Campanile Tower, Reflection Plaza, Downtown Washougal

A stunning metal and glass sculpture honoring our city’s history and geographic location has been mounted on the campanile tower in downtown Washougal, creating an inspiring focal point in the heart of our city.

The artwork reflects the history and culture of Washougal with specific events from our city’s history depicted on metal waves which wrap around the tower. It also represents the city’s geographic location near the confluence of the Washougal River and the Columbia River. Thus the title “Two Rivers Heritage Sculpture.”  

Click here to learn more about the fascinating history of Washougal.

Click here to view a short slide show about how this project came to life. 

Suzanne Grover was an artist, a longtime city of Washougal employee, and a co-founder of WACA. When she died in May 2023 at the age of 53, WACA president and former Washougal Mayor Molly Coston noted, “a little bit of magic went out of the world”.

“There is no better way to give a town character and presence than with art,” Grover said in 2021. “It was one of my biggest joys and passions to help fill our town with rich layers of art.”

This year local artist Travis London will paint a memorial mural to be installed at Hartwood Park; a park Grover infused with a “whimsical feel with its red-barn farm theme.”  The mural will recreate one of Suzanne’s own paintings on the barn, capturing her love of horses and her attention to detail.

This mural has been fully funded by generous donors.

The creativity and talent of the students and the variety of opportunities for creative expression provided by our arts programs are impressive!  Below are a few snapshots from the Youth Arts Gallery.

And here are some photos of our Art in the Park events held at Hamllik and Hathaway Parks.

THANK YOU for your support!

Boxes of supplies were delivered to art teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. Students now have on hand more paint, colored pencils, markers, scissors, clay, paper, glue, tape, and so much more!

Let the creativity begin!!

The Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance (WACA) is soliciting proposals from individual artists or teams of artists for paintings of a 3-D optical illusion style for sidewalks of downtown Washougal. The paintings are to be designed to create an illusion of depth.  They can be whimsical or challenging to the viewer’s perception.  Get creative and let’s have some fun!

Click here for more details, including how to send in a proposal.

See below for three images currently on Downtown Washougal sidewalks.

There is a surprising amount of art in Washougal. Whether it is your first time here or you’re a longtime resident looking to find out more about the art you see around you, we’d love to share the art installations in our town. Explore freely, then please join us in continuing to enrich our community through a range of public art experiences.

Glance at the map below, then click here or on the map itself for more details.

From November 2023 through June of 2024, WACA collaborated with the East County Citizens’ Alliance (ECCA) on a community mural project. Funded by WACA and the City of Washougal and coordinated through ECCA, the project provided an opportunity for joyful creation of permanent artwork to enhance the restroom structure at Hamllik Park. Read more about the vision for this project here.

CLICK HERE to view a slideshow showing the evolution of the project from conception to completion.

Claire Giordano, an environmental artist and founder of the Adventure Art Academy met with WACA members in late May 2024. WACA partnered with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to fund her residency at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge complex which includes Steigerwald Lake where she held the plein air painting class.

A standing-room-only crowd enjoyed the swinging sounds of Louis Pain and Renato Caranto on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in Washougal! The audience enjoyed wine and appetizers before a powerfully moving performance by two of the region’s top jazz musicians. It was a memorable afternoon for listeners of all ages experiencing the top-caliber music our small town has to offer.

Interested in helping to foster a thriving local arts scene?

Love art and share a passion for supporting local artists?  Want more public art in Washougal?

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We are a volunteer-run nonprofit that depends on the generosity of the community to fund public art and arts activities.

All donations go to support of the arts in Washougal.