Mark Cheney Featured in YAA Spotlight Show
There will be a two week spotlight show featuring the art of Mark Cheney at the Yaquina Art Association Gallery in Newport, Oregon. His show will run from December 31 to Jan. 13th open between 11 am and 4 pm daily. The gallery is located at 789 NW Beach Drive at the Nye Beach turnaround.
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 is now being reviewed by a publisher.
Moving to the Oregon Coast changed his focus. He began using small driftwood pieces to make birdhouses. They were fun, but not enough creativity was necessary to make them. One day he found a few pieces on the beach that fit together in the shape of a 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 completed numerous pieces from five inches up to five feet long, often using jewelry wire with shells, agates and selected beads as eyes, and occasionally shells for fins. He calls his creations “Fish Sticks.” His first sale as an artist was during the Push-pin show in 2008 at the Newport Visual Arts Center. He also creates an occasional driftwood bird, and has done a couple of small horses. He hopes to one day make a full size driftwood horse.
As a member of the Yaquina Art Association, Mark continues with his driftwood art, does some hand-built clay work and explores various photographic opportunities, as well. He is a member of the YAA Photographic Group within said association.
"Blue Moon" by Mark Cheney
