About the Show

Columbia Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the return of “Best of the Gorge,” our premier show celebrating and rewarding the best artwork produced by mid-Columbia Gorge artists. All mediums are welcome, such as drawing, painting, photography, glass, ceramics, sculpture, fiber art, digital and mixed media. Prizes will go to the best three artworks as chosen by the Juror, and visitors will be invited to vote throughout the month for the People’s Choice Award. 

Featuring the work of 45 Gorge Artists: Paloma Ayala, Sally Bills Bailey, Daiva Bergman Harris, Todd Biernacki, Jason Breeden, Brian Chambers, Jena Christiansen, Mako Daniel, Stephen Datnoff, Drew Devereux, Liz Dexter, Lewis Fitzgerald, Rachel Harvey, Cindy Ives, Robyn Johnsen, Ryann Kivel, Joy Kloman, Steve Kowats, Les Lively, Heather Marlow, Abigail Merickel, Cyd Miller, Ashley Nelson, Ted Olson, Cheryl Quintana, Jane Raymond, Cathleen Rehfeld, Rowena Sandford, Jo Dean Sarins, Julie Scheyer, Karen Schoenfeld, Jen Smith, Laurie Stephens, Cyndi Strid, Rodney Stuart, Susan Sutherland, Katarzyna Swenson, Rose Szapszewicz, Ivy Velarde, Peny Wallace, Kevin Walsh, Bonnie White, Jodi Wright, MacRae Wylde, Michelle Yamamoto.

Submissions have closed. The full prospectus is available here.

About the Juror, Ruth Armitage

Ruth Armitage, based in West Linn, Oregon, is a multidisciplinary artist celebrated for her bold use of color and gestural brushwork in abstract compositions and plein-air landscapes. Her work explores themes of self-discovery, the interplay of light and darkness, and the emotional landscapes that shape human experience. A signature member of prestigious organizations like the National Watercolor Society and American Watercolor Society, Ruth has earned awards in national exhibitions and has been featured on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat and in national art publications. With extensive experience as a juror, including for the 2023 National Watercolor Society Open Exhibition, she also enjoys teaching workshops, inspiring students domestically and abroad.