April in Corvallis ~ The Heart of the Valley
As the seasons change, we are already looking forward to the promise of Spring in preparation for the 2027 Spring Convention, April in Corvallis. Corvallis was originally inhabited by the Kalapuya tribe of hunter-gatherers. When American settlers came around 1850, it was named Marysville, but because it was often confused with a California city, a new name was made by combining the Latin words “cor”(heart) and “vallis”(valley) — literally “Heart of the Valley”. Located at the confluence of the Willamette and Marys rivers and surrounded by rich fields and oak savannas, Corvallis is a beautiful place to live. Over the years, residents of the area have protected its stunning natural landscapes, home to wildlife and migratory birds, with wildlife refuges and a Greenbelt surrounding the city. Corvallis offers farm-to-table cuisine, organic food choices, craft beer and cider, award- winning wineries, local artisans, and extensive trails for hiking and biking. The city is home to Oregon State University, which became Oregon’s official land-grant agricultural college in 1868 and is now the only university in the country with Land-, Sea-, Space-, and Sun-Grant designations. With the University and its enthusiastic residents, there is always something exciting happening here.
We have combined the 5:00 pm Meet and Greet with our opening reception at the Corvallis Museum on Friday, April 2, where we plan to have hearty appetizers and local vintner David Patte serving his Sun Break wines. On Saturday, April 3, we’ll meet at the Corvallis Community Center, where events will begin at 9:00 am, with 10 Breakout Sessions and two juror critiques. Hospitality, the WSO 100 Club, and the Vendor Fair, and DVD rentals will be set up in the Lobby. At 5:00 pm, we’ll enjoy our Social Hour, followed by our 6:00 pm Awards Banquet buffet, where we’ll find out about the award-winning paintings with commentary by the juror. On Sunday, April 4, be sure to attend the Business Meeting at 9:00 am at the Corvallis Museum, followed by Juror Kathleen Conover’s Lecture/Demo at 11:00 am. Members who sign up for Kathleen’s 5-day workshop will meet from 9:00 am-4:00 pm daily, April 5-9. We look forward to seeing you in April in Corvallis!