The Wild Arts Festival returns for its 42nd Annual fundraiser as the Northwest's premier show and sale of nature-related art and books, with proceeds benefiting Portland Audubon’s education and conservation efforts.

The timing of the event this year with new dates - December 10 & 11 - positions the festival as the perfect place to find unique holiday gifts, with thousands of hand-crafted works made by local artists items to choose from.  So much about the weekend is what locals love about Portland!

Now located in the vibrant central Portland location on the Portland State University campus, Viking Pavilion offers a vast, airy and light-filled space, with Portland Audubon monitoring COVID and taking precautions based on caseload to ensure the safety of attendees.

The Wild Arts Festival showcases more than 60 artists including jewelry designers, painters, printmakers and sculptors, plus glass, wood, fiber art and ceramic artists. The beautifully diverse artistic media  are aligned in their inspiration, drawing from:

• Nature or wildlife as a subject,
• Natural materials as a medium, or
• Art promoting environmental sustainability

Meet your favorite artists & authors

Art & books inspire us all, and one of the favorite features of WAF is the opportunity to meet the artists and authors and talk with them about their backgrounds and craft. Dedicated signing times are scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday from 12 - 4PM where attendees can get their purchased books autographed. 

Books will specialize in nature, birds, hiking, history, books for kids, and books that illuminate living in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Featured authors include:

• Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis , husband & wife NYTimes best-selling author & illustrator, with their new books, The Stars Did Wander Darkling, and This Story Is Not About a Kitten, respectively. Colin is the lead singer of the Portland-based band The Decemberists. 

• Kim Stafford, former Poet Laureate of Oregon (2018-2020), founder of the Northwest Writing Institute, and Professor Emeritus of Lewis and Clark College, with his book, Singer Come From Afar
• Adam Sawyer, Oregon guide book author with titles including Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon, Best Outdoor Adventures Near Portland,  25 Hikes on Oregon’s Tillamook Coast and his latest release, Urban Hikes Oregon.

Silent Auction

Throughout the pavilion’s concourse, attendees will find an incredible selection of art, experiences, and outdoor gear donated to support Portland Audubon’s mission. A few of the tempting items: a pair of Vortex Viper binoculars, a great selection of Brome bird feeders, four days at the ever-popular Arch Cape beach home, a case of 2015 Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir (!), and wonderful photos, paintings, certificates, and experiences.

This year, attendees will have the benefit of in-person viewing of the items with the convenience of online bidding. They can register and make first bids at the event, then track the bidding on a computer or phone at home and increase bids if needed. Those not able to attend the Wild Arts Festival in person can still peruse the online catalog and register and bid from home.

Tickets

Visit wildartsfestival.org for more information and to buy tickets.

Just $13.50 (includes PSU’s  processing fee) and kids under 14 get in free!
PSU students get tickets for half price. Tickets are also available at the event.

Location and hours

Portland State University’s Viking Pavilion in the Peter W. Stott Center (930 SW Hall St, Portland, OR 97201). 

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec 10 |10a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec 11

Available media resources:

• Artists’ Showcase
• Authors’ Showcase
• Please contact Liz Kay at [email protected] for images and interview requests

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About Portland Audubon

Portland Audubon’s passionate and growing community has loved and advocated for Oregon’s wildlife and wild places for more than 100 years. With the help of our vast network of advocates, nature enthusiasts, and partners, we inspire and connect people to nature through a variety of programs that are grounded in science and learning.

Our mission: To inspire all people to love and protect birds, wildlife, and the natural environment upon which life depends.

For more information, please visit  WildArtsFestival.org and  AudubonPortland.org.