Category: 2023

Little Works 2023

The Josephy Center for Arts & Culture is excited to announce its winter fundraiser, the “Little Works” Exhibition, where all proceeds will be dedicated to supporting the Youth Arts Program. This initiative aims to fund youth class scholarships, the Missoula Children’s Theater, the Youth Art Festival, internships, alternative education art classes, and more.

The Little Works Exhibition will run from November 20th to December 30th, showcasing small works of art, each measuring 10 inches by 10 inches or less. All artworks featured in the exhibition will be priced at under $200. This event not only provides a platform for artists to display their talents but also serves as a means to raise vital funds for youth art programs.

We encourage art enthusiasts, collectors, and the community at large to participate in this meaningful exhibition, which not only celebrates the arts but also contributes to the nurturing of young artistic talent through the Youth Arts Program. Unlike typical exhibits, art purchased from the Little Works Exhibit may be taken home that day! A prime opportunity for unique and creative Christmas gifts!

Join us for the exhibition’s opening reception on Friday, November 24th, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. It will coincide with a Stocking Stuffer Black Friday Art Supply Sale, making it a perfect opportunity to support local artists and discover unique, affordable artwork.

Chronicles of Change

A community exploration through art, science, and story-telling, of how Wallowa County and NE Oregon communities and landscapes are changing, from climate’s influence, to human and wild populations, to scenery, landscape and health… and what those changes mean to us.

EXHIBIT DATES: Oct. 6-Nov. 16

Dr. Ellen Morris Bishop

Judges: Leslie LeViner

Curator: Ellen Morris Bishop

As we become a more urban, urbane, and technologically-driven society, I thnk it is essential top re-establish our ties to landscape and place. I’ve tried to accomplish this through both images and words, as well as interpretive work. With a Ph.D. in geology, and specialization in the exotic terranes of the Northwest, it’s natural that Pacific Northwest landscapes–their geologic history and ecosystems–are my specialty. My photographs try to reveal the landscape’s changing forms through time., and human’s changing relationship with nature.  My images and interpretive work are used by the Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, National Park Service, Oregon State Parks, Contdon Museum, High Desert Museum and many others.

Awards

1st place Sharol Chandler August 31, 2022 3:27pm, Nebo
2nd place Dawn Norman Ellipsis
3rd place Cheryl North Tornado Alley
Judges Choice Jane Glesne Jungle Bus
Honorable Mention Susan Pesti-Strobel Time Changes Everything
Honorable Mention Harold Black Smokey Lake

Virtual Exhibit

2023 Festival of the Arts

Our 41st Annual Event!

The festival is the largest juried fine art exhibition in Eastern Oregon, featuring representational realism as well as contemporary art from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts is dedicated to promoting the arts and supporting artists. WVFA is located in the beautiful town of Joseph – known for its breathtaking scenery, myriad outdoor recreation opportunities, world-renowned bronze foundries, exquisite galleries and Main Street art installations. A central aim of the annual festival is to reflect the beauty, culture, heritage, and traditions of our region through its arts and artists. We showcase sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, an En Plein Air competition and more!

Festival Judge: Tim Norman

Tim Norman is a sculptor who has worked in bronze production for nearly 40 years. Tim studied Art and Music at Eastern Oregon State College and Spokane Falls Community College. He began working at Valley Bronze in Joseph, Oregon in 1984.  Tim worked his way up to production manager but left in1996 to start Norman Arts with wife Nickie.

Tim creates and produces his original artwork at his studio near Enterprise Oregon. Tim utilizes the intimate knowledge earned from nearly 40 years in the Bronze Production business to create original fine art sculptures. Tim handles all of his own tooling and patina work on these sculptures, giving a personal touch to each bronze.

