Young Artists Take Flight at Betty Gray Gallery
By Jim Fister

Fall and winter holidays are here in Sunriver. We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we wish that everyone’s holidays are filled with joy, no matter the celebration. The Betty Gray gallery of art at the Sunriver Lodge is continuing its holiday tradition of celebrating young artists while it continues to showcase regional Plein Air artists as well. The young artists are providing wishes of their own for everyone to enjoy.

The Central Oregon Young Artists’ Challenge is in its third year, with several schools and individuals participating this year. The finalists for the year will be on display December and January in the downstairs gallery. The challenge is open to any student between fourth and twelfth grade in the tri-county area, and it received approximately fifty entries this year. This year’s theme is: My Wish. Participants provide both art as well as an artists’ statement, and a jury of local artists judge the finalists on display. The rigor of providing both art and the meaning behind it helps to grow their skills and prepare them for other competitive endeavors.

In the upstairs gallery, Plein Air artists Kathleen Keliher and JoAnn Burgess will be showcasing their wonderful pastel and paint works. Keliher is a former president of the Plein Air Painters of Oregon, and uses the high desert landscape as inspiration for her work. She focuses on capturing the energy in the scene as much as she does the objects, and works with quick brush strokes and copious material to create her work. JoAnn Burgess has been working with pastels for over 20 years, and shows in a variety of places in Central Oregon. Her love of the area influences her work. She uses color, texture, and light to create an exciting visual journey for the viewer. The two artists delightfully complement each other, and provide a view of Central Oregon that everyone can enjoy. Plein Air art is unique in its approach, and it shows a different talent that viewers can appreciate as they recall their own views of familiar scenes.

An artists’ reception is tentatively scheduled for Friday December 8th to welcome the young artists and show the advanced works as well. This is a great opportunity to meet the future of art and culture in the region. Please make sure to come see the festive decorations at the Lodge and view the artwork. And enjoy your holiday season in Sunriver.