Autumn Reflections & New Beginnings
by Elise Wagner
Before the Medici Fountain in Luxembourg Garden, Paris May 12, 2025.
After a summer marked by tremendous loss, major transitions, and deep change, we’re welcoming the return of the Northwest rains and a productive season in the studio. For us as long time Pacific Northwesterners, the stormy weather brings comfort—mushroom picking season and cooking nourishing soups and stews from the bounty of the region to let creativity flourish as we nest into our home in Astoria and get to work in our studios at Pier 11.
My mom Rose March 4, 1928 - July 31, 2025
Our engagement in Paris this past spring continues to remind us to look forward with optimism, hope and gratitude. We’re happy to share that Gabe will be moving here to Astoria at the end of the month just in time for his birthday AND the new prospective building owners of Pier 11 have renewed our lease for another year. This will allow us to settle into our studios to prep for shows and continue offering inspiring workshops and participating in Astoria ArtWalk and the Astoria Open Studios Tour at Pier 11 Studio.
This fall, we joined the City of Astoria’s Art Stakeholder meetings—an opportunity for the arts community to share its needs and highlight the vital role of the arts in our city. These conversations inspired us to collaborate with local artists and businesses and open our space for classes, meetings, collaborations, and events. Gabe was unanimously elected to serve on our local arts member based non-profit Astoria Visual Arts Board of Directors, underscoring the desire to take part in fostering and growing our local art community.
Our newest collaboration is with Riversea Gallery, co-promoting workshops by Riversea-represented artists. Jody Miller will teach her popular Photo Encaustic Workshop again in November, coinciding with her exhibit, and in February, Talmadge Doyle will offer a Drypoint & Chine Collé Printmaking Workshop during the Fisher Poets Gathering, alongside her February exhibition at Riversea.
This kind of programming—connecting students, artists, and community events—is exactly what we’re passionate about fostering at Pier 11 studio. A recent highlight was the Wags & Pags Wax Collagraph Reunion Workshop with my longtime teaching partner, Jane Pagliarulo. Ten students from Portland, Washington, and Utah joined us for an incredible weekend that rekindled the spirit of my Portland workshops—something I once feared I’d lost by relocating. Seeing that creative energy return here in Astoria was truly thrilling, and we’re excited to host another Wax Collagraph Workshop on November 8 & 9. See the full class list of what’s coming up below including Collage Monotype with Ben Rosenberg.
Looking Back
During this first year, it has truly been a joy to see this vision of hosting creative workshops come to life again at Pier 11 Studio. It is reminiscent of what I built in my Portland studio for over two decades where I taught workshops that attracted people from all over the country and beyond. Here are a few pictures of a retreat at the previous Portland studio in 2019. We are excited to forge ahead and build upon what was created.
Looking Ahead
Highlights, right, from our September and October Linocut Reduction Printmaking, Photo Encaustic and Wax Collagraph Printmaking Workshops at Pier 11 Studio. All were sold out!
We encourage anyone who would like to teach a class, mount an exhibit or reserve the space for an event or meeting in 2026 to contact us.
As we approach our first anniversary as part of the Astoria art and business community this February, Gabe and I are reflecting on how far we’ve come together in a very short period of time. We are ready to embrace this new chapter and continue building Pier 11 Studio and Astoria as our creative home and community hub. We’ve been fortunate to welcome so many visitors—old friends and new—to share in our works in progress, workshops and events.
Next up for us — it’s off to L.A. for a bit of sun, client and gallery visits, art museums, friends, and fresh inspiration.
Don’t forget to follow our upcoming classes on our Instagram.
Visit Astoria for a creative weekend at the Oregon Coast!
We close out the 2025 workshop programming with a full November lineup, we encourage you to sign up for one or all!
Thank you!
We want to thank the local Astoria Art Community for being so welcoming and supportive. Thanks to you all for being part of our online community, following our Instagram and staying connected by joining our email list.
Happy Creating!
Elise & Gabe
Gabe is officially moved into the studio! This is what we’ve coined the “Confluence of Show Cards” between our studio doors.
