BAKER CITY, OREGON__Crossroads Carnegie Art Center announces a fantastic cultural tourism event, set to open on First Friday, August 5, at 5:30 p.m. Eight venues/galleries in Baker City will open simultaneously to sell art created by over 160 local and regional artists, for just $40 a work. The show is scheduled to hang for the entire month, closing on August 28.
Baker City modeled the event after the Big 500 Show in Portland, Oregon, which brings galleries, artists, buyers together to purchase affordable art. Thanks to generous grants received by Crossroads, the Art Center supplied the artists with 8”x 8” boards on which to prepare their work for the event. No limit was placed on the type of media or style; artists simply could not go outside the 8”x 8” boundary. The works will sell for $40, with a portion of each sale going to a charity selected by participating gallery or business owners. The work is to be purchased off the wall and no early sales or previews will be allowed.
The eight participating Baker City venues and their charities are:
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, 2020 Auburn Avenue – Proceeds go to the Crossroads Hand to Heart Scholarship Fund, allowing children and adults to take classes at Crossroads regardless of financial consideration.
Short Term Gallery, 1829 Main Street – Proceeds go to two charities: the Baker Middle School Backpack Program, providing backpacks of food every week for hungry families, and the Baker Art Guild to support their numerous projects, including Chalk It Up to Art and the We Like’M Short Film Festival.
Peterson’s Gallery and Chocolatier, 1925 Main Street – Proceeds go to the Baker County YMCA Youth Sports Programs, assisting to keep costs low for all children and families to participate in the athletic endeavor of their choice.
Atelier Anders, 1802 Main Street – Proceeds go to the Baker Art Guild, specifically to purchase Library Art Supplies for the Children’s Art Program.
Castle Gallery, 1933 First Street – Proceeds go to the creation of art banners on Resort Street as part of Historic Baker City, Inc.
Earth & Vine Wine Bar and Gallery, 2001 Washington Avenue – Proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House at Oregon Health Science University in Portland.
Copper Belt Tasting Room, 1937 Main Street – Proceeds go to Cub Scout Pack 422 in Keating, Oregon, to purchase much needed art supplies for scout and school projects.
Dot and Rosie’s, 1798 Main Street – Proceeds go to Baker High School Art Department for the purchase of supplies, materials and help in bringing artists into the classroom.
Each venue, with support from their charity, will offer music, food and refreshments—plus a few surprises along the way.
Grant funders are the Oregon Arts Commission, Arts Builds Communities and National Endowment of the Arts, the Autzen Foundation, Ford Family Foundation, Baker County Cultural Coalition, Oregon Cultural Trust, and the Leo Adler Foundation. Support has also been given by Base Camp Baker for promoting Baker County.
“The Little Big Show has a couple important facets,” said Ginger Savage, Executive Director, Crossroads Carnegie Art Center. “We want to bring a new art audience to Baker City to enjoy our galleries, shops, restaurants and pubs. We also want to showcase that all the galleries open new shows on First Friday of each month.
“Crossroads and our partners want to introduce art lovers to the enormous pool of talented artists in Northeast Oregon, as well as artists from around the country who have a personal connection to Eastern Oregon. The hope is for regional artists to attract new art collectors. Finally, we hope the audience will support eight charities that are very special to each business owner.”
This event coincides with the 64th Annual East-West Shrine Football Game in Baker City on August 6, which includes a parade, Hoofin’ It to Beef Fit Fun Run, Cattlewomen’s breakfast in the park, and the football game Saturday evening at Baker High School Stadium. The Baker City Shrine Football Game is the second largest Shrine Football Game west of the Mississippi, with all proceeds going to the Shriners Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
Little Big Show Tips:
- There is no master list of where specific artists or artwork are at. Think of it as a glorious art scavenger hunt!
- Art work was randomly selected for each gallery.
- The work that is on the walls of all eight galleries is all that is available.
- No previews, presales and all sales are final. No you cannot come back and trade artwork for another piece.
- No work will be reserved; if you like it you better buy it! No gallery will hold work.
- The eight galleries are in comfortable walking distance of each other with parking on Main Street, side streets and free public parking in City of Baker City parking lot. After hours parking may be available in numerous locations (please check signage for hours and rules).
- First Friday Flyers listing local restaurants, pubs and other venues which will be open on August 5th from 5:30 to 9 p.m., will be available at local shops.
- You are encouraged to use #queencityofthearts and #bakercityarts and post photos of your art and the artists on social media throughout the night.
- The show will hang for the entire month of August but it is expected that the majority of the work will sell in the first weekend. Galleries will be highlighting additional local artists as the month continues.
Questions? Please contact Crossroads Executive Director Ginger Savage at 541-523-5369 or ginger@crossroads-arts.org. For visitor information on Baker County, please contact Baker County Chamber of Commerce, 541-523-5855 or info@visitbaker.com, or go to www.visitbaker.com or www.basecampbaker.com.
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