DEADLINE: FRI, APR 18
Columbia Arts Gallery
Best of the Gorge 2025
Juried Exhibition | Juror, Ruth Armitage
Columbia Arts is pleased to announce the return of the Best of the Gorge Exhibition with Curator Christine Knowles and Juror Ruth Armitage.
June 6th- 27th
Submissions are accepted from January 20, 2025 until April 18, 2025.
About the Show
Columbia Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the return of “Best of the Gorge,” our premier show celebrating and rewarding the best artwork produced by mid-Columbia Gorge artists. All mediums are welcome, such as drawing, painting, photography, glass, ceramics, sculpture, fiber art, digital and mixed media. Prizes will go to the best three artworks as chosen by the Juror, and visitors will be invited to vote throughout the month for the People’s Choice Award.
Curator: Christine Knowles - cknows@icloud.com
About the Juror, Ruth Armitage
Ruth Armitage, based in West Linn, Oregon, is a multidisciplinary artist celebrated for her bold use of color and gestural brushwork in abstract compositions and plein-air landscapes. Her work explores themes of self-discovery, the interplay of light and darkness, and the emotional landscapes that shape human experience. A signature member of prestigious organizations like the National Watercolor Society and American Watercolor Society, Ruth has earned awards in national exhibitions and has been featured on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat and in national art publications. With extensive experience as a juror, including for the 2023 National Watercolor Society Open Exhibition, she also enjoys teaching workshops, inspiring students domestically and abroad.
Eligibility
The show is open to all mid-Columbia residents who live at least three months annually in one of the following Columbia Gorge counties: Klickitat, Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, & Skamania counties.
How to Apply
Submissions are accepted from January 20, 2025 until April 18, 2025.
Apply online at columbiaarts.org
The Fee is $35.00 for up to three images.
Work to Submit
All submitted artworks must be created within the last two years.
Classroom or workshop pieces may not be entered.
Artworks must not have been displayed previously in the mid-Columbia region.
All submitted artworks must be ready for display.
The title of each artwork must be written on the front of the piece or written on a small piece of paper attached to the back of the piece.
Since we hope to display work from many artists, space will be at a premium and size restrictions (see below) for submitted pieces must be met.
Submitted pieces will be juried individually. It is probable that some artists will have more than one piece accepted. Purchasers may take their pieces at the time of purchase. As CCA is a nonprofit organization, we are looking for pieces that are saleable and priced for the local art market. If you have questions about appropriateness of your pieces and/or their prices, please contact curator, Christine Knowles.
Contracts & Payment to Artists
Artists juried into the show will be asked to sign a Columbia Center for the Arts exhibition contract. The commission sales split is 60% revenue to the artist and 40% revenue to Columbia Center for the Arts. Payments to artists will occur by the 20th of the month following the exhibition.
Size Restrictions
For 2-D works, the framed size must be less than 48” on the longest size. 3-D works must be less than about 36 cu. ft., (i.e., a box about 3’ x 2’ x 6’, depending on the work’s overall shape). If you have a question about the size restrictions, please contact curator, Christine Knowles.
Prizes
Best of Show $500
Second Place $250
Third Place $100
People’s Choice $100
Timeline
Submission Period: January 20 - April 18th, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: May 16, 2025
Delivery of Work to the Gallery: On or before June 1, 2025
Hanging of Show: June 2nd & 3rd
Opening Reception: June 6th, 2025 from 5-7:30pm
Pickup of Work: June 29th
Artist Reception
The opening of the show will be celebrated at an evening reception on First Friday, June 6, from 5-7:30pm. We ask all show artists to attend the opening event if possible. There will be food, drink, and the prizewinners will be announced. Juror, Ruth Armitage, will attend First Friday and describe her process for selecting the prize-winning pieces. We encourage artists to connect with visitors at the event to discuss their art.
Show Takedown
The show takedown will be on Sunday, June 29th. If you cannot be at Columbia Center for the Arts on that day to pick up any unsold pieces between 3pm-5pm, you must contact Columbia Arts, prior to June 29th to make other arrangements.