Funny thing: Ken Beasley has insisted twice to me that
RiverCraft is not a business, but rather the organizational information
presents it as a public-benefit, educational, non-profit corporation
that is partnered with the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts,
pending 501 (c)(3) status. I still call it a business, since it
is run by a board of directors and they are currently looking
for a building to house their entity.
I guess the difference in emphasis comes in the goal that they
are trying to accomplish: RiverCraft is a regional craft center
based in Astoria, that will offer year-round educational workshops
in wood, metals, fiber, clay, glass and other special areas. The
Center's initial phase will focus on woodcrafts; including furniture,
wooden boats, lathe turning and NW Coast Native carving.
While the concept of a regional craft center has been around for
over twenty years, RiverCraft got its start when area furniture
maker Ken Beasley and his wife, an extension agent and forester,
met with fellow-Minnesota native Tracey Stone Manning and her
husband, who is also interested in woodworking. Ken had the idea
for a regional craft center: Tracey had the contacts with Ecotrust
and the Sustainable Forestry Partnership.
After two years planning with a steering committee and funding
from Ecotrust and other sources, one of RiverCraft's first functions
was to gather coastal art organizations around a meeting with
Frank Geltner, the new director for the Coast Council of the Arts.
Thirty five people involved in various arts disciplines attended
that meeting and the general consensus was, "We should do
this more often." With the help of RiverCraft, they now can.
RiverCraft has been developed based on similar craft centers on
the east coast, and in Colorado. "A goal of the organization
is to improve communications within the arts community,"
said Ken, president of RiverCraft. "We need to develop the
recognition of crafts in this region, and emphasize the important
role they played in the past and in our future." The center
will serve both the local population and the education-oriented
traveler.
Upcoming monthly workshops for RiverCraft include the making of
a traditional Scandinavian Bentwood box, a four-day wood carving
symposium, a wood-turning workshop and a Native American mask-carving
week.
Most workshops will optimize with 15 or fewer participants and
they will be held at differing venues, depending on the workshop
and required equipment. Currently the organization has no office
or space for its operation.
Future plans include partnerships with more area arts-oriented
organizations and the eventual purchase of their own facility
for workshops. The five-member board of directors includes local
gallery-owner Janine Grafton, OSU extension agent Jim Bergeron,
area artist Katharine Thayer, potter and art teacher Renee Bunch,
and Shorebank representative Diane Moody. LCB
RiverCraft, Regional Craft Center
Principal: Ken Beasley, president
Address: P. O. Box 273
Astoria, Oregon 97102-0273
Telephone:L 503/325-8609
e-mail: mbeasle@pacifier.com
Hours: scheduled workshops or
by appointment
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