Call Description

Images of the Shrub-Steppe is an annual juried art exhibit featuring work inspired by the shrub-steppe lands of Cowiche Canyon Conservancy.

Shrub-steppe is a type of arid landscape, made up of native perennial grasses, shrubs, and flowering plants. Historically, shrub-steppe dominated the landscape of Eastern Washington, but today, less than half of Washington's shrub-steppe remains. 

Cowiche Canyon Conservancy is a land trust working to protect shrub-steppe habitat and connect people to the land. CCC owns and manages over 8,000 acres of habitat and offers 50+ miles of trails for non-motorized recreation. 

Boxx Gallery is a non-profit art gallery and community gathering space in Tieton, WA. This will be the ninth Cowiche Canyon Conservancy exhibit at Boxx Gallery.
 
Juror for the exhibit is Kimberly Trowbridge, visual artist and educator. She combines painting, sculpture, language, performance, and site-specific research. She is the Founding Director of the Modern Color Atelier, an online, multi-year painting program through Gage Academy of Art. She is passionate about creating contexts that heighten visual awareness and promote meaningful exchanges with perception. She received her MFA from the University of Washington (2006). Her first solo museum show at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (2021) was developed during her time as Creative Fellow at Bloedel Reserve (2018-2020), a 150-acre garden amid an old growth forest. Trowbridge completed a Facebook Open Arts commission (2021), and was Artist in Residence at Jentel Artist Residency in Sheridan, WY (2022).  Trowbridge has led multiple plein-air painting tours in Spain, Portugal, and Tieton, WA. 

Artists in all media are encouraged to submit artwork completed within the last five years and inspired by the shrub-steppe lands of the Yakima Valley.

The Exhibit will run from September 6 - 28, 2025
Awards: Juror's Award $100, People's Choice Award $100, CCC Award $100.

For a $35 non-refundable entry fee, you may submit up to 3 pieces of artwork for consideration. 

Important Dates:

• Entry deadline is August 1, 2025 at midnight (MT)  (Please note this is 11:00pm Pacific time.)
• Notifications emailed by August 11, 2025
• Accepted artwork must be delivered to Boxx Gallery on September 2, 10 am to 2 pm
• Artists Reception, September 6

Additional Terms:

·All artwork in the exhibit must be for sale; the gallery takes a 35% commission.

·The artist agrees that images of artwork may be used in publicity materials.

·If you cannot deliver your artwork, shipping costs are your responsibility. A pre-printed shipping label for return shipment must be included with your work and it must be delivered to the Boxx Gallery on or before September 2.

·We reserve the right to reject work that is not represented accurately in the image, is too fragile, oversized or arrives damaged, poorly constructed or poorly presented.

·All artwork must be delivered display ready, labeled on the back with artist name, title and price. Hanging artwork must have hanging wire installed on the back of piece. 

Questions:  celisa@cowichecanyon.org, (509) 248-5065

Application Requirements

No more than 3 entries per artist. 

No media restrictions. 

Artwork must be delivered display ready, labeled on the back with artist name, title and price. Hanging artwork must have hanging wire installed on the back of the piece. 
 

Eligibility Criteria

Work must be original, inspired by the shrub-steppe lands of the Yakima Valley and have been completed within the past five years. 

We reserve the right to refuse artwork that is too fragile, oversized or does not meet conditions of eligibility.