Annual Yachats banner project weathers challenges to stage auction Sunday

YACHATS – Neither windstorms or heavy rain deterred Polly Plumb Productions and Yachats-area artists from their annual banner auction.

The 2022 Yachats Banner Project auction and artists reception is 5-7 p.m. Sunday in the Yachats Commons multi-purpose room. The silent auction will end at 6:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend.

Festivities include the viewing and silent auction of the banners, a meet-and-greet with the artists, and appetizers provided by the Drift Inn.

The auction is proceeding despite some big weather challenges this year.

Coordinated by Michael Guerriero, local artists painted 32 banners with the theme “Trails to Yachats,” as tribute to the Amanda Trail Bridge dedication in May. The banners were then hung on the city’s light poles along U.S. Highway 101.

But a big windstorm in late May tore out most of the grommets at the bottom the banners and then more wind and rain peeled off much of the paint from the canvas.

Given all the damage, the banners were taken down and returned to the artists. Many of them were restored and donated for the fundraising auction.

Guerriero said next year’s banners are being redesigned and will be displayed later in the season to try to avoid spring storms.

For the past five years local artists volunteer to design and paint banners to be hung on the city street lamp poles during the summer. Newport and Waldport also have banner projects.

Proceeds from the auctions are used to support arts programs and fund the project for the following year.

Note cards of each banner have been printed and will be available at the auction.

Polly Plumb Productions is a Yachats-based nonprofit that produces and supports arts and cultural programming.