Art Competes with Scenery During Jackson's Fall Arts Festival

6th June 2012 | Becky Lomax

News Regions: Jackson Hole

Dates

Sept. 6-16, 2012

Cost

Free-$150

Highlights

Food, wine, music, art walks and auctions, historic ranch tours

Insider Tips

So many art events comprise the festival that you’ll want to spend more than one day soaking up the rich Western culture and food.

The Scoop

Artists of national and international repute form the backbone of the annual Fall Arts Festival in Jackson, Wyo., where sometimes even the scenery of the Grand Teton plays second fiddle to paint on a canvas. More than 50 events offer ways of seeing art—including musical, culinary and design. The festival also gives opportunities to purchase art—including sketches, paintings, sculptures, miniatures, jewelry and one-of-a-kind pieces.

The 19th Western Design Conference begins the festival with a celebration of Western home furniture, accessories and fashion. Exhibits include the sale of functional art and jewelry crafted from leather, metals, gems, fabric and wood.

Jackson Hole Festival Story

A bronze elk stands outside the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Photo by Dr. Daniel A D'Auria/Flickr.

More than 30 galleries in Jackson participate in gallery walks. The Palates and Palettes Gallery Walk mixes art, wine and food on Sept. 7, and the final art walk wraps up the festival on Sept. 16 with a Bloody Mary brunch.

Amy Ringholz’s “Dreamers Don’t Sleep” is the featured painting for the festival. Her technique melds black ink lines with saturated colors to give vitality to wildlife. The painting is up for grabs in the public auction on Sept. 15. You can take a peek at the painting’s development in this short time-lapse video narrated by Ringholz:

For foodies, the Taste of the Tetons corrals regional chefs and caterers on Sept. 9. The event is comprised of food sampling and wine tasting, along with music and a silent auction.

One of the final events of the festival includes the QuickDraw Art Sale on Sept. 15. Artists are given one hour to paint or sculpt unique artwork while the public watches. The works are then auctioned off.

Jackson Hole Festival Story

Models show off fashion designs at the Western Design Conference during the Fall Arts Festival in Jackson, Wyoming. Photo by Kathy Erickson.

Parties and art sales round out the events, including a special ladies only jewelry and artisan luncheon at the Couloir Restaurant at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort on Sept. 12. Find more festival events, including many at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, through Western Visions.