THE BIG: ART CENTER EAST’S ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBIT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 26, 2022

Contact: Jennifer Durr, Gallery Director

E-mail: [email protected]

LA GRANDE, Oregon – The Big: Art Center East’s Annual Open Exhibit begins with a free, in-person opening reception and awards ceremony on Friday, December 2, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The exhibit fills Art Center East’s Main and Orlaske Galleries with works by Pacific Northwest artists in various artistic mediums. “The Big” will be on display December 2, 2022, through January 28, 2023. ACE’s galleries are open to the public and admission is always free. 

“The Big” is an annual non-juried exhibit open to anyone 18 years of age or older. All artworks submitted for this year’s exhibit are eligible to win cash prizes awarded by exhibit judge Joshua Raftery, a Visiting Professor in Photography at Eastern Oregon University.

Awards include Best of Show, Best 3-Dimensional, Best 2-Dimensional, Outstanding Jewelry, Best Creative Sculptural Glass sponsored by Birddog Glass in La Grande, Best Creative Functional Glass sponsored by April Curtis, Best in Fiber sponsored by Knitkabob in Union, Best of Photography sponsored by Cook Memorial Library in La Grande for commercially-printed work, Fred Hill Best Photography Award for self-printed artworks, and Art Center East Honorable Mentions. 

The People’s Choice Award, sponsored by the Art Center East Board of Directors, is determined by visitors to the exhibit, each of whom may cast a vote throughout the exhibit’s duration. The winning artwork for the People’s Choice Award will be announced on Saturday, January 28, 2023. Artists are encouraged to begin preparing work for “The Big” 2023.

The public is invited to attend a free, in-person closing reception on Friday, January 27, 2023, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. This reception is the final opportunity to view the exhibit and meet and talk with “The Big” featured artists. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

Art Center East (ACE) continues its annual Galleries Fundraiser during the first week of “The Big” exhibit. The fundraiser is in collaboration with Wallowa Avalanche Center (WAC) to raise funds for WAC’s avalanche education programs and for ACE’s Galleries Program. The fundraiser is a raffle of eleven original works by local artist and avid outdoorsman Craig Canoy who passed away in 2020. Canoy bequeathed his art collection to ACE for the organization to use for fundraising. The public may view these original artworks in ACE’s Orlaske Gallery from December 2 through December 10 when the Galleries Fundraiser concludes. 

Raffle tickets, which can be purchased in person at ACE or online at artcentereast.org, are $20 per single ticket and $100 for six tickets. The eleven winning tickets will be drawn on December 10 (an ACE December Sip & Shop Saturday) beginning at 10:00 a.m. The first winner will have the first choice from the eleven artworks. As the subsequent winners are drawn, each will select their choice from the remaining artworks. The pieces have a combined value of more than $3,000.

Find out more about this and other ACE events, classes, and exhibits at artcentereast.org. Art Center East is located at 1006 Penn Avenue in La Grande. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday 12:00 – 5:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Exhibits can also be viewed online at artcentereast.org thanks to a partnership with John J. Howard Real Estate in La Grande. Gallery visits, exhibit receptions, and events are always free and open to the public. 

Art Center East programs are supported by our members, community donations, local businesses, and regional and statewide foundations. For a list of our supporters and more information, visit www.artcentereast.org or call 541-624-2800.

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