Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival
The 2018 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival combines art, culture and culinary merriments for one of the country’s leading Western art events.
Jackson Hole, WY
In a city teeming with Western art, culture and the quintessential sprawling landscapes, the anticipated 34th annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival returns to celebrate the beauty of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The festival, which runs from September 5 to 16, features 12 days of art exhibitions, sales and gallery walks, including the 32nd annual Western Visions Show & Sale and the Quickdraw Art Sale and Auction, currently in its 23rd year.
Also included in the festival is the Western Design Conference Exhibit + Sale, which showcases contemporary and traditional jewelry, furniture and accessories from more than 100 artists nationwide, as well the Palates & Palettes Gallery Walk, a sumptuous event where galleries keep their doors open late and invite guests to browse works while enjoying wine and hors d’oeuvres.
“It is so exciting to witness the creativity each year from regional and international artists,” says Maureen Murphy, director of special events for the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce. “With over 50 events appealing to art, design and culinary enthusiasts, this unique, annual September festival has become an inspiring time for visitors and locals and is now widely recognized as one of the premiere cultural events in the Rocky Mountain West.”
The face of this year’s festival is an oil painting titled Teton Reflections by internationally recognized artist Dennis Ziemienski. The work, which depicts a young cowgirl atop a horse wading in rippling water in front of the Grand Teton mountain range, appears on the official posters for the 2018 event. The original painting will be on display at the Wort Hotel until it is auctioned off on September 15 after the quick draw sale. “We love Dennis’ real yet somewhat nostalgic depiction of the West, and as 2018 is increasingly being called ‘the year of the woman,’ we think the confident cowgirl featured in Teton Reflections may resonate with festival goers on that level as well,” says Murphy.
Ziemienski says he hadn’t seen any women featured in posters for the Fall Arts Festival, which spurred his desire to create this piece. Ziemienski adds that he wanted to convey a certain playfulness, explaining that the horse is not merely taking a drink but is instead refreshing himself in the coolness of the water. “The culture in Jackson is very arty,” says the artist. “Teton and Yellowstone are right there…it’s great the way they’ve been able to take nature and put art right along with it.”
The Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival begins to wrap up on September 14 and 15 with the Jackson Hole Art Auction, followed by the Art Brunch Gallery Walk on September 16.