National Art Show & Auction

Based in Washington state, the Western Art Association (WAA) was formed in 1972 to promote interest in art and heritage of the American and Canadian west and it considers their National Art Show & Auction to be their main annual event. Open to American and Canadian artists, it is reportedly the second oldest art show and auction (after the C.M. Russell Art Auction & Show in Great Falls, Montana) of its kind.

Mostly paintings and drawn media, the National Art Show and Auction showcases artworks in a variety of different artisan mediums as well, including sculpture (bronzes, sculpted leather, and sculpted wood), stained glass, woodcarving, metalsmithing (including jewelry), pottery and fiber art.

Not a western artist yourself or even interested in viewing or collecting western art? You might have always thought of North American western art as stereotypically about the life of the working or rodeo cowboy, of panoramic rugged vistas of craggy, snow-capped mountains, a portrait of a champion bull, and well... you'd be partly right! But, did you know that it isn't always about "traditional" art, but there is abstract art to be seen as well? And, did you know that as an artisan, you might have made pieces that could fit into a western art show and you didn't even know it? There are two main requirements to get into the National Art Show & Auction and one is to submit your portfolio to their jury and the other is that your "artwork must be representational and incorporate the image of what you might see while traveling through the West of yesterday, today or tomorrow." Getting past a jury can be tough, but the theme is loose enough to encompass many more artworks that you might have thought.

Here are the dates to remember if you're interested in the 38th annual show next year for 2010:
Portfolio Entry Deadline:
September 15
(Portfolios received after September 15th will be considered for the following year’s show.)

Notification of Acceptance:
October 31

Auction Deadline:
January 8

Show Dates:
May 21, 22, 23, 2010 (always the 3rd full weekend in May)

"Once an artist becomes an accepted Western Art Association exhibitor, their name will be placed on the Exhibit Booth waiting list. We encourage artists to submit art work for the juried auction. If your work is accepted for the auction, it gives you exposure to show attendees and buyers.

If you have any questions after reading this Prospectus, please contact the WAA office by calling 1-509-962-2934 or send an e-mail message to waa@elltel.net." Or, if you'd rather, you are welcome to send me a note with any questions and I will look into it myself.

BEST OF SHOW – OIL
BEST OF SHOW - WATERCOLOR & ACRYLIC
BEST OF SHOW – SCULPTURE
BEST OF SHOW – OTHER MEDIA
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Here is a sampling of some representational works made by artisans on dA that give a general idea as to some of the kinds of artworks and level of skills that fit into the western genre and could potentially pass a jury of most any western art show, contest, or exhibit. Following those thumbs are some images of artisan works from past shows of the National Western Art Association (WAA).

From the Metalwork gallery: ~ou8nrtist2, ~engraver, ~evencowgirls, and ~Iron-Rhapsody:



From the Jewelry gallery: *CosmicFolklore, ~spincus, ~KellyMorgenJewelry, and *pj925



From the Woodworking gallery: ~Millturn and ~woodizgood:



From the Sculpture & Glass gallery: *mudmonkey, ~rhodespottery, and *amulets:



WAA Metalsmithing: Julie Van Sant
Heartsong - Belt Buckle, sterling, 14K gold with garnet


WAA Metalsmithing: Julie Van Sant
Untitled, Lapis lazuli, sterling silver, gold, 16.5"


WAA Bronze: Ralph "Tuffy" Berg (1940-1991)
Bachelor Quarters


WAA Sculpture: Lynn Bean
Running from Dark to Light, Painted Pony Original, 6"


WAA Stained Glass: Don Michaud
Two Bears Shield, 21" by 28"


WAA Pottery: Lisa Mckay
Grapevine Basket, Raku Fired Clay, 7" by 6"


WAA Fiber Art: Janene Grende
As Good as it Gets, silk dye on silk


We try to find interesting and useful links for the community but can't possibly verify all of the information and we encourage deviants to exercise caution at all times to protect themselves.