1910 — 110 years agoSo plentiful and large are the strawberries in that pickers are making good wages. Mrs. Wilke, a widow, has broken the rec…

Laurel Bushman of Hood River didn’t discover her passion for painting landscapes until eight years ago, but the retired educator’s talent with oils has placed her among 40 artists selected to compete in the 2017 Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge event. Plein Air denotes the 19-centry style of painting outdoors, which was a central feature of French impressionism.

During the January exhibition at the Columbia Art Center, titled, “The Hero’s Journey,” two events focused on the show’s theme will take place. Both are free and open to the public.

The 10th annual Plein Air show at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, which features painters and writers who work outdoors, features a quick draw event at the Hood River farmer’s market at Hood River Middle School Thursday afternoon.