Hooked on the Salmon River Juried Art Exhibition 2026

Exhibition Dates: August 27 - October 10

Thank you artists, sponsors, juror, and volunteers for all you did to make our seventh annual “Hooked on rhetoric Salmon River” a spectacular success. This year’s exhibition showcased 69 pieces of fine art and fine craft from 26 area artists. It offered a unique opportunity to view the region through the eyes of local creators. We are all looking forward to next year’s show.

A special thank you to our sponsors for your generous contributions.

Pick up art. Artwork can be picked up October 15-17 during gallery hours or by scheduled appointment.

painting of a king salmon fighting on the end of a fishing line

Return of the King
William King

artwork of a bird perched on a bird house created by our juror, Claire Ames

Our Juror for the 2026 Hooked on Salmon River Juried Art Show

Claire (Ellsworth) Ames is an award winning North Country artist and educator whose deeply textural charcoal drawings serve as intimate portraits of the natural world. Born and raised in Upstate New York, Claire was immersed in the arts from an early age, profoundly influenced by her parents. This lifelong connection to the region’s flora and fauna forms the emotional core of her creative work. Claire has shown her work in several local galleries and shows.

Claire holds both a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from SUNY Oswego. This dual foundation as both a creator and an educator shapes her daily practice. Based in the Watertown area, she balances her time between her studio and the classroom, where she teaches high school art. For Claire, these two worlds are deeply intertwined; she routinely brings her professional studio experiences, technical challenges, and creative breakthroughs directly to her students.

Thank YOU to our Sponsors!

We wish to thank Douglaston Salmon Run and Fulton Boiler Works whose contributions make the Salmon River Juried Art Exhibition a success. Your generous support awards the achievements of talented fine artists and promotes fishing and the beauty of the Salmon River and surrounding area.