U.S. Coast Guard: Through the Eye of the Artist, featuring fifteen works of art by 11 United States Coast Guard artists – more than half of whom are from the West – will be on view at the Coos History Museum from July 19 through September 16, 2018. The exhibit will open with a free, family friendly ceremony on Thursday – July 19, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The public is welcome to attend and tour the museum exhibit, free of charge. The United States Coast Guard will have a HH-65 Helicopter Fly Over, a Search and Rescue Demonstration, along with tours of the 26′ TANB (Trailerable Aids to Navigation Boat) tour at the museum during the opening ceremony. The U.S.C.G. Chief Petty Officer’s Association will host a BBQ Fundraiser – $5/per person, includes hamburger or hot dog, chips and beverage. Proceeds from the BBQ fundraiser to benefit the CPOA’s Projects. The opening ceremony is in partnership with the USCG Sector North Bend Officer’s Wardroom and the USCG Chief Petty Officer’s Association North Bend Chapter, with assistance from the USCG Aids to Navigation Team Coos Bay. U.S. Coast Guard: Through the Eye of the Artist showcases 15 works depict the missions of the U.S. Coast Guard, including search and rescue cases, buoy tending operations and surf boat patrols. Many of the works depict events occurring in the West and Northwestern parts of this country. Western artists whose work will be on view are Dennis Boom, Hillsboro, OR; Frank Gaffney, Mountlake Terrace, WA; Louis Gadal, Los Angeles, CA; MK2 Jasen Newman, Port Angeles, WA; Robert Tandecki, Albuquerque, NM; Peter DeWeerdt, Tucson, AZ; and Pete Michels, Stevenson Ranch, CA. The four others are Karen Loew, New York, NY; Susanne Corbeletta, Glen Head, NY; Ken Smith, Pulaski, VA; and John Ward, Saranac Lake, NY. This marks the 37th anniversary of the Coast Guard Art Program – known as COGAP. The program utilizes fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the United State Coast Guard. Today, more than ever, the service addresses an abundance of challenges as it works to maintain the nation’s security at home and abroad and execute its 11 statutory missions such as drug interdiction, marine safety and maritime law enforcement. COGAP art provides visual testimony to the unique contribution the Coast Guard makes to the nation in its multifaceted role as a military, humanitarian and law enforcement organization. COGAP members give their works for free to the collection, which today contains nearly 2,000 pieces depicting the missions performed by the Coast Guard’s approximately 40,000 active duty members. Since the program’s inception, it has been sponsored by the Salmagundi Club, a noted New York city cultural and art Center. To learn more about COGAP and the Coos History Museum, please visit the websites: https://www.uscg.mil/Community/Art-Program/ and https://cooshistory.org. The Coos History Museum will waive admission to military veterans and their spouse/partner through December 31, 2018. The free admission program was created through generous financial support from the Coquille Tribal Community Fund and the Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Keiser Foundation. During 2018, the Coos History Museum special exhibit focus is dedicated to honoring veterans. There will be 4 special exhibits this year, beginning with the Smithsonian’s Patriot Nations: Native Americans in Our Nation’s Armed Forces, Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs exhibit entitled I Am Not Invisible, United States Coast Guard Art, and the Coos History Museum’s Vet Ink: Military Inspired Tattoos. For exhibit run dates, please visit the Coos History Museum website at www.cooshistory.org.
