Columbia Center for the Arts Presents Jen Smith’s Sky Hunters and Steve Stegall’s Spirit Art

Sep 29

Written By Columbia Community Connection

From Columbia Center for the Arts:

By Cole Goodwin

Hood River, Ore. Sept. 29, 2025 — Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) is proud to present two powerful, nature-inspired exhibitions this fall, on view October 3–November 9, 2025: Sky Hunters by Jen Smith in the Lobby Gallery, and Patterns in Nature, Variations on a Theme: A Retrospective by Steve Stegall in the Main Gallery.

Lobby Gallery | Sky Hunters by Jen Smith

Sky Hunters unveils twelve striking charcoal and pastel portraits of raptors, each rendered on custom cradled birch panels. Artist and naturalist Jen Smith draws inspiration from the high deserts of Wyoming and Montana, as well as the Columbia River Gorge of Washington and Oregon, where she now makes her home.

Smith’s work captures the power, grace, and vitality of birds of prey, balancing anatomical accuracy with expressive energy. A lifelong wildlife advocate, she hopes to inspire viewers to understand both the beauty and the ecological importance of these dynamic hunters. Her artwork has been nationally recognized in exhibitions at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the High Desert Museum, and the World Center for Birds of Prey.

Main Gallery | The Spirit Art of Steve Stegall: A Retrorespective

This retrospective celebrates the life’s work of Pacific Northwest artist Steve Stegall, a self-taught and fiercely independent creator whose drawings and sculptures channel the primal energies of the natural world. For more than four decades, Stegall has transformed wood, stone, shed antlers and pen-and-ink doodles into “Spirit Art” — meditative works that reflect the forms of human figures, goddesses, and spirit animals.

Stegall’s work draws inspiration from diverse traditions including Celtic, Eskimo, Northwest Coast Native, Maori, Mayan, and Egyptian art, while weaving in the fluid grace of Art Nouveau. But ultimately, Stegall’s work is about the discoveries he’s made during the dialogue between his hands, tools, and the spirit of the natural materials themselves. The exhibition highlights the breadth, variety, and spiritual resonance of his practice.

Opening Reception
The community is invited to a free public reception on Friday, October 3, from 4:30–7:30 p.m., where visitors can meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and be among the first to view these dynamic exhibitions.

Exhibit Dates: October 3 – November 9, 2025
Location: Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Ave, Hood River, OR

For more information, please visit columbiarts.org.

About Columbia Center for the Arts

Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) is a nonprofit in Hood River, Oregon, dedicated to promoting an equitable, accessible, and arts-rich environment in the Columbia Gorge. Guided by a vision of a thriving creative community, CCA connects artists, performers, and audiences through diverse opportunities in visual, performing, and educational arts.