May 15-July 5, 2026 

Opening Reception: Friday, May 15, 5-7pm

"here", the New exhibit by Ben Soeby with special guest artist, Booker Bartow. 

Reflections on spending a lifetime on the coast and ruminations on what it means to be here now.   

The intricate and playful drawings of Lincoln city artist Ben Soeby are inspired from a lifetime spent on the river and in the woods.  "Art and fishing saved my life, and the two activities have given me an attachment to the moment, as well as a meaningful perspective on nature and life."  Soeby received a Bachelors degree in Fine Arts from Oregon State University.  He went on to travel to distant lands but, decided to return to his native rivers, much like the salmon that inspire him, to live out his dream of making art and living and learning from nature.

Booker Bartow is a descendant of indigenous people who survived the Wiyot Massacres by fleeing north along the Pacific Coast and settling an area now known as South Beach, Oregon, where Booker was raised.  Booker and his father—Rick Bartow, who gained national recognition for his art—had grown apart, but they rekindled their strong bond when Rick’s health failed and Booker became his caregiver. After Rick’s death, Booker attended the opening for an exhibit of his father’s work, and he was amazed by the power of artists to have a lasting impact. He rediscovered his love for visual art, for the joys of mixing mediums, experimenting, and approaching the process with a sense of innocence that comes from working with no rules or self-judgment. Although he still struggles with health issues, creating art allows him to “tune out the negative noise” around him and focus on what really matters. Booker says that if, through his art, he can also “impact someone in a positive way, or spark a conversation, then it’s even more amazing.”

See more at– Instagram     @benSoeby    @bookerbartow