Yaquina Art Gallery Wall Spotlight Show featuring the artwork of Mark Cheney and Denise Darby – March 30th to April 12th
In a two week Wall Spotlight Show from March 30th to April 12th, the Yaquina Art Association will be featuring the artwork of Mark Cheney and photographer Denise Darby. The Yaquina Art Association Gallery is located in Nye Beach at 789 NW Beach Drive. Hours of operation are 11 am to 4 pm every day. Before retiring from the title insurance business in 2007, the only artwork Mark had done was to make an occasional piece of jewelry from findings and a tumbled stone. He has had many magazine articles published and has completed an historical novel on the subject of the ancient Maya, his hobby, but had not done much visual art. His novel, Mark of the Jaguar, was published in 2014.
Moving to the Oregon Coast changed his focus. He began finding driftwood on the beach that fit together in the shape of fish. That was very interesting! As he continued beach-combing Mark found more and more pieces of wood that had the “essence of fishiness” and his pieces became larger. He has since sold numerous pieces from five inches up to five feet long, often using jewelry wire with shells, agates and selected beads as eyes, and shells for fins. He calls his creations “Fish Stix.” His latest work uses driftwood, stones and other objects in frames to create what he calls “Stix & Stones”, a three dimensional art form.
After making some scarf necklaces for his four daughters last Christmas he also decided to try them out in the gift shop of the YAA Gallery in Nye Beach, where they have done well.
As Vice President of the Yaquina Art Association, Mark continues with his driftwood and stone art, does some hand-built clay work and explores various photographic opportunities, as well.
Denise Darby is a photographic artist who specializes in landscapes and travel photography. Born in Portland Oregon, she has had a love of the arts and photography from a young age. What a beautiful world we live in! Denise has recently retired and is loving her new life, having fun re-inventing herself and discovering new adventures every day.
