An amazing $3,350 has been raised for The Circle of Gold mural!
The project has received $1,800.00 in cash donations from people and businesses in the community and a donation of $1,000.00 from Curry Arts. Combined with the generous CCCC grant of $550 and donation of supplies from local businesses, the project is well on its way.
The group is now calling on all local artists to participate in this fun, community-spirited project.
Everyone in the Curry County community is invited to the Circle of Gold mural project meetings on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.
The meetings will be held at the Curry County fairgrounds in the south end of the Livestock Pavilion on the west side of the fairgrounds.
Please contact Janee Lensing at jllensing@gmail.com if you have questions and are interested in making a contribution to this terrific project.
More information is also now available on the Circle of Gold Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/circleofgold
April 28th, 2021 Notes
*Wall framing update, I have had regular contact with the contractor that is going to install the framing on the wall for the panels, but no date set yet. We will ask him about Trex versus pressure treated for the boards, for best results.
*After we get the framing up on the wall for the mural to hang on, we will be able to pre-drill the holes in the panels for the screws for the hanging. Janee has a contact she will ask to volunteer for that. Precision measuring will be key.
*We will do a primer coat on the panels as soon as we know what our paint idea is going to be (monochrome versus normal).
*Paint type pro and cons were discussed. Lots of good information was shared. The subject was tabled until the mural design is approved by fairboard and Curry Arts.
*Design planning: Janee and Lisa are planning to have a few rough designs ready for the fair board meeting next Wednesday, and also an email presentation to send to Curry Arts. They will take the options and include monochrome versions.
*Janee has gotten the ok from the library to utilize the main meeting hall to do the design projecting and drawing onto the panels. This offer is limited in time, and we will use only if needed…we still have Karil’s shop and Docia Sweet Hall at fairgrounds as possibilities. Which building we utilize will depend on the timing of the projecting onto the panels.
*Ellie has offered to be our paint days planner. She will work with everyone and get best days and times. Please look at your schedules and consider what will work best for you for painting day.
*IF you have not been able to attend the meetings, but are still planning to join up with the painting days, please respond to this email and let me know what works for you. THANKYOU!!
*We will print more flyers to give to those who would like to hand them out or still hang in North or South county.
* May 5th next Circle of Gold meeting
April 21st 2021 Notes
* Photo journey with CoG …any photos taken of our CoG progress send to Janee or Becky. We will get them to Erin and she will work out a video journey of the mural or a photo album for it.
*Wall painting: Stan Thomassen with Property Pro and his crew got the barn wall painted the first coat. A decision will be made on if parts of it need a second coat. Thanks to the CoG volunteers who helped out and also brought lunch!
*Wall framing update: Brian Downing and also Tom with Tom Coleman Construction have volunteered to put the framing for the panels on the wall for us. They are busy contractors, so not sure when it will happen, but it will.
*Paint: A generous donation of paint is offered from Dan’s Ace Hardware. Other paints were discussed for use, including Nova Color and combining water based options. A clear coat is also planned for the final picture. We’re doing research to make the best decision on paint use here.
*A hands on paint layering pallet idea was shared by Julie and Becky H. and will be continued next meeting with more layering and options.
* Painting the base coat on the panels is a project that is coming up soon. An idea was brought up to pre-drill holes in panels. This would not be done until the framing is done, so discussion was tabled until later. IF anyone knows someone that may be handy at that, keep them in mind in case we decide to pre-drill. We will also need to get screws that are compatible with the panels, and wont rust or damage the panels, and I will send an email to Montroy and inquire the best fasteners to attach the panels to the framing.
*Janee will look into the Library as a third possible place for projecting and drawing the final picture. We still have Karil’s shop and Docia as possibilities.
* May 5th next fairboard meeting to get drafts to, if you have ideas send by email to Janee or Becky or bring to the next meeting!! For our ideas for the next fairboard meeting and to send to Curry Arts we are intending to have 1. A full S to N county coastal scene, 2. An open CURRY lettering option over a S to N coastal background (with letters full of county based pictures) and also a monochrome background with this same idea.
