Submitted by Rene Carroll
The Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance (WACA) is welcoming back artists and art lovers for their seventh annual Washougal Art Festival. The event will be held Saturday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main Street, Washougal, and feature 25 professional local and regional artists.
“We had a lot of interest from regional artists wanting to be a part of the festival this year,” said Janice Ferguson, WACA president. “A jury of art professionals selected the artists who were invited to participate. We are delighted with the high caliber of art that will be on display and for sale and excited to showcase these amazing artists.”
For a preview of artists and their work, visit the WACA website.
Artists are Jean Blatner, watercolor and acrylic; Richard Britschgi, lapidary; Heidi Cardoza, wildlife photography; Tamara Dinus, mixed media; Chrissie Forbes, found object robot art and oil painting; Suzanne Grover, pastel, watercolor and acrylic, Robin Guderian, mixed media, paper mâché, paper clay and found items; Charlene Hale, fused/enameled glass; Christina Lee, acrylic; Travis Lee, mixed media on wood panel; Beck Lipp, wood; Toni McCarthy, jewelry; Diane Moeglein, fused glass; Sandy Moore, fabric and mixed media collage; Spike Palmer, oil; Liz Pike, oil; Kyla Rae, watercolor and ink; Karen Reule, sterling and fine silver jewelry; Soraya Runckel, acrylic, watercolor, pen and ink; Cyndee Starr, mixed media/pen and ink; Hiroko Stumpf, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media; Tom West, acrylic, color illustrations, painted glass plaques, self-published coloring book and stationery; Barbara Wright, science illustration: watercolor, ink, colored pencil, graphite, acrylic and natural objects; and Michelle Wright, Epoxy.
The work of local artist Tamara Dinius was selected for use as the image for the 2022 Washougal Art Festival poster and advertising. “Each year our festival committee seeks out a work of art that is ‘Washougal-inspired’ and we are thrilled that Tamara would share the beautiful piece for us to use,” said Rene Carroll, WACA board member. The Swimming Hole was inspired by visits to the Washougal River by her husband, young daughters and Jack, their Black Labrador.
“They had a special spot where they enjoyed throwing sticks for the dog and rambling over the rocks along the river,” Dinius explained. “For me, the Washougal River Road during the summer is magical. The dappled sun comes through the leaves of the trees lined along the river road and I am lost in my surroundings.”
“We love how Tamara’s piece features the power and beauty of the Washougal River,” Carroll said. A limited number of signed 2021 WAF posters, along with a limited quantity of previous years’ posters, will be available for purchase at the festival for a $20 donation.
Once again, there will be a raffle and silent auction for works of art donated by participating artists. “A goal of the festival is to raise funds to bring more public art to our city,” explained Chuck Carpenter, WACA board member. “The raffle and silent auction help us to do that. We appreciate the generosity of our festival artists for their donations and the participation of festival attendees to purchase tickets and bid generously on these wonderful and unique items.”
While in Washougal, visitors are encouraged to discover works of public art using the WACA art map, which provides locations, artists name and the year installed for more than 50 installations around town. Maps will be available on the WACA table at the festival.
WACA Board Members and Festival Committee members working alongside Ferguson, Carroll and Carpenter are WACA President Molly Coston, Jim Cooper, Kathy Dering, Kathy Huntington, Susan Warford and Michelle Wagner. The festival is sponsored in part by the City of Washougal Hotel/Motel Tax Fund.
“Our past festivals have been such a success for us, our artists, and the community that we are excited to host the event again,” Coston said. “We are pleased to provide accessibility to original art in such a fun, festival environment.”
