What is your occupation?
Christy is the head horticulturist at a local golf course.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
About 8 years.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
Whodunnit
What is your art background and why are you involved with A!A?
B.A. from Southern Oregon University with a Painting Emphasis. She is involved in A!A because it is filled with a wonderful community of artists and patrons who continually nourish each other and stimulate artistic growth.
Fun Fact about yourself!
OIF II Combat War Veteran
Christy’s pastel and charcoal on sanded paper works are currently on display and available for purchase in our A!A Gallery as part of The Artist Next Door Exhibition featuring our Guest Artist Program. Keep an eye out in Spring 2025 for Christy’s Guest Artist Workshop!
View and Purchase Christy’s Work
What is your occupation?
My husband and I are small business owners.
How did you get into art making?
Our family enjoys art in general and we are always doing craft projects at home. The goal of my artwork is to “make stuff my friends don’t hate”.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
About 3-4 years. We became members as soon as our son, Ryder, was old enough to attend camps.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
I love ceramics and our son, Ryder, loves the after school programs and summer camps, especially the Arts Sampler Camp.
Why do you choose A!A programming?
We believe in enrichment through the arts and like to participate in a variety of activities that promote cerebral work in our kids’ lives.
What is your occupation?
Professional photographer specializing in commercial and fine art photography. Specialties are landscapes, fly fishing, architectural and recreational photography.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
7 years
Favorite Art Association event or class?
The Art Fairs and Arts on the Green. These events give artist like myself the opportunity to showcase our work and share our visions with others; while we may not have the means or ability to do so otherwise.
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I formally studied fine art and commercial photography at UCLA in West Los Angeles and Art Center College of Design in Pasadena; studio manager and photo assistant to many well-known photographers on the West Coast. As mentioned before, the A!A gives artists like myself a platform and opportunity to share our visions and work with others.
Visit Ken’s website at: https://www.kentakataphotography.com/
What is your occupation?
Art Educator
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
At least 10 years
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I received a BFA with a concentration in Fabric Design/screen printing & Watercolor. I have since expanded my art career to involve Acrylic and jewelry making. And anything else I can fit into my art studio! I decided to become an art educator at A!A because I wanted to offer my knowledge of art to those who needed any encouragement and want to expand their style development. I have so much fun teaching art and it has given me so much happiness and life being with others and seeing people more excited about art. The A!A has always been so supportive of me as a community member and as an artist, I am so privileged to be a part of it.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
Every class and event at A!A is so special, I love them all! It’s great seeing all the varieties of classes. It’s such an important resource for the community to allow our creativities to shine and come together.
Fun Fact about yourself?
I tend to lose track of how long I’ve been painting and will often paint through the whole night, which I think gives a lot of my work a very surreal and dream-like look.
View and purchase Shana’s work in the Practice of Art exhibit on display in the Art Association Gallery until July 12th, 2024.
What is your occupation?
My occupation: artist (and many different things.)
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
I have been a member since 1996. (I used to go to life drawing sessions when the Art Association was located next to the post office on Pearl St.)
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
Traditional education: Fine Art School in Grenoble, France. Master’s degree, cum laude, in Art History, University of Grenoble, France. I breath art and love to be surrounded by its many forms.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
My favorite class is life drawing and favorite events are various exhibits.
What is your biggest art mishap?
I was working on a small decorative mural, on a ladder. Getting tired, I came down the ladder with an open paint container in both hands. When I thought I was on the last rung, I stepped down as if it the floor was the next stop. The floor was not there. I missed a rung: down I went, and up and down went the paint, splashing on the wall and floor. It was a mess. It took me a while to clean everything up.
View Christine Meytras’ website
What is your occupation?
I am an emerging artist who moved to Jackson in December of 2021 with a desire to pursue fine art as a full-time career. I am currently working as a wildlife guide with Backcountry Safaris.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
I have been a member with A!A for just over two years now.
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I graduated from Walla Walla University with a BA in Art in the spring of 2021. Since then, I have taken workshops with multiple artists I look up to and have pursued continuing education in fine art. I got involved with A!A because I like its mission and I thought it would be helpful for making good connections in the art world.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
My favorite event so far has been the Whodunnit? event.
Fun Fact about yourself?