Tim’s artwork is enjoyed by collectors through out the United States and Europe. Tim has public works around the country including a  3’ x 5.5’ bronze wall relief of a Horse Drawn Combine titled ‘Harvest” for St. Anthony’s Hospital in Pendleton Oregon, “Heritage” a life size bald eagle in Joseph, Oregon and also in St. Joseph, Missouri.  Life size “River Dance” Redmond Oregon Airport. Tim’s work can also be seen at Phinney Gallery in Joseph, Or, and Rimrock Gallery in Prineville, Oregon.

The Wild Landscape: North Country

Every year the Josephy Center celebrates Wallowa County’s natural beauty through a Wild Landscape Exhibit – this year we want to celebrate the beauty and the diverse landscape of what we colloquially refer to as “the North Country”.

What is a wild landscape? One thing that makes Eastern Oregon so special is it’s untouched and undeveloped landscapes. We want to feature artwork that celebrates these diverse and wild lands. This means the landscape is the focal point – no human-made objects or structures should be visible in the art works.

Virtual Exhibit

Curator and Judge: Jennifer Hawkins

Artist Statement:
I am inspired by the beauty of nature; its colors, textures, and forms. I immerse myself in nature whenever possible, especially in ”wild places.” The Wilderness makes my soul sing and renews my spirit. My intent in my art is to transform the beauty I see/perceive with heart, mind and spirit into new creations, interpretations in the media that suits best.

Bio:
Jennifer grew up in Northern Wallowa County on a ranch., herding sheep, working cattle, working in wheat fields.  She studied Art, Science and Education at the University of Oregon receiving a BS, MS and MFA.   She enjoys teaching, especially the next generation, sharing her gifts and insights helping to inspire creativity in others.

Jennifer currently teaches Visual Arts at Joseph Charter School, Imnaha Bridge School and Troy School. Jennifer also enjoys roaming the wild places and creating.

 

 

This exhibit is supported by funding from Ann Werner, the Kinsman Foundation and from donations from local supporters.

Rondo

The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture is honored to have its first Printing Press Artist-in-Residency this summer from July 17-August 14, 2023. Artist Lisa Mackie won the residency through the Inspiration Plus, a nonprofit organization from Sag Harbor, NY that promotes creativity through arts and sciences with focus on printmaking.  The award was given in 2020 at the height of COVID-19, now three-years later, the Josephy Center can host the residency.

Lisa is a master printmaker from New York City and has been a working artist for over 45 years. This is her first trip to Eastern Oregon. Lisa’s residency includes an Art Talk on Wed., July 26 at noon, an Exhibition “Rondo” with an Opening Reception on Thursday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m. Rondo runs from July 27-August 11. The Josephy Center is open for viewing, Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm. Art will be for sale. Lastly, Lisa will teach a two-day Monoprint Workshop on Saturday, July 29 and Sunday July 30 from 10-4pm.

Lisa Mackie is a visual artist known for storytelling in provocative color, euphoric imagery and materials that teeter on the seemingly familiar and unfamiliar. Through her wide array of abstract and figurative compositions, Mackie evokes fable-like tales that incite imagination and exploration for her viewers. Within all of Mackie’s works is a compilation of picture fragments that she has photographed, drawn, written, and remembered. The images deal with a delicate balance between cognition, process, and memory. Through her own intuitive explanation, she meticulously traces, scrutinizes, and hones the evolution of each image, resulting in a type of infinity.

In her exhibition “Rondo” a term in reference to a musical form that contains a principal theme which alternates with one or more contrasting themes, Mackie explores the process of visual memory, evolving imagery, and continuous motion through her journey in India in 1999. Her prints, paintings, and installations become narrative devices used to transcend time and space and immerse viewers into her own reminiscences of her time in an enchanting new place. Through an elephant ride, on a boat behind the Taj Mahal, a hike through the Ganges the viewer is invited along a sensorial voyage.