*Meanwhile, start getting your painting wardrobe ready, your props ready and start thinking of times when it is best for you to join in painting parties that will be coming soon!!! We will be getting together a chart for painting hours.
*Next meeting April 28th at 4:30pm in the Gold Room at the fairgrounds!
April 14th 2021 Meeting NOTES
* Panel update: We received the panels Monday. They are in the CoG meeting room(the Gold room!) – this is the previous SWOCC classroom near the fairgrounds office. We are now meeting here and staging our painting teams in this room.
*Base Wall painting update: The wall that the mural panels are going to hang on in fairgrounds building is DONE!!! Many thanks to volunteer Stan Thomassen, Property Pro and his crew for getting the wall painted today! And THANK YOU to all the CoG volunteers that helped at the event and brought food for lunch!!!
*Results of Fair Board meeting: The Fair Board liked the concept of the open letter CURRY on the mural, and gave us some suggestions to work with, also still requesting to see the open landscape option.
* So, with this in mind we spent most of the CoG meeting putting together a mock up for the whole mural, using both ideas as per Fair Board. We are doing our best to include portions of ideas from everyone who has submitted ideas. The homework that people took home helped to add to the general picture. The whole mural took a creative twist with a new concept, while keeping the original idea going. More on that twist after this weeks meeting. As always, we are committed to giving updates to Curry County Fair Board, as well as Curry Arts for final approval.
*** Would you like to sketch, draw or paint a rendition of your ideas for the mural?  simply use a ratio of 1:2 length by height x 10 vertical panels, any size for your drawing … or contact us and we will get you a roll of paper with these dimensions marked out. (the mural will measure 50ft wide by 10 ft tall. A drawing to scale for one panel can be 1” wide by 2” tall per panel x 10 panels. (So, 10” x 2” or 20”s 4” etc. for a ‘to scale’ artwork) were happy to pick up and deliver your artwork ideas. ***
* Photo journey update: Julie and Anne have graciously agreed to help out taking photos as we go, as well as another volunteer for it, Calvin. Their collaborative effort will help to make good photo album for the project. Thank you!
* We will continue with Wednesday at 4:30 meetings thru April, and then reevaluate and see if the time or day needs changed, to allow for the painting to start! Now we have panels to put a primer coat on.
* Need help putting up flyers and reaching artists and any interested participants in Curry County! Contact us for more info. please.
* See you at the next meeting! Keep sharing the Circle of Gold idea!! If people want to donate, sure, absolutely!
April 7th 2021 meeting notes
*Fliers are ready for all to take and pass around; we still need volunteers to pass out flyers to north and south county. We will continue with the current flyer in April. When we start other phases of the project our invitation for input will change to reflect that on a new flyer. Next week we can add location ideas to the list for north and south county.
*Donor list: It was mentioned to start a list of current donors, so the same people are not asked again for donations. Also, we can have a list of people/businesses that may have been asked but were not able to donate at this time, for same reason as above.
*Video journey with CoG and/or take photos: Anne T. has offered to take photos for the CoG project and another volunteer, Calvin, has also offered his service for that. Thankyou!
*Panels: Will be ordered this week. (they were ordered on Thursday, when they arrive (DTBD) we will need help off loading on delivery day, if you can help with this daytime event please let me know!)
*Drawing the mural outline: The finished mural idea will have to be put to small scale and painted so we can project it onto the panels , which then we will trace around prior to painting. Lisa S. has graciously offered to do this for us. Thankyou!
* Liability forms: We now have the forms for everyone to sign. Thankyou for agreeing to be a part of this project!
*Wall painting work party: Volunteers needed…Julie and Ellie have offered their services, thankyou!! I will keep you in the loop of when we are doing this part of the project.
*Drafts to the Fair Board zoom meeting: Janee did a great presentation of our draft ideas to the Fair Board.
The results from this meeting are the homework for this week!
OPEN LETTER FORMAT: Fair Board likes the open letter CURRY option; work with a south to north background of coastline and landmarks, sunset etc; and CURRY letters to have the other scenes from Curry County in them, as per examples already on facebook and options on the tables at meetings. The Rogue River Bridge was a hit, under the word Curry.
