Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts

Due to rising COVID cases in Wallowa County and the new masks orders from the Oregon Health Authority, we will not be able to produce this year’s Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts as planned. We are making some adjustments that will keep people safe while still exhibiting, appreciating and selling the 95 pieces of artwork accepted and the 54 artists that deserve to be celebrated. In order to do this in the safest way possible, the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture will dial back many of the events for the weekend.

“The Big Night” – Friday night, September 17 from 7-8:30pm we will open our gallery for a viewing of the artwork. All attendees must wear masks and will need to follow the social distancing protocol. We will allow a limited number of people at a time to stay within the regulations. Unfortunately, there will be no libations, food or live music. 

The Arts Festival will continue to hold a silent auction to help raise funds for future festivals. We also will hold the En Plein Competition exhibit on the 2nd floor of the Josephy Center.

On Saturday, September 18 the Josephy Center will open at 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Admission is free and there will be live music. There will also be an Art Walk in Joseph from 12-4pm. The extraordinary artist Steve Arment, will be doing a wood carving demonstration from 12-1:30 outside the Josephy Center.

We will continue to hold The Quick Draw event on Saturday, starting at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Joseph Lodge’s lawn (directly across from the Josephy Center). Artist complete their works and bidding takes place while artists create their pieces (90 minutes) at 3:30 p.m. All completed art will be for sale in a written auction format at each artists’ station. Bidding and artwork will be moved to the front of the hotel and bids will continue until 4 p.m. Masks and social distancing are required.

On Sunday, art viewing and silent auction bids will continue until 2 p.m. All purchased artwork can be picked up at that time. The festival will continue until 2 p.m. Unfortunately, Sunday’s Summer Arts Classic Concert has been cancelled due to safety protocols. 

All artwork will be previewed and awarded by this year’s judge, Dennis DeHart. Dennis is a photographic artist whose interdisciplinary projects are informed by the connections, conflicts, and intersections of the natural and cultural worlds. He is a professor at Washington State University.

Please contact Dawn Norman, Exhibits Director if you have any questions, email exhibits@josephy.org, or call the Josephy Center at 541-432-0505.