New Outdoor Sculptures for Newport Accentuate Its Oregon Coast Vibes

Published 07/07/25 at 4:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) — The Oregon Coast Council for the Arts and Newport’s Public Arts Advisory Committee have officially launched a new citywide initiative celebrating sculptural art in public spaces. Known as Newport Art Seen, the project invites community members and visitors to a kickoff celebration on Thursday, July 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Newport Performing Arts Center.

The event will open with outdoor remarks from Mayor Jan Kaplan and Councilor Cynthia Jacobi, weather permitting, followed by an indoor reception featuring refreshments and live music by the Lucky Gap String Band.

Newport Art Seen introduces a rotating outdoor gallery designed to enrich the city’s visual landscape. The first four sculptures have been installed on pedestals in Nye Beach and along Olive Street near the Performing Arts Center. Featured works include “Fossil II” by Lin McJunkin of Conway, Washington; “Welcome Dance” by Harold Linke of Lake Oswego, Oregon; “Spiritsafe #14” by John Zylstra of Bellingham, Washington; and “Campsong” by Paul Reimer of British Columbia, Canada.

The sculptures will be on display for six months before being replaced, offering a fresh experience for returning visitors and residents. Artists are compensated with honoraria, and all pieces are available for purchase. Proceeds primarily support the artists, with a portion returning to the community in support of public art.

“These four sculptures are just the beginning,” said Rachel Browning, administrator of the Public Arts Committee. “We’re thrilled to bring these works to Newport and look forward to expanding installations near City Hall and the bayfront in the future.”

Details about Newport Art Seen, along with purchasing information, can be found at www.coastarts.org/artseen.

Also in the Newport area: Oregon Day Trips and Tours: Newport on the Central Coast - It's an easy day's jaunt from many Willamette Valley towns: some travel tips. It's all about 80 miles from Salem or 50 miles from Corvallis.

At the north end sits the stunning Yaquina Head Natural Outstanding Area. If you can't find anything to do here, you're probably dead and no one told you. A gigantic manmade tidepool creation, hidden rocks and boulders to climb on, a mysterious hill encircling the headland from overhead, a strange, noisy beach made of polished stones and one major lighthouse provide more than you could do in a day.

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