FULL SCENE MURAL was also liked, and they would like to see samples of a developed south to north county coastline with everything landmark and of note incorporated into the scene.
IDEAS: Here is a list of ideas that are on the drawing board, some are more local to county sections, some are just wherever!
SOUTH:
Lily fields, horse on beach, rivers, sunset, wind surfers, kite surfers,
CENTRAL:
Rogue River bridge, river, glass floats, fairgrounds events, Ferris wheel, prize winning cow or pig etc, bear, daffodil hill, beach, 4H,
NORTH: sheep, elk, trees, lighthouse, battle rock
There are more ideas out there…just start drawing!!!
*Scroll homework: For those of you who took the blank to scale scroll home, please start drawing and fill up the paper!
*Paints: Discussed paint options, wont need to finalize options until mural idea is to paper.
*Fair Board request: Have choices to send in for next Friday, April 16th, Fair Board meeting. We can prep for this on Wednesday, April 14th CoG meeting.
March 31st 2021 notes
*Funding update: $3350.00
*Getting the word out! We have been putting PSA’s in the Pilot and Reporter newspapers and on KURY and KGBR radio. Janee was asked to do a ‘Spotlight’ 5 minute on KURY radio as well, AND the Pilot newspaper was at our March 31st meeting, so Circle of Gold is truly getting the word out to the Curry County community!!
*Flyer update: The new flyers were available for everyone to take and deliver to people and business. We will have more available at next meeting.
*Video/photos request: Calvin (?) has volunteered to take a photo progress journey for CoG.
*Wall painting update: Paint and other items have been purchased for the base wall painting. Stan Thomassen with Property Pro is volunteering his labor, but we are requesting volunteers to help him. Not sure when yet, but it will most probably be a Saturday. Thankyou to those who have offered to help with this part, I will update the list next meeting.
*Update on liability forms: Fair office has provided the form, I will have available for all future work days. (Kaitlyn, CEO Curry County Fair update: For liability reasons at least 2 persons are to be at the CoG project at all times, and no panels can be taken off fairgrounds to be painted)
* Room to paint: We will be able to use the old SWOCC class room for painting the panels. The room does not have high ceilings, so we will request from Kaitlyn the use of Docia Sweet Hall for 2(?) days to do the projecting and drawing of the picture onto the panels. Karil has allowed the use of her 20×40 shop as well, and she lives close by. (update: Kaitlyn said YES to using Docia for 2(?) days)
* Framing for panels: Volunteer contractor has been contacted, and I will meet with him to get an estimate of what needs done. I will also call Montroy, the panel company, and get an idea from them on how to hang their panels.
*OPEN DISCUSSION: Our next step is to put all the ideas we have had onto paper or any medium. Alot of amazing creativity in art has been brought to the table, keep the ideas flowing and bring more to the next meeting. Bring or email your art. Try to create 2 pieces…one with the word CURRY in open letters and art inside them, and one of your own creation, but with the highlights of Curry County in its expanse.
*Youth painting organizer or lead: Janee has offered to be the lead for the youth painting.
*SAVE: Save your empty clean containers with lids for paint!!!
* First deadline: We will try for an April 7th deadline to turn in ideas and get drafts to the CC Fairboard meeting, which is Wednesday night, April 7th . We need to have samples of our vision, so the CC Fairboard can view and offer comment, send feedback or approve (required for the CoG project). Curry Arts will also receive the updated samples for approval, as per request of the CA board.
*Next meeting is tentatively set to be held at the old SWOCC class room up by the fairgrounds office. Look for signs on your immediate left as you drive into the fairgrounds. BUT NOTE: Due to Covid restrictions, this meeting place may have to move back down to the pavilion in our usual place. I will update Tuesday night if I can, on location.
March 24 meeting notes:
*Funding update: $3350.00
*Flyers are ready to go, but we could not get any color copies of them for the meeting, so we will get them out to everyone next week to hand out . Radio stations in south and central county as well as newspapers in all three sections of county have been doing PSA’s for us.
