Art of the Wild Celebrating 50 Years of the Wilderness Act

August 1 August 31, 2014

INFORMATION
2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary, Columbia Center for the Arts is partnering with the U.S. Forest Service to curate a show in August, 2014. This will be a juried show of work created to celebrate the wilderness. The show is titled Art of the Wild Celebrating 50 Years of the Wilderness Act. The Wilderness Act, which was signed on September 3, 1964 by President Lyndon Johnson, established the National Wilderness Preservation System. The act declared a national policy to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness defined as lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition. The philosophy of the Wilderness Act includes an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where humans are visitors who do not remain. Visiting Wilderness areas can promote well being through the experience of being present in wild and untouched nature, enjoying the beauty and solitude. The show will feature 18 artists. The show will contain works in any media, 2D or 3D, that represent the spirit of Wilderness and that derive inspiration from the specific Wilderness area that each artist will visit. Creation of art about the selected Wilderness areas will involve travel into one of the six Wilderness areas located in the mid-Columbia area of Oregon and Washington to search for inspiration and to begin creation of the work. This travel will occur between late April of 2013 and July of 2014. The six wilderness areas are as follows: Indian Heaven Trapper Creek Mt. Adams Mark O. Hatfield Mt. Hood Badger Creek The show will be hung in Columbia Art Gallery in Hood River, Oregon, during the month of August, 2014. The concept for the show originated with the U.S. Forest Service, Mt. Adams Ranger District. Artists selected for the show must be able to attend an orientation meeting in April of 2013(date to be announced). At the conclusion of this meeting artists will choose a Wilderness in which to work and create a plan for their time in the wilderness in cooperation with the curators and Forest Service Wilderness Managers. Artists may have a range of experience in backcountry travel from experienced to novice. If needed, support including consultation and escort into the Wilderness areas, will be available from the Forest Service except in the winter months. Support for handicapped accessibility could also be available as needed. Since Wilderness Areas are to be untouched by human activity, art work cannot be created from or include material taken from the Wilderness Areas, or be created by modifying the Wilderness Areas.

ELIGIBILITY
Must be a resident of Oregon or Washington Must be able to travel to wilderness areas around Hood River, Oregon and White Salmon, Washington between late April 2013 and July 2014. Must be able to attend an orientation meeting in April, 2013. Date to be announced.

HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are asked to submit 3-5 images of their work on a CD. Images must be of work created in the last two years. Please submit images in the medium in which you intend to work. Include information about dimensions and price of work shown on the CD . Submit an artist statement/bio. Submit the $35 entry fee. This can be cash or check or money order made out to: Columbia Arts. Please send all of the above to: Columbia Art Gallery Attn: Wilderness Act PO Box 1543 Hood River, OR 97031 Applications must be received no later than March 1, 2013. If you wish to have your CD returned to you, please include a stamped self addressed envelope.

SELECTION PROCESS
Phase 1: Artists will be selected by a jury of art professionals. Artists will be notified of acceptance by March 18, 2012 Phase 2: Artists selected for the show will receive with the notification letter a copy of the artwork Submission Form, date of the orientation meeting and other information about the show.

PRESENTATION
Artwork must be ready to display and look professional. 2D work must be professionally framed, wired and ready for hanging. Required details include: Wire in good condition, flat D-rings used on frames, cleaned up canvas edges without visible staples. No work will be accepted with screw-in eye hooks (unless the eye hooks are not protruding beyond the back of the frame) or metal tooth hangers. If you dont know what these are please ask and we will be happy to explain. Contemporary painters sometimes present their work unframed. This will be acceptable as long as the canvas or wood edge is at least 1.5 thick, and the edges are finished in a professional manner with cleaned up canvas edges and without visible staples. 3D work must be ready to display and look professional. We prefer that artists who work in 3D either help with set-up or send specific information about displaying their work.

SALES
Work must be for sale and priced with intent to sell. The Gallery charges a 40% commission which supports the Gallery, a non-profit community art gallery. The remaining 60% goes to the artist.

SHIPPING
If you live outside the local area and wish to ship a piece to or from the show, all packaging, shipping, insurance and related costs are the responsibility of the artist. Artist is to provide all packing material (box, foam, label) for artwork that will be mailed back to artist after the show. Artist will also make arrangements in advance to cover shipping costs.

EXHIBITION DELIVERY AND PICK UP

All hand-delivered artwork must be delivered to Columbia Art Gallery prior to or on Tuesday, July 29th between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. You may also ship artwork in advance to arrive prior to or on Tuesday, July 29th 2014 to Columbia Art Gallery, 215 Cascade Street, Hood River, OR 97031, Attn: Wilderness Act. All artists will fill out an Artwork Submission form for artwork entries that includes: Artist Name, Title of Work, Size and Price. This list is your receipt for entries, and must be presented when picking up any and all work. The curators reserve the right to reject any entries submitted that do not respond to the theme of the show or that are poor in technique or display. Accepted entries, regardless of whether they are sold, may not be removed until close of show. All unsold works must be removed promptly at the end of the show to make room for the next show. Art not picked up within 60 days after the close of the show will become property of the Columbia Art Gallery.

ABOUT US
Columbia Center for the Arts is an independent 501(c)(3) organization located in downtown Hood River, Oregon. The Center contains the Columbia Art Gallery, CAST the local community theater group that performs in the on-site black-box theater seating 141 people, and an education and studio facility. For more details about any of our programs or rental of our facilities, please visit our website: http//www.coumbiaarts.org/

INFORMATION
We have tried to make the application as clear and concise as possible. However, for additional questions, please contact the Columbia Art Gallery at gallery@columbiaarts.org or call 541.387.8877 ext. 115.