My favorite hydrothermal feature in Yellowstone is Beehive Geyser.
View Mitchell McClosky’s website
What is your occupation?
I work part-time as a bookkeeper for Rendezvous Engineering, where my husband is a partner in the firm. For the past few years, I also volunteered and work at Teton County Public Health’s Vaccine Clinics.
How long have you been a member of the Art Association?
I first joined sometime in the mid-1990s. Over the years, I have taken numerous classes, but have especially enjoyed several watercolor classes from Fred Kingwill and a series of oil pastel classes with Lucinda Abbe.
What is your art background and why are you involved with the Art Association?
I grew up in a “crafty” family and have dabbled in various forms of art off and on most of my life. I took an art class or two in college, but felt I needed to pursue a more “practical” career and obtained a masters degree in business administration. Over the years, as time and life allowed, I enjoyed creating with various craft and art mediums, focusing primarily on oil pastels, acrylics, and watercolors. A few years ago, I found that I had the desire and time to begin again with watercolors. Now, I am trying to be more intentional about making time for art in my life. This is just one of the reasons I rejoined the Art Association. Taking classes helped revive some lost skills, and interacting and volunteering with the staff and other artists has inspired me to keep going.
Favorite Art Association event or class?
It’s hard to pick just one class or favorite event, but as an aspiring artist, and Art Association volunteer, Whodunnit? ranks high on my list. For an amateur artist, it is gratifying to see your work hanging in a gallery, and not nearly as intimidating to do it anonymously. As a volunteer, I loved seeing the joy and enthusiasm of the other artists…especially some of the younger participants who were so excited to have their art displayed and admired by others.
Fun Fact about yourself?
I won a Fire Prevention art poster contest in 4th grade. That may have been what sparked (pun intended) my interest in art.
On the evening of September 22, 2023, the Art Association of Jackson Hole celebrated 60 years of being the oldest visual arts nonprofit organization in Jackson, Wyoming. The guests entered through a festive archway made of balloons that of course followed the identifiable hot pink color scheme. The theme was the 60s, so many adorned bell bottom pants and nostalgic jewelry. DJ Crayon played era music, and as the night progressed, more folks congregated on the dance floor. Delicious 60s themed hors d’oeuvres from Knotty Apron were shared throughout the evening, and the champagne sparkled like the sequins dotting the tablecloths. Conversation flowed throughout the night among guests. Attendees included artists, board members, parents of art students, staff, art lovers, long time residents of the community, and so many more. What joined everyone together was an immense appreciation for the arts and more specifically a shared excitement in celebrating the legacy and future of the Art Association of Jackson Hole.
Thank you to everyone who made this night possible, especially our largest sponsor Jackson Hole Jewelry Company. Also special thanks to our additional sponsors including Taylor Piggott Gallery, First Interstate Bank, National Museum of Wildlife Art, Graze Garden and Home (for their beautiful floral arrangements), and of course the beautiful venue of the Virginian Lodge. To continue supporting the Art Association and get your holiday shopping done at the same time, shop at Jackson Hole Jewelry Company this October and 10% of your purchase will be donated to our nonprofit if you choose the Art Association online or in-person at checkout.
Thank you to our event attendees, many of whom fill our classrooms, use our studio spaces, and most importantly – make art with us! The Art Association thrives because of our supportive and incredibly creative community that we have worked to serve for the past 60 years. Together we can continue this legacy so that the Art Association of Jackson Hole remains a place where everyone can feel at home. Making art makes Jackson whole!
Jackson Hole is a town that draws countless outdoor recreation enthusiasts, naturalists, sight-seers, and artists! Some may be surprised to find that Jackson is a hub for the arts community, but many folks who have experienced this place know of the special power of both the environment and the community that makes Jackson a place of bountiful creation.
This is the 58th year of the Art Fair Jackson Hole, and we’re incredibly excited about the artisans we have gathered to share and sell their work. In July we had the first Art Fair of the Summer, and we have our second and last Art Fair this weekend, August 18th-20th, where returning and new artists will share their work. Our staff at the Art Association of Jackson Hole has worked hard to curate a talented and diverse group of artists that residents and visitors of Jackson Hole will love. During the last Art Fair, we spoke with various artists about their work as well as their motives behind coming to our town of Jackson to share their craft.