*Update on the wall: Stan with Property Pro has a quote for what we need to paint the wall, and I will pick up at Gold Beach Lumber this week. We will get two free gallons of paint, donated from Gold Beach Lumber, and the paint bill will be under $150, which includes one base paint and one final paint.
*Update on liability forms (not ready yet)
*Use of former SWOCC classes building was approved by Kaitlyn (CEO, Fair) for painting of panels with Karils shop as back up for panel set up.
* Invited volunteer contractor Brian D. to meet down at the barn to give us a quote on supplies needed for framing. Will update after the Brian meeting. Use of Trex and galvanized and/or stainless fasteners. Meghan may talk to panels people on how to hang panels, or contractor can call him.
*IDEAS AND LAYOUTS: Bring your ideas to the next two meetings. We had alot of discussion on using the idea of CURRY in big open lettering (example of AUSTIN on Circle of Gold community mural face book) and then fill the back ground with an overall scene (like beach and sunset and forest) and each letter with the Curry County idea’s.
*EVERYONE HOMEWORK: Bring your drawing of a rendition of the CURRY layout idea AND bring designs of your own with your ideas and those gleaned from the pictures that are out and about. Bring the whole mural idea. We need to narrow down all the ideas into a mural format, to present draft options to the Fair Board. Include youth painting ideas.
*Erin projected pictures onto the wall for large viewing, and Lisa has program set up for projecting on to the wall and has a “canvas” on it all set up and waiting for the final project
* Youth painting organizer search ongoing.
* April 7th first deadline to turn in ideas/get drafts to the Fair Board meeting on Wednesday the April 7th
*Save your empty clean containers with lids for paint, and clean plastic or foam trays.
*It’s all starting to come together. Invite everyone you know! More homework to come! Share the fun!! There is an ever-growing interest in this project, and it’s exciting !!! Thank you all!!
Becky Schafer
March 17 meeting notes:
*Funding update: To date we have received $2750.00 in the form of individual donations, a $1000 donation from Curry Arts and a grant of $550 from Curry County Cultural Coalition. Gratefully, the donations are still coming in! Many thanks to Curry Arts for the use of a debit card for the money pass thru for C of G.
*Flyer update, Janee and Julie are joining their talents to make flyers to pass out.
* To document our progress with the Circle of Gold mural , Julie and Erin offered to video and/or take photos, as well as other ways, so we can track our project.
*Update on the wall: Stan with Property Pro is going to paint the base wall for us, and we will provide the paint.
*WALL PREP DAY: pull nails/screws etc., tape off doorways, move stuff away from wall, (ladder needed) NOTE: I will send out an email on Tuesday if we still need to have the wall prep day.
*Update on liability forms: fair office is working on it.
* Discussed other room/area options to use for the mural panel painting, if Docia is not available. Other suggestions include Karil’s shop, forestry building and former SWOCC building.
* Volunteer contractor has been contacted for the panel hanging under frame and Becky will meet with him to discuss options.
* Erin will work out an option for the partial panels for the donors and the contributors.
*Many ideas were shared and a table of pictures were looked at and favorite ideas were marked. Next two meetings will be geared to incorporating all the ideas into a mural. EVERYONE IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND these next meetings as we build the mural design. Get those ideas on FB or email them or bring a pic to the meeting. We can use lots of visuals!!
* Youth painting opportunities were shared and help organizing and putting a plan together for that needs input and ideas as well. Educators and youth from Port Orford to Brookings have been notified and invited to participate.
*Next meeting March 24th at 4:30pm
March 10 meeting notes:
Our funding update: CCCC grant $550; Curry Arts donation $1000; and 10 $100 donations for our mural panel fundraiser!!! Excellent work Circle of Gold group!!
