Leah Stockard's "Nature's Lace" tied for People's Choice Overall in the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts as announced Oct. 1, 2024, at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture in Joseph.

JOSEPH — Two artists tied for the People’s Choice Overall award at the 42rd Annual Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts.

The winners are Leah Stockard for her painting “Nature’s Lace” and Carol McLaughlin for her painting “Snow-Capped Chickadee.” They each receive $250.

McLaughlin’s “Snow-Capped Chickadee” also won the award for Best Mixed Media, earning the artist another $250. The award was sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts.

Festival winners were announced Tuesday, Oct. 1 by the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture. 

The other People’s Choice award, for photography, went to Paul Freidel for his “Zumwalt Prairie, Land & Life Intertwined.” Freidel won $200. The award was sponsored by the Wallowa County Photo Club.

Freidel’s photograph also won best of show honors, earning a $500 prize. The award was sponsored by Suzi and Glenn Brown.

Other awards included:

• The Joe M. Skovlin Memorial for Best Wildlife Representation and a $400 award went to Jamie Brewer for her photograph “Coastal Heron.” It was sponsored by Kirk and Richard Skovlin and Sandra Skovlin Bosley.

• The $300 award for Best Three-Dimensional Art went to Shayne Watkins for “Bengal Pride.” It was sponsored by Marty Pitts, in memory of Ed Pitts.

• The Northwest Cultural Heritage Award of $300 went to Kirk Skovlin for his artwork “Butch & Betty.” It was sponsored by Lou and Deyette Perry.

• The Northwest Region Landscape Award of $200 went to Joan Eckman for “Storm Watch.” It was sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts.

• The $250 award for Best Photography went to Rick McEwan for “Witness One’s Time.” It was sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Photo Club.

• The $250 award for Best Oil-based Medium went to Melanie Thompson for “Oregon Twilight. It was sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts.

• The $250 award for Best Water-based Medium went to Erin Cassette for “Gathering its Strength.” It was sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts.

• The $250 award for Best Drawing Medium went to Jill Story for “Enchanted.” It was sponsored by the Wallowa Valley Festival of the Arts.

• The $250 award for Best Print Medium went to Katherine McDowell for “Lake Monotype 444.” It was sponsored by Nancy Noble.

• The $200 award for Best Eclectic Piece went to David Wachs for “Crater Lake Sunset.” It was sponsored by Kirk Skovlin Construction.

• The $200 award for Director’s Choice went to Constance Soballe for “Big Blue.” It was sponsored by Allen Schauffler.

This year’s En Plein Air Awards were:

• Best of Show ($300) to Melanie Thompson for “Moonlight on Wallowa Lake.”

• Best Agrarian Landscape ($150) to Laura Gable for “Rubies and Gold.” Gable’s painting also won the Artist Choice award, and another $200.

• Best Landscape with Water ($150) to Teri Capp for “Eternal.”

• Best Landscape with Mountains and/or Canyons ($150) to Min Zhong for “Buckhorn Canyon.”

• Best Landscape with Building ($150) to Ken Rupel for “Hay Barn.”

Visit https://josephy.org online or call 541-432-0505 for more information on the Josephy Center. It is located at 403 Main St. in Joseph.