Beautiful, original artwork can be seen everywhere you look at Evergreen Park, but perhaps one of the most spectacular is “The Best Door in All of Oregon” by local artists Peter Sedlow and Lindi Ledger. Standing over 12-feet tall, the massive bronze doors depict bears fishing a waterfall while salmon jump through rushing water. Be sure to look for the wildlife critters hidden throughout the door.

Grants Pass is celebrating 150 years of Oregon Statehood with a new public art project called “The Doors of Oregon.” Oregon was the 33rd state admitted to the Union, so 33 doors were given to local artists and they were asked to paint both sides of the doors with their impressions of our great state. In May 2009, these doors were placed on the sidewalks in downtown Grants Pass where they will remain until September when the doors will be auctioned off to support Wildlife Images – a local wildlife rehabilitation center.

Enjoy the river view as you stroll through Evergreen Park’s Wildlife Sculpture Garden. Majestic bronze wildlife sculptures, created by local artist Peter Sedlow, adorn the beautiful park. Hidden creatures can be spotted in other spectacular artwork and hand painted murals created by local artist Bob Eding.

Starting the second week of November and running through the first of the New Year, the downtown area sparkled with the fiberoptic dazzle of 18 gigantic Magical Musical Christmas Murals, which played old-fashioned Christmas music.

Twenty-three monuments were displayed downtown in celebration of the 230th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On the face of each shield is an original painting of a significant event for each decade since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. These shields are on permanent display at the Bear Hotel.

The River Kids project is a series of bronze figures that connect the downtown area of Grants Pass to the river.  It reflects and celebrates our unique river heritage. The creation of the River Kids was a joint effort between Evergreen Federal Bank and Art Along the Rogue.

The project included three life-size figures of children engaged in a variety of children’s adventures along the river, set in the 1930’s, ‘40s and ’50s. These romanticized images tell a story of a simpler time in our history and capture a river spirit that was, and still is, a part of who we are today. The first “River Kids” bronze was unveiled in April 2006. The second bronze was unveiled in early 2007. They both can be seen along 6th street in downtown Grants Pass.

Thirty local artists brought their creative magic to create beautiful one of a kind doghouses. These doghouses were on the sidewalks of downtown Grants Pass. This project was co-sponsored by the Grants Pass Daily Courier and Evergreen Federal Bank to raise money for the Josephine County Sheriff’s Department K-9 unit. The doghouses were then auctioned off and all of the proceeds were given to the K-9 unit. The K-9 unit is an important part of the public safety system. The unit does not receive tax dollars to support the dogs. The dogs are supported by public donations. The funds raised through the auction helped provide some of the money needed to feed, provide care and equipment for the dogs.

Imagination Village was a collection of miniature houses in a village setting created by local artists and builders. Each house had a unique theme, was artistically adorned both inside and out, and was enhanced by professional landscaping. The proceeds from the auction of the various village structures directly benefited the Grants Pass Association of Realtors (GPAR) “Family House” that is located at Three Rivers Community Hospital. The GPAR Family House provides an affordable, convenient, and supportive environment for out-of-town patients and their families who are receiving medical treatment at Three Rivers Community Hospital.

Local artists decorated, embellished, bejeweled and painted larger than life size bears. BearFest is a hands-on touchable art event, proving that art doesn’t have to be “serious” to be great. Proceeds from the auction of these loveable bears directly benefited various local non-profit organizations. Some of the bears from previous years are now on permanent display at the Bear Hotel.