The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

As the "Community of Caring and Sharing" art program at the local medical clinic launches its second year, a February 26 deadline for submissions to the fourth exhibit has been set.

All local artists wishing to participate are welcome. In the three separate 2006 displays, 96 pictures were hung and 26 artists participated. Not only were the subject matters and styles diverse, the mediums included color and black and white photography, serigraphy, gouache, graphite, pastels, colored pencils, oils, watercolors, acrylics and tempera.

To make arrangements to submit artwork, call coordinator Janet Cimino at 360-795-0636. All mediums and dimensions are allowable, as long as they are cleanly presented and ready for hanging. Subject matter should fit the general theme of community, caring and sharing. The four month exhibit will be hung March 3, and will remain through the month of June.

Cimino has chosen to feature one of the most recent artists participating, Diana Lopez, and her popular picture entitled "Praise the Lord Farm" displayed by the entrance to the reception room.

Lopez took up colored pencils less than three years ago after observing Judy Curtis working with them. Fellow artist Mary Lynch supplied her with pencils and from then on nothing stopped her. It took her the better part of a year to produce the piece as she developed her skills. Some may know Lopez for her volunteer work at the nursing home, where she provides art work projects for patients and decorates the hallways and rooms with her handiwork. She has a number of medical problems herself, and says that both her artwork and putting smiles on the faces at Columbia View are therapeutic for her medical challenges.

A strong faith also contributes to her positive outlook. She shared a favorite quote: "Reaching out to others is healing to yourself." That sentiment is what the "Community of Caring and Sharing" project is all about.