‘The Gift of Art’ Opens at Josephy Center for Art and Culture
The Gift of Art, an open, multi-media exhibit of artwork offers art for sale starting at $50, opens Thursday, December 2014 at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture. The opening reception begins at 7:00. Doors open at 6:30. This special evening will include a special silent auction to raise funds for the Josephy Center’s Kids Art Program. The silent auction begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 8:30 p.m. All art will start with a minimum bid of $50 and can be taken home at the time of purchase. The event offers light refreshments and a no-host bar.
This exhibit is the first of the Josephy Center’s new holiday annual event that includes local artists work on display and for sale at affordable prices to encourage the community to invest in local art, gift art to friends and family or add to your collection.
“In Wallowa County, there’s an abundance of diverse talent, this exhibit celebrates those artists and allows the community to engage in collecting art at affordable prices while fundraising for an excellent cause,” said Executive Director Cheryl Coughlan.
All remaining arts and crafts will be on sale throughout the month of December, along with other arts and crafts.
Artists to look for include Konky Forster, Tyler Hays, Nancy Clarke, Debbie Lind, Viki Abram, Joan Madsen, Whitney Freya, Jan Hohmann, Jennifer Klimza, Janie Tippett, and more.
For more information about The Gift of Art exhibit, any of its associated events or the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture, please contact Cheryl Coughlan at 541-432-0505 or visit www.josephy.org.
Bob Fergison brings to his art a very diverse background in terms of education and work experience. Born in Seattle, he spent his formative years and much of his adult life in Portland, Oregon. Educated at Lewis and Clark and Reid Colleges, Bob served as photo interpreter with an Army intelligence unit near Heidelberg, Germany. He has worked in blue collar jobs for the Forest Service and the Army Corps of Engineers. He also worked as a cook/chef, and spent six years working in the slurry room of Parks Bronze. Bob at other times put on a suit and worked in the corporate world in sales, marketing, and as publisher/editor of nationwide corporate newsletters. For years he was a competitive runner and as a senior ran marathons in 3+ hours. Bob not only makes art but he has actively supported and promoted the arts in Wallowa County and the region. He generously opened his home to visiting artists and has hosted innumerable dinners and after glows around art events.
ntinued to practice his art despite the fatigue brought on by medical treatment and failing vision. Artistically Bob Fergison’s art expresses the flamboyance of his talent and personality. His bold, direct pen and ink drawings of figures and architecture demonstrate his skills as a draughtsman as well as his keen sense of composition. Bob’s scenic oil pastels are favorites among his patrons. These strikingly colorful pieces are in many private collections around the region. His oil paintings may be alternately full of lavish color or as spare as Japanese brush paintings. Or, a single artwork may incorporate all of the above! Regardless, Bob’s work always shows the directness and immediacy of his hand and keen mind. The Josephy Center is pleased to honor Bob Fergison not only for his wonderful art but also for his selfless service to the Wallowa County art community .
Barbara (Tippett) Fredrick was raised on a large cattle ranch located on lower Joseph Creek. From childhood she was inclined toward the arts, creatively drawing on the world around her for inspiration for her paintings. Barbara worked primarily in watercolor, although she did experiment with oils. She loved to paint miniatures, but also produced some larger works, many of which grace the walls of her relatives’ homes. These depict branding scenes and ranch life often featuring her brother Don (Biden) and other family members. Barbara loved to paint chickens, cows, the hills where her family ran cattle, and scenes of daily country life. She toured the family ranches with her camera, taking photos to use for inspiration and models.
At 92, Gene Hayes is the most senior of our honored artists. Gene was born and grew up in Wallowa, Oregon. Graduating with the Wallowa High School class of 1943, like many of his generation, he was soon in uniform serving his country. As an army scout and Browning automatic rifleman he made his way unscathed through Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines, only to soon after lose an arm to a feed mill at home in Wallowa County. Gene had drawn since he was a youngster, and determined to continue, he trained his left hand to take over the task. Gene attended the Turner Art Center in San Francisco and later Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls, studying commercial art and sign painting. After a short stint at logging and working for the Forest Service, Gene took up his brush and never looked back. Gene’s work is vast and varied.
