Charter Member Visits CAM

A gentleman tapped on the front door of Coos Art Museum at about 12:45 p.m. on a recent Saturday. Since the museum had not opened for the day, Director MJ Koreiva opened the door and asked the man if he was looking for someone. Very cautiously he looked around and then - almost sheepishly – asked, "Is this what the Coos Artists League turn into?"

"Yes, this is the Coos Art Museum, and it's what became of the Coos Artists League," Koreiva replied.

" Well, I was a founding member of the Coos Artist League in 1950," the man said.

Koreiva quickly asked his name and he said he was Howard Peck.

"Well hello, Howard, your name is on a plaque right here with all the other charter members of the Coos Artists League," Koreiva said. "And I would like to shake your hand for having the foresight to create a group that in turn, helped to create this art museum,"

Peck entered the lobby and, as he reviewed the names, started to tell stories of some of the league's earliest activities. In the early 1960s, Peck moved to Hermiston, OR where he ran a flooring company. From the 1960s through 2000, he was active in the Uma Artists League (Uma is short for Umatilla) When he retired in 2001, he and his wife moved to Hammond, OR (near Astoria), where he is active in the Trails End Artists Association.

Peck started to tear up as he looked around the lobby and galleries.

"I never imaged that a small group of artists, part-time artists because we all had jobs, meeting and painting in old empty store fronts could end up being part of this magnificent art museum. I am really impressed with the Coos Art Museum and am proud to have my name associated with CAM."

Koreiva grabbed Karen Hammer, CAM's Director of Art Education and in-house photographer, and got a picture of Peck pointing to his name on the panel of charter members.

Peck has since sent the museum a nice note and photocopies of articles from The World, circa 1950, about the Coos Artists League. The image includes Henry Spargo, the 1950 Citizen of the Year, "sitting" for a portrait by Howard Peck; and other members of the Coos Artists League conducting painting classes.

(Courtesy of The World Newspaper)