Public Art Tour
Okanogan Country is a region rich with artistry, here you'll find painters, wood sculptures, metal workers, sketch artists, and so much more. Lots of these creators are lifetime locals, and many have traveled far to settle in the alluring serenity Okanogan Country has to offer. Join us on a self guided tour of local attractions, and enrich yourself in the culture and history as you admire tree carvings, murals, and more.
1. Foster Creek Avenue Tree Carving
13 sycamore trees were transformed into sculptures in the city of Bridgeport along Foster Creek Avenue. The trees, planted over 50 years ago, were diseased & dying and rather than removing them, town officials instead hired chainsaw sculptor Jacob Lucas to transform the trees into wooden works of art.
Read More3. Reflections on the Columbia, Pateros Water Towers
Light up the old reservoirs with a handheld flashlight.Colorful mosaic tiles cover the towers that sit above the town of Pateros. Richard Elliot's "Reflections on the Columbia" were originally installed in 1992 and restored in 2016 after the Carlton Complex Fires. Fires scathed a large part of Pateros and burned the precious artwork. Now fully restored, the towers stand a symbol of recovory and strength for the town below. The original model of the installation is on display at the museum.
Read More4. Frank Matsura Photos and Murals
Town of Okanogan & County Historical Society, Okanogan. The society houses half of the original collection of Japanese pioneer photographer, Frank Matsura. He recorded everyday life and community developments in the region from 1903 to 1913. Nine murals of his work are located in town. Walking Tour Guide Maps are available at the Visitor Information Center located at the Historical Museum, on Business Loop 97 towards Omak.
Read More5. Sasquatch Disautel Pass
Created by local artist and Colville Tribe Member Smoker Marchard, a multidimensional 18-foot tall steel sculpture of the mythical giant Sasquatch stands atop Disautel Pass. The statue weights approximately 1,500 lbs and is attributed by a rotating arm that swings in the wind.
Read More6. Ronald MacDonald Storyboard/Mural
MacDonald’s gravesite is commemorated as a Washington State Park on the Kettle River, just South of the Canadian border. It features a sign & mural by Charlene Payton hightlighting MacDonald's impact on Japanese-American negogiations, and the success he had in the Northwest.
7. Windows into the Wild Tawlks-Foster Bridge Trail
Student work created over 5 years, including integrated ecological studies with art, poetry, reflection and technique. Made possible through the Methow Arts Artist In Residence Program working with artists Bruce Morrison, Jim Neupert and poet Linda Robertson.
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