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The 40th annual Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival hosted by the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce has 28 galleries placed throughout town presenting art with Western flare — from wooden horse sculptures to mountainous landscape paintings.
John Morgan works for the Chamber of Commerce and says Jackson has a reputation as one of the premier art destinations in the West.
“Our main objective isn’t to bring more people to the valley; it’s to create more vibrancy in the community during this time,” Morgan said, “so that we can have the people that are here to enjoy the Fall Arts Festival have many opportunities to engage and support our local galleries and businesses.”
The majority of the art showcased by the festival is sold, with some of the money funneled back into the local arts community. And although it’s not the festival’s main objective, the week-long event does bring visitors to town to spend money at local businesses, according to Morgan. The festival conveniently occurs as tourism slows, heading out of the summer season and into winter.
“It’s ways in which we can support our local economy that are beyond what have been our traditional markets, like the national parks and the skiing in the winter,” said Morgan.
In addition to the galleries, there are over 50 events including “Arts on the Green” where Mitchell McClosky, a first-time artist at the festival this year, presented his oil painting portraits of wildlife found in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
“There’s just so much great artwork here that speaks of this area, that speaks of Jackson Hole, that speaks of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. And I feel like that’s very unique in itself,” McClosky said.
McClosky plans to complete a bison portrait in under 90 minutes during the festival’s “Quick Draw” event on Saturday, Sept. 14. The event is touted by the Chamber of Commerce as “one of the most anticipated live arts events in the nation.”
The two featured artists presenting their work this year are Roger Ore with a rocky mountain landscape oil painting and Bryce Pettit with a bronze eagle sculpture.
The festival plans to run through Sunday, Sept. 15.
