Seaside is well-known for its scenic coastline, color-drenched sunsets and abundant natural beauty, but this coastal town has an artsy side, too.
Seaside’s art scene is celebrated each month with the First Saturday Art Walk in the historic Gilbert District of downtown Seaside, one block west of the Pacific Coast Highway between Holladay Drive and Broadway Street. The walk starts at 5 p.m. and lasts two to three hours.
Marking 15 years in 2019, the walk is the brainchild of artist Cathy Tippin, owner of SunRose Gallery (606 Broadway St.) and her musician husband, Roy Coffey. The couple started the walk as a way of attracting more locals to downtown. Today it draws a number of tourists as well.
“SunRose is primarily an upcycle art gallery, though we do feature a few mainstream artists. I make mosaics and jewelry out of broken china — known as pique assiette — and welcome customers into my studio in the back to see work in progress,” says Tippin.
“There is a core of galleries that always participates in Art Walk,” explains Tippin, though other businesses have now joined as well.
“They will have a featured artist or art display. Many businesses also have live music, which always makes things fun,” says Tippin. The evenings are often rounded out with appetizers and wine tastings.
Regular gallery participants include Angi D Wildt Gallery (737 Broadway St.), Blue Bond Art Studio and Oil Painting Gallery (417 S. Holladay Dr.) and Fairweather House and Gallery (612 Broadway St.), representing various art forms from oil paintings to photography to fine art jewelry.
If you miss the Art Walk on the first Saturday of the month,follow this self-guided tour of downtown’s growing collection of outdoor murals. Not only do they make vibrant backdrops for Instagram-worthy selfies, but you’ll learn a little Seaside history along the way. Have kids? Make it an art-inspired scavenger hunt! The mural walk takes about 20 minutes.
Look for murals in these locations (in this order):
• Coast River Inn (Holladay Drive and Avenue G)
• Inside Seaside Carousel Mall (300 Broadway)
• Corner of Broadway Street and Holladay Drive
• Outside of Seaside Civic & Convention Center (415 1st Avenue)
• Seaside Museum & Historical Society (570 Necanicum Drive)
• Elvin C. Goodman Park (12th Avenue and Necanicum Drive)
