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As museum exhibits go, “In the Valley of Mystic Light” was a work of art.

On several levels.

Based on the acclaimed Claire Swedberg and Rita Hupy book of the same name, “In the Valley of Mystic Light” was curated by Karen Summers and displayed from October 2017 to February 2018 at the Skagit County Historical Museum in La Conner.

It proved a hit with the public and critics alike.

The most recent proof came last Thursday when “In the Valley of Mystic Light” was tabbed by the Washington Museum Association for an Excellence in Exhibits award.

Director Jo Wolfe accepted the award on behalf of the local museum, which this year is celebrating its golden anniversary.

In the “Valley of Mystic Light” tells the story of those artists, including the “Big Four” of Mark Tobey, Guy Anderson, Morris Graves and Kenneth Callahan, who brought their vision and talents to the Skagit Valley.

Hupy, long an influential leader in the La Conner arts community, is credited with being the book’s brainchild.

“Rita’s vision,” says Wolfe, “was to tell the story of the artists who came to Skagit County and made it their home. Sadly, Rita passed away before the book was completed, but Claire continued Rita’s vision.”

According to Wolfe, Swedberg approached Summers in late 2016 and asked if “In the Valley of Mystic Light” could be presented as a museum exhibit.

That was the first step in what would become a display of more than 50 diverse works of art – carvings, sculptures, and paintings – deftly curated by Summers, who used text from the book to tell the stories of the artists, the community and the creativity and camaraderie they shared.

The Museum of Northwest Art, art collectors, galleries and the artists themselves provided items for the exhibit.

It was, as confirmed at last week’s Washington Museum Association conference, an unbeatable combination.

“This was the first time that a full exhibit featured this broad group of artists and told their stories,” Wolfe says. “One of our staff members commented: ‘I don’t remember us ever having an exhibit that elicited so much emotion!’”

In the “Valley of Mystic Light” should be a bright spot in La Conner for years to come.

“Plans are being made,” Wolfe says, “to create a permanent exhibit in the museum to share these stories and continue the conversations about the early artists and their contributions to the community.”