hooking and Mattie Hermann provided a display of ceramics, her specialty. Classes resumed the following Monday”.
The next project was paying off the mortgages. Those early members were motivated. Rummage sales, bake sales, paintings donated by members were sold to raise funds – all contributed to the treasury. In the minutes of the July 6, 1953, meeting it was reported that the first mortgage had been paid off. Later on the members who had contributed to the purchase price were also repaid.
During the following years, it appears from newspaper articles that the Center was alive with activity. Art exhibits in the gallery, including a traveling exhibit of watercolors by Oregon’s best-known artists; displays in the Pacific Power and Light Building on Broadway (where Legg’s Pharmacy was located in the Town Center and is now the Carousel Mall) and other downtown locations; paint-outs at various sites, and, of course, classes in all media, mostly without charge to the members. These included summer classes for children taught by Leona Evans for several years with an attendance of about 22 students. Minutes of the meetings during these years report a membership of as many as 75 members.
In reading through the minutes in, Sylvia found the following from the first organizational meeting on July 12, 1951: “The question of ‘Why organize, why not just paint?’ was brought up again for discussion.” She commented in 1990,“We think the answer to that question is obvious to those of us who are enjoying the benefits of those early efforts, and as we approach the 40th Annual Show of Trail’s End Art Association, we can all be grateful that they did organize and that their foresight provided us with a place to work and exhibit our work and to meet with others of similar interests".
Renovation and weatherization 2020
The Present
The history of Trail’s End Art Association continues today. The organization is celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2020. The Association has weathered the changes of time with the same mission it has had since it started in 1950.
In the 21st Century, the organization’s membership numbers continue to stay consistently strong and it is still run by volunteers and without paid staff. The building is used almost daily. The main Gallery hosts changing monthly shows; there is a Studio for individual, groups, classes, and workshops; and an Entrance Gallery with prints, cards, and smaller gift items. The building went through an exterior transformation between 2015-2020 with help from donations, the Oregon Cultural Trust, the Clatsop Culture Coalition, and the City of Gearhart. The foundation had settled and was repaired along with completing weatherizing the building with cedar shakes, a new back porch, and historically retrofit windows.
The sustainability business model designed all those years ago continues to maintain the organization and consists of relying on gallery sale commissions, membership fees, and tuition fees from workshops and classes. But generous donations from the community, along with our member's time and effort, have ensured the continuation of the care for the building and the success of the organization. Kitty Paino, President, 2020
The history of Trail’s End Art Association continues today. The organization is celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2020. The Association has weathered the changes of time with the same mission it has had since it started in 1950.
In the 21st Century, the organization’s membership numbers continue to stay consistently strong and it is still run by volunteers and without paid staff. The building is used almost daily. The main Gallery hosts changing monthly shows; there is a Studio for individual, groups, classes, and workshops; and an Entrance Gallery with prints, cards, and smaller gift items. The building went through an exterior transformation between 2015-2020 with help from donations, the Oregon Cultural Trust, the Clatsop Culture Coalition, and the City of Gearhart. The foundation had settled and was repaired along with completing weatherizing the building with cedar shakes, a new back porch, and historically retrofit windows.
The sustainability business model designed all those years ago continues to maintain the organization and consists of relying on gallery sale commissions, membership fees, and tuition fees from workshops and classes. But generous donations from the community, along with our member's time and effort, have ensured the continuation of the care for the building and the success of the organization. Kitty Paino, President, 2020