Page 48 - Southern Oregon Magazine Spring 2019

to work with glass. A self-described Paleo Osteo glass artist inspired
by nature, he creates extraordinary, anatomically accurate animal skulls
and fossils out of glass for museums, galleries and collectors, among
other things.

Port Orford is a conservative town of working-class people, a fishing
village with its dolly dock and the port at its core. But when I asked
Rick Cook of a gallery of the same name, why he came and why he
stayed, he said it was to be by the sea, but also because the town felt
quite liberal. Although a man with a long ponytail, he felt no judg-
ment here. Cook comes from a long line of woodworkers (his Cook
ancestors plied that trade in England). He found his specific niche in
Scandinavian-inspired fine woodworking—much sought-after and
unique accent tables and cabinets. He set up shop in 1980, now the
longest-opened gallery and a one-of-a-kind in Curry County.

On a recent Saturday tour, I found myself surrounded by an explo-
sion of creativity that captivated me and made my spirit soar. I felt
overwhelmed by the splendor and variety of art I saw in a variety
of mediums—traditional oil on canvas, modern drawing on a com-
puter screen, a triptych of faerie foxgloves, a majestic horse carved
of caramel-colored wood, suspended-in-air blown glass jelly fish with
their tails trailing as though swimming, a driftwood man named Giant
who is rumored to be getting a dog, a series of black and white prints
called Wind Map (featured in the New York Times Sunday Magazine),
encaustic paintings from hot beeswax, spherical cauldrons made from
colorfully patterned, laminated paper, and wearable art. From the sub-
lime to the fanciful, from the mesmerizing to the bold, the serious to
Rheumatic diseases impact all ages. the fun, all of it matches my definition of art: that which springs from
Our goal is to ensure quality of Life someone's imaginative center. As Oscar Wilde wrote, “Art is the most
intense mode of individualism that the world has known.”
with care and compassion.
As I walked thru the different galleries, I was reminded that there
is something here for everyone. The scope of the art found in these
unpretentious shops is astonishing. Port Orford has art for every
budget and none of it gift-shop tchotchke. The bulk of what you’ll see
is the work is from local artists. Consider the sensual wood carved
hearts from the Tree Wizard Gallery (which is also his studio), or the
beguiling Rosaries made of rare gemstones at Sacred Angels. You might
prefer the three-dimensional mosaics at Good Feather Gallery, or the
eclectic shadowboxes and hand-painted journals at Not Just Art, or
Rudy Greene, MD By Referral Only the handcrafted furniture pieces at the Cook Gallery. Laughing Baskets
Fellow, American College of Rheumatology Studio carries sculptures crafted from handmade paper. At the Johnson
• In practice for over 30 years Gallery, you will find a broad selection of seascapes and lighthouse
• Board Certifi ed in Rheumatology & Internal Medicine sketches and paintings, and Point.B Studio features digital photography
• Graduate of the University of Toronto Medical School and new media. Whether you are seeking art for yourself, as a gift or a
• Formerly of University of Southern California souvenir, you will be sure and find something.
and Oregon Health Science University faculty
• Practicing cutting-edge Rheumatology which treats The largest and the most expansive is the Hawthorne Gallery, where
the underlying disease, not just the symptoms
• Infusions of biologic and anti-osteoporotic drugs you are welcomed into a courtyard filled with lush shrubbery and
• Treating Rheumatology related diseases such as: metal sculptures, including several with soothing water features. Once
Gout • Lupus • Rheumatoid Arthritis inside you’ll find yourself surrounded by a curated display of art for
Osteoarthritis • Osteoporosis • Psoriatic arthritis the wall, the floor, the ceiling, the shelf and the body. Whether you are
• Author of Rudy’s Ruminations on Rheumatology there to buy or just to look, there is something to please every eye,
www.RudyGreeneMD.com awaken your sensibilities and connect you to something that no words
can describe.
268 S Pacifi c Hwy. Talent, OR 97540 | 541-535-5523 | 888-454-4451

46 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | spring 2019