The idea is to incorporate all of Curry County in to the mural. Subject matter offered by the Curry County community so far include: Curry County history and cultures (tribal, chinese); gold panning; historic use of the fairgrounds; prize winning animals; agriculture; old fair ie. horse races; dahlias, lilies, fuchsias, daffodil hill; Azalea park; Battle Rock; forest; beach; sunset; sealife ie. Whales, fish, seagulls, sea lions; horses, sheep farms, cranberry bogs; 4H, ie archery, animals, showing animals; Rogue River bridge; forest animals ie. Elk, bears.
This month we have to narrow it down and decide on the design for the mural, so put your artistic talent into a design and bring it to the meeting this month!!! (Julie, get those lilies into your picture!) The drawings should not be too complicated, as the size of the mural is 50ft long and 10 ft high. We discussed the mural in three sections, south, central, north; also painted in a circle pattern.
Idea’s for the youth involvement include: lilies, daffodils, fir fronds, clouds, waves. We will need the teachers and leads of the youth to let us know how many youth they would like to bring, and orchestrate time frames to get everyone that wants to paint the opportunity to be able to paint somewhere on the mural.
We hope to have a design in place, or make a decision by our first meeting in April. Becky will verify with Kaitlyn on the use of Docia Sweet Hall to paint the murals in.
Julie, with help from Becky, will design flyers for us to pass out and hang. Meghan will check with In Motion Graphics for the donor sign idea.
More to come, next meeting is Wednesday March 17th at 4:30…invite anyone you think would like to join the group!!!!! Everyone welcome, we will find a job for all skill sets!!!
March 3, 2021 meeting notes:
The mural project now has an official name: Circle of Gold Community Mural.
The ‘Circle’ represents community, unity and the giant ferris wheel at the annual county fair. ‘Gold’ represents our amazing sunsets, the fair gold medals, and, of course, the shiny stuff found on our beaches during the gold rush era for which our community was named.
The next project meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 4 at 4:30 p.m. on location at the Curry County Fairgrounds. This meeting will focus on the mural design.
Input from all is encouraged and welcome.
The organizational meeting on February 25th was well attended – 12 people including project leaders Becky Schafer and Janee Lensing were in attendance.
The group discussed the genesis, goals and vision for the project, how to move forward, and officially named the project ‘Circle of Gold’.
A rough timeframe for completion of project was established for early July – with the goal of a formal ‘reveal party’ on the first day of Curry County Fair.
The group is seeking: leadership persons to help with the endeavor, design input, assistance with supplies, and donations to help cover costs.
Curry Arts, Inc. took action to donate $1,000 to help fund the project. But additional funds will be needed to complete the project.
The group will begin to broaden community outreach for the project by contacting local radio stations and newspapers.
Please contact Janee Lensing jllensing@gmail.com if you have questions and are interested in making a contribution to this terrific project. More information is also available on the Gold Beach Art Enthusiasts Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/GBArtEnthusiasts
Interested persons are requested to complete this form and bring to the next meeting.
cog-registration-022421Post: February 23, 2021
Nothing excites artists more than a blank canvas — in this case a really BIG blank canvas!
The Curry County Fair Board has approved the painting of an indoor mural in one of the large buildings on the grounds of at the Event Center on the Beach in Gold Beach. All members of the community are invited to participate.
The mural will be on an expansive space of approximately 800-1200 square feet with a completion goal of June 2021.
It is anticipated that over 40 individuals will be needed to complete this project. Participants will include community members of all ages and artistic abilities including Curry Arts, Inc. and Gold Beach Art Enthusiasts members, local schools and organizations, and any other interested individuals.
If you are interested in being a part of this exciting community adventure, the first meeting to establish a planning and painting committee will be held Wednesday, Feb. 24 @4:30pm at the fairgrounds.
For more information, contact Janee Lensing at jllensing@gmail.com or visit the Gold Beach Art Enthusiasts Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/GBArtEnthusiasts.
Curry Arts, Inc. and its outreach group, Gold Beach Arts Enthusiasts have received a $550 grant from Curry County Cultural Coalition and the Oregon Trust Foundation to help with the costs of the project. A special thanks to the two organizations for their financial support and to Janee Lensing for spearheading this effort!
Keep an eye on this website for updates as this project develops.
