Washougal is better known for motocross than for mixed media. Its economic base is more lumber than leaf castings. But that’s starting to change.
The first Washougal Arts Festival is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown’s Reflection Plaza. Dozens of professional, local artists have been lined up to show and sell their works at this daylong, juried show. Visit WashougalArtFestival.org for a preview of participating artists and their work.
“Washougal is primed for this,” said event planner Rene’ Carroll of the Washougal Art and Culture Alliance. “We’ve seen what other communities have done to build interest in the arts. This is a brand new arrival, and we have every intention of it continuing as an annual event.”
In addition to traditional paintings and drawings in oils, watercolors, pencils and inks, the festival will feature photography and collage, jewelry and fused glass, recycled metal, homemade books and mixed-media — even found-object “robot art” and those one-of-a-kind concrete leaf castings. That’s just a smattering of what you’ll see.
“The Festival’s focus is on showcasing professional artists from the region who are actively producing and exhibiting their work to sell,” said Janice Ferguson, county arts commissioner for Washougal. “We have a wonderful variety of artist styles and unique visions to show.”
Song and dance will keep things lively in the afternoon, too. Singer Caryn Jamieson and two dance groups, The Portland Rhythm Dancers and Daley Dance Academy, will perform from 2 to 4 p.m. Throughout the day, Columbia Credit Union will supply an Art Rocks! area where kids can douse hard, cold little bits of nature with some soft, warm colors — or whatever hues they choose.
The entire festival is aimed at “exposing our community to fine arts” as well as raising money for more public art displays in Washougal’s future, Carroll said.
Afterward, consider making a day of it by attending a free double-header concert at the Port of Camas-Washougal. From 6 to 7 p.m., it’s the versatile Rocket 88, with a decades-long song list; from 8 to 9:30 p.m. it’s an exploration of the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll with Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts.
