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 unique and biodiverse ecosystem. Historically, shrub-steppe dominated much of the lands of the intermountain west. Here in the Columbia Basin and Central Washington, we have acutely felt the disappearance of this ecosystem, as only about 20 to 30 percent remains, and only a fraction of that is high quality habitat.

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 60+ miles of trails for non-motorized, low impact recreation. 

Boxx Gallery is a non-profit art gallery and community gathering space in Tieton, WA. This will be the tenth Cowiche Canyon Conservancy exhibit at Boxx Gallery.
 
Juror for the exhibit is Nancy Floyd. Nancy uses photography, video, and mixed-media to address the ways in which lens-based media can connect deeply with experience and memory. She has received numerous grants and awards including a 2024 Victoria & Albert Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography and a 2022 Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2024 her tree work was featured in Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Art Beat series (link) and in 2021, her 39-year self-portrait series, Weathering Time, was published by the International Center of Photography and GOST books and the work was featured in the New Yorker Photobooth (link).  Floyd’s artwork is in the collection of the Hallie Ford Museum of Art (Salem, OR), the Center for Creative Photography (Tucson, AZ), the High Museum of Art (Atlanta, GA), Museum of Contemporary Photography (Chicago, IL), and in numerous private collections. 

www.nancyfloyd.com

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

The Exhibit will run from September 5 - 27, 2026
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 July 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm PST.
• Notifications emailed by August 10, 2026.
• Accepted artwork must be delivered to Boxx Gallery on Tuesday, September 1, 10 am to 2 pm.
• Shipped artwork must arrive at Boxx Gallery, PO Box 508, Tieton, WA 98947 by Thursday, August 27.
• Artists Reception, September 5

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 Thursday, August 27.

·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.

Work shown in previous Images of the Shrub-Steppe exhibits is not eligible. 

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