Wallowa Valley Arts Festival
42nd Annual Wallowa Valley Arts Festival
September 20-22, 2024
Dear Artists and Art lovers,
The Josephy Center for Arts and Culture is thrilled to host the 42nd Wallowa Valley Arts Festival in Joseph, Oregon from Sept. 20-22, 2024. If you haven’t been to Joseph, this year would be the year to participate and visit our beautiful town. Joseph is known for its breathtaking scenery, myriad outdoor recreation opportunities, art galleries and Main Street’s bronze sculptures. The Festival showcases sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, an En Plein Air competition and more! Our judge this year is distinguished painter Karen Bakke.
Happy creating,
Jeff Costello and Arianna Olsen
Board Member and Program Director
Festival Winners

Paul Friedel
Zumwalt Prairie, Land & Life Intertwined

Jamie Brewer
Coastal Heron

Leah Stockard
Nature’s Lace

Melanie Thompson
Oregon Twigliht

Jill Storey
Enchanted

Erin Cassetto
Gathering its Strength

David Wachs
Carater Lake Sunset

Carol McLaughlin
Snow-Capped Chickadee


Constance Soballe
Big Blue

Katherine McDowell
Lake Monotype 444

Shayne Watkins
Bengal Pride

Rick McEwan
Witness One’s Time

Joan Eckman
Storm Watch
Festival Judge: KAREN BAKKE
As the Impressionists have done, Karen Bakke enthusiastically paints vibrant and fresh en plein air paintings (outdoors, on location) and breathes that same life into her studio paintings. She is not held back by any one type of subject or medium and is persistently creating challenges for herself. Karen strives to find that certain “je ne c’est quoi” - evoking a memory, a mood, or passion.
Karen is a member of the American Impressionists Society, PSGNWA, NWPastel Society, PSWC, PAWA (president 2017-2021), and the Yosemite Sierra Artists. She has earned many entries into juried shows and won several awards.
Karen’s professional background includes toy design, illustration and visual-effects in the tv and movie industry.