Fifty years ago, the Ocean Park Rug Club was formed by 5 women: Lucille Carter, Martha Rogers, Allys Templin, Louise Thomas and Ione Watson. The club met in the Ocean Park area until the late 1980s when they moved their meetings to the Heritage Museum in Ilwaco. Since those early days the Ocean Park Rug Club has continued to promote and support the art of rug hooking. Rug hooking is both an art and a craft where rugs are made by pulling loops of yarn or fabric through a stiff woven base such as burlap, linen, or cotton. The loops are pulled through the backing material by using a crochet-type hook mounted in a handle for leverage. The results are beautiful, functional, and inspiring.
The Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Ocean Park Rug Club with an exhibition featuring over 50 works by the Club’s current members: Nancy Blanton, Lori Cagle, Mary Cohn, Toni Jette, Dian Kazlauskas, Lori Lindemann, Jerre McDaneld, Betsy Millard, Jackie Mills, Helen Phillips, Jo Ann Snead, Kitty Speranza, Marilyn Stern and Tina Toney.
The opening of “Walking on Art: Traditional Hooked Rugs of the Ocean Park Rug Club, 1977-2024” coincides with the 2nd Annual Driftwood and Daffodils on April 5 and 6. Members of the Ocean Park Rug Club will be demonstrating the art of rug hooking in the Special Exhibition Gallery on Friday and Saturday 10 – 4PM. Additionally, they will be demonstrating throughout the run of the exhibition every Friday from 10 to 3PM.
Admission to the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum is free thanks to the Port of Ilwaco and members of the Rising Tide Membership Level.
Wednesday – Saturday 10AM – 4PM 360-642-3446