The Alpine Studio was created by Ariel Rodriguez from Gardiner, Montana. This is her first time at Art Fair Jackson Hole. Rodriguez creates detailed scratchboard works of various animals found in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and adds bursts of color using india ink. Living so close to Yellowstone, she finds herself constantly drawing inspiration from her surroundings. Rodriguez has been creating her scratchboards for the last three years, and has always loved being creative. Rodriguez hopes to succeed in “capturing the true magical yet fierce essence of Yellowstone wildlife through different mediums.”
Salvaged Sisters was started by stylish sisters Anne and Mary from Utah. A love of thrifting quickly turned into a creative business endeavor for the two. After over 40 years of working in corporate America, Anne and Mary decided to follow their passion and create one of a kind clothes from their thrifted finds. They had a very organic start giving their clothing creations to family, then friends, then eventually selling at farmers and art markets. Exploring their booth, you will find lots of cargo and camo styles with unique embellishments. They decided to come to the Art Fair Jackson Hole for the first time this year because of their love of the mountains.
J2 Antler Designs is the family run business of Jorge Meneses, Francisca Galicia, and Jorge Meneses Jr. The family has been living in Jackson for over 20 years. They make lamps, chandeliers, bottle openers, and much more from antlers found in the Jackson area. Jorge Jr. explains that they buy the antlers from boy scouts during the yearly antler auction in Jackson town square. It is important to them that they support the community of Jackson however they can. Community is a big reason why the family loves participating in the Art Fair Jackson Hole. Jorge Jr. says that it is fun to get to know fellow locals and become more integrated in the community.
Acquainted with Butterflies are 4th time returnees of the Art Fair Jackson Hole. Visit their stand and you will be met with numerous displays of vibrant butterflies behind glass. The origin of these beautiful insects is a fascinating story. The couple that owns the business buys the butterflies from all over the world from places including Indonesia, the Philippines, the Amazon, and throughout the United States. Many of these butterfly farms use the profit they make from selling butterflies to make a living rather than clear-cutting forests for lumber. A large portion of these butterflies are released into the wild to support endangered and threatened butterfly species. One specific butterfly, the Birdwing, was displayed at the store’s booth. The owner explains how in the 70s this butterfly was close to extinction, but then the local people signed a treaty that allowed them to raise and revitalize the population. Acquainted with Butterflies displays the beauty of different butterfly species from around the world.
RK Artwork was started by Rachel Kozlowski from Utah. Her watercolor paintings of anthropomorphic animals are captivating and fun. She brings her love of painting, illustration, photography, and sewing to each and every product. RK Artwork focuses on designing and crafting items that are unique and one-of-a-kind which will bring a sense of whimsy into your home. Kozlowski explains that she wants to create art that is lighthearted and makes people happy. She is a long-time vendor of the Art Fair Jackson Hole, and she shares how she is drawn back every year to the community of kind and inspiring people she encounters while here.
Authentic is run by certified herbalist Dawn Olsen. Olsen has a background in conventional pre-med, but had a change of heart when western medicine failed to work for her medical needs. She embarked on a journey of self-discovery with an emphasis on women’s health, and widened her reach to other people once she worked out her own health. Olsen found that it was incredibly hard to source quality ingredients, so she decided to start a garden. She is based out of the high Rockies in Colorado, and she explains how plants that grow in such tough conditions produce incredibly powerful medicinal properties. Her hemp is grown in the agricultural region on the Western Slope of Colorado. Fresh plants work, and that’s what she uses in all of her products in skincare including balms for pain, tinctures, and body oils. Olsen emphasizes that what she does is botanical art, and it is as much an artistic process as painting a canvas.
Savannah Rose Wildlife was created by local wildlife photographer, Savannah Rose. She has a fine arts degree where she pursued drawing. She began taking photographs for reference pictures to draw from, then quickly realized that hiking and taking photographs was way more fun for her than working with pen and paper. Rose loves being outside, and explains how the switch to this more outdoorsy and physically adventurous art-form greatly helped her mental health. In her booth, a striking photograph of a mountain lion is displayed, a reward from a long day of tracking.
