The Art Hatchery was a notable art gallery in the 70’s and 80’s in Port Orford, Oregon, owned and operated by Bob and Vicki Courtright. Bob was a marine biologist and a gifted artist working in several mediums including metal, ceramics and photography. An inventor of processes exclusive to his work, he also designed fishing flies and lures popular in the national sporting circuit. Vicki is an equally gifted artist working in ceramics and photography. Bob and Vicki often collaborated on works in their home studio on Garrison Lake.

Vicki Courtright admires a metal sculpture by Bob Courtright in the early days of The Art Hatchery.

Here are some early photographs of Bob Courtright’s sculpture. Bob took many artful B&W photographs of his creations.

Here are some recent photographs taken at the Courtright’s home studio. Photography by Rebecca Malamud-Evans.

A striper created by an exclusive molding process invented by artist Bob Courtright.

And below are more recent photographs from an “Artists at the Hughes House” event featuring a select retrospective offering a glimpse of the lifetime artistic collaboration of Bob and Vicki Courtright.

Bob and Vicki Courtright Retrospective at “Artists at the Hughes House,” July 2024. Photography by Rebecca Malamud-Evans.

It should be noted that their Port Orford gallery was located in the former Heinie Dolge Shell Gas Station which housed many business. In addition to being the location of Bob and Vicki Courtright’s gallery for two decades, Evan and Valerie Kramer operated The Downtown Fun Zone for over 20 years. It’s also been a dive shop, bike shop, restaurant, health food store and more. It is currently home to the Humble Heron Studio and Gallery, Uptown Frames, and Cafe Gemma.

Select works by Bob and Vicki Courtright are currently on display in the Street Level Gallery at Point.B Studio.