The La Grande Arts Commission’s 26th Annual Season’s Faire

The La Grande Arts Commission will host the 26th Annual Season’s Faire on Saturday, November 3, 2012, in Loso Hall on the campus of Eastern Oregon University.  Over forty area artists will be exhibiting their work in the Nightingale Gallery and competing for $1,000 in prize money, donated by Patrick McCarthy, MD, Mountain Valley Therapy, Union Wallowa Baker Federal Credit Union and Fortis Construction. In addition, Juror Jessica Riva Cooper, Visiting Assistant Professor of Ceramics at EOU and internationally recognized Canadian artist, will select a number of Honorable Mention Awards.  All art will be available for purchase the evening of the event.

This year’s Featured Artist is Linda Peterson. Peterson grew up in Burns and has drawn and painted from a very young age. She attended Eastern Oregon University where she majored in Education with Art as a secondary degree and taught for many years before becoming an Artist-in-Education.

Peterson along with Jan Clark, Sue Orlaske and Denise Elizabeth Stone form the Batik Convergence group. The group is dedicated to exploring batik watercolor which is a method of painting with watercolors on handmade papers using beeswax to create a resist for the paint. Peterson, both individually and as a member of the group, has exhibited widely and won numerous awards for her painting including Best of Show at the 3rd annual Union County Arts and Culture Center exhibit.  Peterson has generously donated one of her signature batik watercolors to be this year’s main raffle piece.

“Linda is an extremely productive and generous artist who has participated in Season’s Faire since its inception,” said Cory Peeke, Vice Chair of the Arts Commission and Director of the Nightingale Gallery. Linda’s playful work “Curtain Time” is sure to be a hit with the auction attendees.

The other participating artists have each donated a piece of their work, which will be auctioned to the public, beginning at 7:30 pm.  The auction pieces may be previewed from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Loso Hall lobby outside the Nightingale Gallery.

Hors d’oeuvres and exquisite desserts created by local culinary experts will be served throughout the evening.  There will be a no-host wine bar as well as coffee and punch available.

Funds raised from this event benefit the annual Arts for All festival, a children’s day of hands-on art experiences offered at no cost.  Children can experiment with painting, printmaking, pottery, music, weaving, theater and many other types of art.  Held the third weekend in April, Friday is reserved for children with special needs while Saturday is open to everyone.  It is estimated that as many as 500 children participate each year.

Tickets are $15 if purchased in advance or $20 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased at Sunflower Books, Mitre’s Touch Art Gallery and the EOU Bookstore or by calling Minnie Tucker at 962-1352, Ext. 201.

Questions may be addressed to Minnie Tucker, 962-1352, Ext. 201, e-mail mtucker@cityoflagrande.org.