Benefit art show aims to keep St. Paul’s Chapel standing strong

The Historic St. Paul’s Chapel will bring together painters, gourd artists, and photographers on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 601 Union St., The Dalles.

The Dalles, Ore., Nov. 11, 2025 — A benefit art show and sale at The Historic St. Paul’s Chapel will bring together painters, gourd artists, and photographers on Saturday, Nov. 15, to support preservation work at the 1875 chapel on Union Street.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 601 Union St., featuring paintings by David Ridge, gourds by Ruth Gordon, and photography by David Gross. Proceeds will go toward ongoing restoration efforts at St. Paul’s Chapel, and donations are tax deductible.

Ridge, a Colorado-based painter who spent his early years in the Pacific Northwest, said his work is rooted in a deep connection to mountains, rivers, and high-country landscapes that he describes as “primal” and “sacred.” Ridge began painting in the 1990s after shifting from a career in high-tech to graphic design, discovering that art offered a creative outlet that long trips along alpine lakes, deep gorges, and river valleys had instilled in him for years.

David Ridge

“Words cannot communicate the message the way the painting can,” Ridge writes in his artist statement, explaining that many of his pieces emerge from a lifelong pull toward water and wild places. About 80 percent of his work features rivers, lakes, or moving water, which he calls both a challenge and a reward to paint.

Organizers say the fundraiser offers visitors a chance to support the chapel’s preservation while meeting artists whose work reflects the region’s broader landscapes and creative traditions.

For more information about the event or preservation efforts at St. Paul’s Chapel, attendees can visit the chapel on the day of the show.