Watercolor Society of Oregon - Annual Fall Exhibit in Gold Beach (as reported by Horst)

(Note: The Art Walk report, usually found here, had to give way this month for a higher level art event: the Annual Fall Convention and Exhibit of the Watercolor Society of Oregon (WSO), on the weekend of October 6,7,8 in Gold Beach.)
The 80 best watercolors of the year, juried into the show from 280 submissions by judge Eric Wiegardt from Oysterville, WA, are now displayed in the Biscuit Gallery of Gold Beach Books until October 30.

The artists from Gold Beach and Brookings, headed by Shelly Wierzba and Pat Renner, had arranged a multitude of activities for their guest from all over the state: painting sessions in various locations; a photography walk, a lecture about Art in the Digital Age, a demonstration of Gyotaku fish printing, jet boat rides up the Rogue River and golf at Brookings’ Salmon Run course. There was a 2-hour critique session by Mr. Wiegardt. Many artists considered this the most interesting event of the conference.

On Saturday at 4 P.M. the WSO exhibit and artist reception began at the Biscuit Gallery. A huge crowd of local art connoisseurs, about half of them from Brookings, were assembled in the gallery to find out who had received the 20 WSO awards. Among the five artists from Curry County, who had been juried into the show (Alexandra Eyer, Pat Renner, Buzz Stewart, Dale Wells and Horst Wolf), Pat Renner of Gold Beach won an achievement award for her watercolor of the Rogue River Valley.

Gold Beach Books owner Ted Watkins put on a lavish reception: hors d’oeuvres and beverages for all, served on both floors, accompanied by Brookings Art Walk pianists Tom Broderick and Tom Tanzi.

At 6 P.M. the artists assembled at Docia Sweet Hall for a social hour and the awards banquet. Brookings artists provided the entertainment. Horst Wolf and Jan Marney started off with chamber jazz, only to be outgunned by Lon Goddard, who conducted the hilarious “White Calves Contest”. Contestants assembled behind a curtain that revealed only their bare calves to the screaming crowd. First prize went to Ruth Armitage of Portland, the current WSO president, honorable mention went to Jane Ferlitsch, the previous WSO president.

Friends of the Fair, a volunteer group from Gold Beach and Nesika Beach, catered the delicious meals. The evening ended with the award presentations. Judge Eric Wiegardt discussed the merits of the 20 award-winning paintings, which were projected on a huge screen behind the head banquet table. The awards were presented by WSO chair Carol Barnett, who mentioned the unparalleled generosity of Gold Beach and Brookings people and businesses, who donated more than $3,200 in cash and services to the 20 award-winning artists.

The conference ended on Sunday morning with WSO’s semi-annual business conference, followed by a two-hour lecture and demonstration by Eric Wiegart. Everyone agreed that this was one of the most enjoyable WSO conferences in memory.
Horst

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