Josephy Center for Arts & Culture

41st Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts
September 15-17, 2023

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!

Artist Application Information
Deadline: July 30th - 10:30 PM

Open to all artists
A $35.00 non-refundable entry fee will be charged for up to 3 pieces entered for consideration
Size Constraints: 3-Dimensional Pieces measuring more than 120" in total (L+W+H), or 2-Dimensional pieces measuring more than 1600 square inches (ie approximately 40”x40” including framing), WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
All entries are submitted online via CaFE.
Please upload 1 image of each piece submitted for entry
CaFE has a detailed description of how to upload images of your work and the necessary file You can also contact the Josephy Center staff and volunteers for help with image file preparation (541-432-0505 ext 2).
Each artist must provide a brief biography (150 words or less), highlighting your career or past achievements, information regarding your process as an artist (if appropriate), or a simple artist statement communicating something you would like the viewer to know.

A central aim of the annual festival is to reflect the beauty, culture, heritage, and traditions of our region through its arts and artists.

Consistent with that intent, any subject, style or medium within the following categories will be considered by our jury:

Sculpture: Any 3-Dimensional work in Wood, Clay, Stone, Bronze, or other Metal

Painting: Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, and Gouache.

Drawing: Pastel, Pencil, Graphite, Charcoal, Ink, or any combination thereof

Printmaking: Woodblock, Engraving, Etching, Monoprint, Aquatint, Linotype, Lithography, Silkscreen.

Photography: Anything that records the impact of light on its surface including digital.

Other: Glass, Jewelry, Fiber Arts, Ceramics, Mixed Media, or Digital Art. (Copies, kits, reproductions, or work done under the supervision of instructors are not eligible)

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.

2023 Festival Schedule

July 30th: Artist application deadline

August 12th: Artists will have received information on acceptance

Sept. 9th: Check-in and kick-off for En Plein Air Competition (see prospectus for details)

Sept. 15th (7-10pm): Fine Art Show & En Plein Air Opening Reception
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture (this is a ticketed event).

Sept. 16th (1-4 pm): Afternoon of the Quick Draw, Set up at 1pm - Quick Draw starts at 2, Live Music from 1:30-3:30pm.
Mt. Joseph Lodge Gardens/Grounds (directly across Main Street from Josephy Center).

Sept. 16th (10am - 8pm) & Sept. 17th (10am - 2pm): All Art Exhibits Open to the Public (including En Plein Air Artwork)…Featuring Live Music with artists to be announced.
Josephy Center for Arts and Culture

Sept. 17th (1:30 pm): Silent auctions bid close. Art buyers may pick up their purchases at 2pm. Unsold art must be picked up by the artist, or a designated representative, between 2:30-4pm or make arrangements with Josephy Center staff including registering for the extended exhibition period ending on September 26th.