Dancing with Sea Lions
The Dancing With Sea Lions project began as a fundraiser for the 20th Anniversary of the Florence Events Center. The volunteers of the Florence Arts, Culture, and Entertainment nonprofit group (previously known as the Friends of the FEC) headed up this project in conjunction with the Florence Events Center Staff. Twenty life size sea lion sculptures were each painted by a different artist. All of them were displayed with their sponsors along the Oregon Coast till October of 2016, when they were then purchased by businesses and individuals. Fifteen of them are still publicly displayed in Florence and near by coastal locations. See our 'Where are they now' map for their current locations, and check our blog for updates. Share your Dancing Sea Lion pics with us and we'll add them to our Gallery of images.
Eileen Hearne
Project Name: Circling Fish
Artist Eileen “Zelie” Hearn told us her inspiration comes from the seas lions that live to bark and play down the street from her on the Newport Bay front. A commercial fishing boat owner, Zelie and her family have a special relationship with sea lions. They love unloading day! Zelie said she wanted to advertise the beautiful bounty of fish caught right here in Oregon. Rockfish, salmon, tuna, Pacific whiting, sole, shrimp and crab just to name a few of the favorites of both people and sea lions.
As an artist her paintings and ceramic works focus on the fun and easy going feel of the Oregon Coast. Simple flowers, coastal and nautical themes inspire my work. She drapes her uncomplicated designs in the bright colors of the Oregon Coast. Her natural love and passion of Newport’s domestic fishing fleet and the species that thrive and are harvested along the Oregon Coast is an unending inspiration in her work. Using both her art and her work, Hearn seeks to educate folks to the fine resources available to us in Oregon, along with the knowledge and stewardship of the fishing community. She says her fish smile because they are happy and want to make you happy.
Zelie Hearne used professional grade artist acrylic liquitex soft body (medium – viscosity) paints with a few splashes of high grade metallic acrylic paints to keep things interesting.