Spruced Plume was created by a hunter who really disliked wasting parts of the animals that she couldn’t eat or use in other ways, so she found a use. Haley Fitzgerald has had her business for seven years, utilizing bird feathers to adorn different kinds of hats. Fitzgerald tries her best to be sustainable by buying local meat and fish, and hunting the rest of her food. She refuses to buy any feathers for her business, and so consequently her product production stops for the year when she has used all the feathers from her hunting. Fitzgerald also sells leather products such as a belt made from the hide of a mule deer. Whole-animal use is her mission, and she centers all of her work with Spruced Plume around this.
From butterflies to balms, Art Fair Jackson Hole is a place where artisans of all kinds gather to share their products with the community. Whether you are buying for yourself or another, there is something for everyone.
Art Fair Jackson Hole is our largest fundraising event of the year. All proceeds, including artist application, booth fees and admission, directly benefit the Art Association’s mission to provide art education for ages one to 100. Thank you so much for your support! The Art Fair Jackson Hole is worth attending both weeks, and if you’ve missed the first, come tomorrow and check out all the artisan made goods!
On August 1st, the Teton Plein Air Painters met at the Gros Ventre Cliffs in Kelly, WY to set up their easels and paint the diverse landscape surrounding them. The cliffs are depicted in oranges, tans, and reds, while the conifers inspire deep earthy greens. The river meanders through the landscape and the canvas, a refreshing body of blue that cools the artist while the brisk morning turns into a warm afternoon. Anne Newcomb and Mary Lohuis sit in camp chairs in the grassy clearing, catching up as old friends do after time apart. The two ladies have known each other since their children attended school together. Both have lived in Jackson since the early 60s, and are proud to call this beautiful place their home. Painting outdoors, or en plein air, is a passion of both of theirs. As we talk, the two stop and turn their attention to a dark bird flying high above us in the sky above us. They briefly discuss whether it is a raven or a crow, and mutually admire the soaring creature. Thus, the spontaneous magic of painting outside.
Anne Newcomb is an avid watercolor artist, and has had her work in three Teton Plein Air Showcases, including the one exhibiting right now in the Art Association of Jackson Hole’s Gallery. Newcomb loves seeing her fellow painting friends at every meet up, and she feels supported by the community of painters. Lately, her focus has been on patterns and values. She wants to capture the darks of the conifer trees and the lights of the cliffs.
Mary Lohuis explains that the Teton Plein Air group is an incentive for her to consistently paint. With weekly meetups in different locations and monthly critiques, the group is dedicated to growth and support. The group was formed around 11 years ago, and is continuously growing.
June Nystrom used to teach elementary school art, and now paints with the Teton Plein Air Painters. Nystrom enjoys having people to talk to with similar interests, as well as the unpredictability of the landscape. A couple of boys jump off the cliffs she is painting which brings a smile to her face.
A little ways away is Eliot Goss, a seasoned painter with a background in engineering. Goss also enjoys the community aspect of this group and the kindness that comes with it. The kindness is clear from the smiling faces the moment I arrive, to the offerings of water bottles and sun coverings as the day grows hotter. These folks care about each other, whether you have been a part of the group for 5 years or 5 minutes.
Painting outside can be a mental and physical challenge. An artist must withstand the elements, transport their painting supplies to the site, while also minding the critters that live there. Some of the artists swat at mosquitoes that inhabit the riverbanks of the Gros Ventre. The mental challenge comes with attempting to create an art piece despite all the obstacles that come with painting on scene. Regardless of the mental and physical exertion, the immense pleasure and inspiration that comes with painting en plein air is what draws the painters back week after week.
Currently there is the annual Teton Plein Air exhibit in the Art Association of Jackson Hole’s main gallery. This year’s exhibition, Seasons in Plein Air, celebrates all the seasons of the Jackson Hole area as seen through the eyes of these artists. The show will remain on display through August 18th in the gallery. Stop by during store hours to view the hard work of the artists and even take home a piece of artwork! All of the work in the gallery is available for purchase and supports the Plein Air Painters.
The Teton Plein Air Painters group is always looking for more creative individuals to join their community. To join the group, you must be a member at the Art Association of Jackson Hole, then you can request to be added to the email list for the Plein Air Painters. These artists paint in sun, rain, and snow. Take advantage of these final months of summer by painting under the sun with the Teton Plein Air Painters!