Rondo Exhibit Walkthrough

Wishart Exhibit

Exhibit Dates: May 26th- July 22nd, 2023

Opening Reception: May 27th 6-9pm

Help us celebrate excellence in Art Education with this special exhibit honoring former Enterprise, Oregon High School Art Teacher Gary Wishart, and his brother Enterprise, Oregon K-8th Art Teacher Larry Wishart, and their former students!

Gary Wishart taught and developed an excellent art program at Enterprise High School for over 25 years, from 1976-2002. His students drew, painted, threw pots and hand-built ceramics. The end of the year art show and sale was always a major event, with a roomful of art, students, parents, and community members. Exchange students with limited English regularly took his classes, and often excelled at telling their stories in paint. Students who did not fit the “normal” student profile fit in Gary’s classes–as did the wrestlers and volleyball players. To be in his classroom–as a visitor–was inspiring.

>Larry Wishart taught 23 years of elementary and middle school art for the Enterprise School District from 1975 to 1998.  His students learned the basics of drawing, painting, and creating, which gave them the perfect foundation for his brother’s high school art classes.  Larry wanted each child to have as many experiences as possible working with all kinds of different mediums.  He loved his job and the students he inspired.  In 1999, Larry and Gary shared the Education Leader of the Year Award, presented by the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce for their many years of service to the county.  Larry passed away on June 24, 2021.

Gary Wishart; Indian Beach; Watercolor

Celebrating Women Who Tell Their Stories

This year’s theme: “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.”

This collection of work explores the celebration of women through moments of self contemplation and expression. The artists find connections of place and daily experiences that push and pull on the fabric of womanhood in nuanced and diverse ways- Auburn Isaak (2023 curator)

This year’s exhibit will feature artwork from 63 artists. We have invited  88 individual works in a variety of mediums, to include but not limited to: Painting (watercolor, acrylic, & oil); Photography; Digital Painting; Drawing; Sculpture; Printmaking; Mixed Media; Fibers; Film, and more!

Opening reception: Saturday March 4th; 6:30-9pm

Curator: Auburn Isaak

Curator Event: Artist’s brown bag presentation.
March 21st at Noon @ Josephy Center.

Auburn’s Bio: Auburn Isaak creates her art while surrounded by the legendary eastern Oregon terrain. With the  clear skies, lush vegetation, unique wildlife, and truly breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains and rolling hills. One could not ask for a more inspiring place to create. Auburn’s current work is pulled from the fluidity of the nature she surrounds herself with, and she is constantly striving to push the boundaries and dimensions of fluid acrylics and mixed media. When Auburn is not creating art, she can be found playing guitar; gardening; hanging with her wife, Mackenzie, or exploring the landscapes that surround her. Auburn is a native of eastern Oregon growing up in Joseph, OR, where she went on to graduate from Eastern Oregon University in 2012, with a Bachelor of Science degree in art and now currently works in the Dean’s Office for Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Timber Culture

We are excited to announce that Josephy Center will be hosting Timber Culture a traveling exhibit and exploration into cultural heritage in the Pacific Northwest. The exhibit depicts the lives of loggers and their families drawn together from different cultures during the great migration, presenting an inclusive look at Oregon’s multicultural logging communities. In sharing and discussing the history of the segregated logging community of Maxville, Oregon, the exhibit examines issues of race and social justice through the lens of Oregon’s history.

This year Maxville celebrates it’s 100 year anniversary and we are honored to share this exhibit and our history here in Wallowa County.

https://www.maxvilleheritage.org/

Thank you to our sponsors: The Autzen Foundation, Roundhouse Foundation, Ronald W. Naito MD Foundation, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Oregon Arts Commission.

 

In addition to “Timber Culture”, the Josephy Center will be concurrently showing “Hello Neighbor”, a community Building project also brought to you by the Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center.

The Hello Neighbor! project explores what it means to live in Wallowa County. Our inclusive mission to gather and preserve the history of Timber Culture in Wallowa County is not just about what happened in the past; it includes the people living here today. We are all part of County history in the making.