Abundant Art Events Return to SW Washington for the Public to Enjoy in 2022
A plethora of wonderful art events is coming back to every corner of Clark County in 2022. Following two years of festival cancellations, organizers are rolling out several art events for the summer festival season and beyond. The public is invited to participate! Come see a variety of original art in hundreds of styles and mediums certain to make 2022 the year of art!
First up is the White Oak Art & Craft Festival on Friday and Saturday, July 8-9 from 10 am to 4 pm. The Festival is located at 6403 SE 354th Avenue, Washougal, Washington. Organizers invite the public to support local artists and crafters in a beautiful outdoor setting. For more information, contact organizers at whiteoakacf@gmail.com.
The third annual Fern Prairie ART FEST is happening at Shangr-La Farm on Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31 from 10 am to 4 pm on both days. Eleven artists have been juried into this year’s show. This is not your typical summer art festival. The public gets two shows in one; view original art from local artisans and also tour lush organic gardens at the same time. Camas artist Liz Pike established Shangri-La Farm with her husband Neil eleven years ago. It’s becoming a rural destination for visitors to wander on meandering garden paths to take in the season’s beauty. Free parking is available at neighboring Grove Field Airport, 632 NE 267th Avenue, Camas, WA 98607. Take the farm’s free “Sunflower Mobile” shuttle from the airport parking lot on a scenic trail through the woods to Shangri-La Farm. For details, contact pikeadvertising@comcast.net.
Ridgefield Art Association is hosting their first-ever Ridgefield Forest Fair at Abrams Park on Saturday, August 6th from 11 am to 7 pm. The event is free to the public with art, music, food and a family fair all rolled into one special event. The forty-acre Abrams Park is located at the end of Division Street off of N. 5th Avenue near Union Ridge Elementary School. See artisan booths, listen to live music, and enjoy beverages from a wine and beer garden. For more information, contact ridgefieldartists@live.com.
Local art transforms Reflection Plaza at the Washougal Art Festival on Saturday, August 13 from 9 am to 3 pm in downtown Washougal at the corner of Main Street and Pendleton Way. This annual event is organized by the Washougal Art & Culture Alliance and has been held continuously since 2016. Each year, organizers select work from a featured artist for their promotional posters and postcards. All proceeds from the event are used to purchase public art for the City of Washougal’s downtown core. Live music is also part of the mix. For more information, contact washougalarts@gmail.com.
The Battle Ground Art Alliance presents its annual Art in the Park event on Saturday, August 20th from 10 am to 4 pm at Kiwanis Park, located at 422 SW 2nd Avenue near downtown Battle Ground. Applications for art booths are being accepted. For more information and vendor registration, visit bgartalliance.org.
Downtown Camas Association is advertising the Camas Vintage & Art Faire slated for Saturday, August 27 from 9 am to 3 pm in charming downtown Camas. This popular art event attracts several thousands of people each year. Downtown Camas is known for its beautiful tree-lined streets, unique boutiques and eateries, and small-town charm. Established in 1883 as a mill town, it has been revitalized to include fine shopping, art galleries, dining, and services while still maintaining its historic feel. More information can be found at www.downtowncamas.com.
Last but certainly not least is the annual Clark County Open Studios Tour set for Saturday and Sunday, November 5th and 6th from 10 am to 5 pm both days organized by ARTSTRA. The two-day show is a free self-guided tour as local artists open their studios to the public and share how, why, and where their art is created. This is a unique opportunity to visit artists and artisans, view diverse works, and buy pieces specifically created or made available for this event. The jury application deadline is May 31st. More details can be found at https://artstra.org/open-studios/.
By Liz Pike, Member of Artisans' Guild of Camas
Liz Pike has been painting on canvas since 1984. She is a self-taught artist working primarily in oils. She is the founder of Camas First Friday Art Walk. Her work can be seen at numerous summer art festivals in the region and she is represented by Camas Gallery. Reach Liz via email: at PikeAdvertising@comcast.net, Tel. (360) 281-8720 or visit LizPike.Art