Thanatopsis - Contemplations on Death, Grief, and Renewal
Thanatopsis - Contemplations on Death, Grief, and Renewal is a
partnership program presented by the Royal Nebeker Gallery at Clatsop Community College and Astoria Visual Arts, September 21 through October 22 featuring an art exhibition at the Royal Nebeker Gallery, four workshops at AVA, and accompanying public events. Community members are invited to attend all events to reflect on mortality, grief, healing, and the shared experience of loss. All events and workshops are free thanks in part to funding from Oregon Humanities with support from Meyer Memorial Trust.
The month-long art exhibition at the Royal Nebeker Gallery features three artists and
practicing end-of-life doulas, Marne Lucas (Portland, OR), Dardinelle Troen (Astoria, OR), and Emma Lewis Acker (Brooklyn, NY). Thanatopsis includes collage, assemblage works on paper, sculpture, and photography on paper and silk. Colesie Tharp (Portland, OR) will present two interactive Remembrance Altars on the CCC campus and at Astoria Visual Arts.
An end of life doula or “death doula” is a non-medical emotional, spiritual, and practical support role that advocates for the wishes of the dying person and their loved ones. They can also provide grief support, assist with legacy projects, provide education on the dying process, and help make burial plans. The artists share an ethos of caregiving and end of life care advocacy in art and life.
Public Events and Workshops
Opening Reception: Thursday, October 15, 6:00-8:00pm at the Royal Nebeker Gallery, CCC
Thanatopsis explores end of life, grief and the sense of loss that accompanies death. Through distinct bodies of work, Marne Lucas, Dardinelle Troen, and Emma Lewis Acker reflect on impermanence and transformation beyond the physical form. Death is a taboo subject, yet we all eventually arrive there. The aim is to create a space for reflection, inviting people to feel emptiness and notice moments of beauty in hard places. Death is a natural part of the cycle of life, and the artist's work places aesthetic, emotional, and philosophical value on this inevitable transition.
End of Life Doula + Artist Panel Talk with Emma Lewis Acker, Marne Lucas, Dardinelle Troen,
Colesie Tharp, moderated by Jo Brickman
Friday, October 16, 6:00-7:30pm at the Royal Nebeker Gallery, CCC
Join us for a moderated conversation with the Thanatopsis artists and end-of-life doulas (EOLD) as they discuss their relationships to end-of-life care, their creative practices, and to one another. The audience can share their own experiences and stories in community, where together we can share, learn and heal. An opportunity for questions and answers will follow. End-of-life care advocacy materials will be available. RSVP requested to astoriavisualarts@gmail.com.
Ancestors in Training - A meditation on end-of-life and what comes next... with Dardinelle Troen
Saturday, October 17, 11:00am-12:00pm at Astoria Visual Arts
Join us for a guided meditation focused on cultivating mindfulness and awareness of our mortality with end-of-life doula, Dardinelle Troen. Participants will draw inspiration from Maranasati, or The Nine Contemplations of Death, a Buddhist meditation practice designed to help us confront and overcome our resistance to death and dying. The primary purpose of these practices is to face our own mortality, similar to traditional meditation, intended to enhance our appreciation for the richness of everyday life. 45 minutes seated meditation. RSVP requested to astoriavisualarts@gmail.com.
What is Your Legacy? A Collage Workshop with Marne Lucas of the Bardo Project
Saturday, October 17, 12:00-3:00pm at Astoria Visual Arts
Create a beautiful, personal collage to explore your life’s path or a loved one’s legacy with Marne Lucas, a multidisciplinary artist and death doula working at the intersection of art, science, and health. Lucas explores creativity as a form of spiritual care in collaborations with terminally ill artists to establish their legacy. All materials are provided. All ages welcome. RSVP requested to astoriavisualarts@gmail.com.
Write Your Own Obituary with Katherine Annala
Sunday, October 18, 2026, 12:00-2:00pm at Astoria Visual Arts
Writing your own obituary can be an illuminating exercise in exploring who you are and what you want the world to know about your life. Participants will explore their legacy and how to put it into words. Learn the different types of obituaries and the basics of obituary writing with Katherine Annala, a doctor of acupuncture based in Portland, Oregon with a focus on aging adults and women’s health. Writing utensils provided, if preferred, please bring a laptop. RSVP requested to astoriavisualarts@gmail.com.
Astoria Death Cafe: A Community Conversation on Death and Dying with Dardinelle Troen and Kyle Fujisawa
Sunday, October 18, 4:00-5:30pm at Astoria Visual Arts
The Astoria Death Cafe brings together people of all ages to talk openly about death, dying, and what it means to be human as we face life’s biggest transition. These conversations are community-led. The group offers a welcoming space where everyone can feel supported, comforted, respected, and most of all, connected. Here, you can share your thoughts, fears, and experiences about death, grief, and the end of life in a safe and non-judgmental setting. The cafe also helps people find resources and information about end-of-life matters. RSVP required: dardi@viemort.com. Capacity is limited to 25 attendees. Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the event, late attendees will not be admitted.
Remembrance Altar by Colesie Tharp
September 22 - October 22 at Clatsop Community College, Columbia Hall, 2nd floor
Saturday - Sunday, October 17 - 18 at Astoria Visual Arts
The public is invited to contribute to each Remembrance Altar by leaving small photos and mementos to honor their loved ones who have died. Drawing from her Basque heritage and previous career in childhood education, Tharp’s interest in historical stories led her to pursue deeper exploration of people, community and ritual. She views play and joy as an integral part of one’s mental health and creativity. Come anytime during open hours: Clatsop Community College, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm | Astoria Visual Arts, Thurs - Mon, 11am-3pm.
