Central Oregon’s premier juried art show  & sale returns for its 12th year

For three days in August, the banks of the Deschutes River within the Old Mill District will become one of the most eclectic and creative art spaces in the entire Pacific Northwest.

Art in the High Desert, Central Oregon’s highly acclaimed juried art and craft show, returns for its 12th year this summer, August 23-25. For the fifth consecutive year, AHD is ranked in the top 20 events nationally for sales.

Approximately 120 artists from North America, including Central Oregon, will feature their work at this year’s show, which typically has more than 675 applicants.

Art in the High Desert celebrates the time-honored tradition of the individual artist. The person you see in the booth is the person who made the work.

Excellence for any art show is largely determined by the quality, diversity and originality of the art selected. Fifteen categories of art will be represented at this year’s Art in the High Desert. From painting to wood, glass to photography, wearables to ceramics, jewelry to sculpture and more, there truly is innovative and original art for every budget.

How exactly is art selected for Art in the High Desert?

A carefully determined jury process selects the artists’ work for each year’s show. The jury, which changes annually, is made up of jurors from Central Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. This “blind” jury sees only the images that the artists submit, identified by an artist number for each application. Each artist submits five digital images of their work and one of their booth presentation.

In March, jurors meet as a group in Bend to officially score the artists’ work. Cumulative scores of each artist are tallied and those with the top scores in each of the 15 media categories are invited to the show. A waitlist of artists is also created for consideration in the event of artist cancellations. Jury criteria for selecting work include:

  • Original thought and intent, going beyond the norm, the expected
  • Overall concept – extending further then just technique and materials
  • Demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship
  • Consistency of style and presentation

The Art in the High Desert board believes these four criteria ensure the high caliber of artwork presented at each year’s event.

Info Box:

What: Art in the High Desert

Where: Old Mill District

When: August 23-25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; August 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free Admission

Web: www.artinthehighdesert.com

Notes: Remember, this is a “no dogs allowed” event for the safety of all involved, especially the dogs.  Of course, service dogs are the exception.