National Award-Winning Artists Capture Beauty of Palm Beach County at the 4th Annual Plein Air Festival
$10,000 in cash and prizes awarded during 5 day paint-out event
TEQUESTA (February 9, 2017) Diverse views and depictions of our county make up the outdoor painting contest that is the Lighthouse ArtCenter’s 4th Annual Plein Air Festival. Nationally-known, award-winning artists from around the country will paint throughout Palm Beach county, depicting scenes from the beaches and natural Florida landscapes to the quickly disappearing old Florida homes and residential areas. Known as “Paint-Outs,” the artists will be visiting seven different outdoor areas to paint the varied landscapes and cityscapes that make up Palm Beach County.
The event kicks off on Saturday, March 4 at 1 pm, with a “Kids’ Paint Out” event at Harbourside Place in Jupiter. Children can register in advance online at the Lighthouse ArtCenter School of Art at 395 Seabrook Road or on the day of the event. Painting supplies will be provided and the kids will receive certificates at a ceremony at 3 pm, followed by a reception where the public can meet the juried artists who will be officially painting in the festival.
From Wednesday through Saturday, the public is invited to watch the artists and purchase paintings at the Paint-Out locations. The diverse locations for the paint-outs include Northwood Village in West Palm Beach, Society of the Four Arts and Bethesda by the Sea in Palm Beach, Riverbend Park, Harbourside Place and DuBois Park in Jupiter and the Juno Beach Pier in Juno Beach. With over 120 artists from around the country entering the jurying process, the forty one artists that were selected represent the best of the Plein Air genre. They will be competing for $10,000 in cash and prizes.
The artists will deliver their paintings each day to the Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery for viewing by the general public. The awards ceremony will be on Saturday, March 11 at 5 pm at the Lighthouse ArtCenter. The paintings will be judged by George Van Hook, last year’s Grand Prize winner and internationally acclaimed plein air painter. The art will then be available for sale at the VIP Collectors Party from 5-9 pm that night at the Gallery.
The Quick Draw Painting Contest is open to all artists, and will take place in Jupiter on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 9 to 11am. The art will be judged, awards will be given and the art will be available for purchase from noon to 3 pm on location (TBA).
The Plein Air Festival is chaired by Drs. Anne & Vincent Palumbo. Committee members include: Laurel Brower, Jean Chase, Barbara Fonner, Nancy Goldman, Suzanne Manzi, Ted Matz, Jane O’Neill, Barbara Roehl, Jenny Schorr.
“Plein Air painting has seen a worldwide resurgence in popularity,” said Ted Matz, ArtCenter’s Chair of Painting and Drawing. “We offer classes and workshops in plein air painting, which have become very popular.”
“We are excited to welcome the 41 juried artists who are outstanding painters on a national level, many of whom are featured on the covers of art magazines,” said Nancy Politsch, Lighthouse ArtCenter Executive Director. “This is an amazing opportunity to collect high-quality paintings by recognized artists.”
Festival sponsors include Drs. Anne & Vincent Palumbo, Jenny & Larry Schorr, Harbourside Place, Northwood Village Mainstreet, Plein Air Magazine, Rosemary’s Brushes, Michael Harding Paints, Chelsea Classical Studio, JFM Frames and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County .
The 2017 juried artists include Stephanie Amato, David Boyd, Jr., Carl Bretzke, Michele Byrne, Eli Cedrone, Kathleen Denis, Bill Farnsworth, Kevin Feary, Nyle Gordon, Karen Ann Hitt, Jennifer Holmes, Neal Hughes, Charlie Hunter, Maryanne Jacobsen, Shelby Keefe, Chris Kling, Debra Latham, Gregory Little, Andre Lucero, Tom Lynch, Jeffrey Markowsky, Ted Matz, Jim McVicker, Spencer Meagher, Dan Mondloch, Kathie Odom, Joseph Palmerio, Ralph Papa, Elise Phillips, Devin Roberts, Cynthia Rosen, Lawrence Rudolech, Jason Sacran, Manon Sander, Patrick Saunders, Richard J. Simone, Richard Sneary, R. Gregory Summers, Nancy Tankersley, Robin Weiss and Cory Wright.
If you would like to be a sponsor, a volunteer or get more information about the festival, call (561) 746-3101.
What: 4th Annual Plein Air Festival
When: March 8 – 12, 2017
Where: Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery & School of Art, 373 Tequesta Drive, Tequesta, FL 33469 and outdoor painting locales throughout Palm Beach County.
Cost: Free admission to the ArtCenter Gallery to view the daily “wet paintings,” from 10 am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Saturday.
Collectors’ Preview Party and Wet Painting Sales: Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery in Tequesta from 5 – 9 pm.
Tickets: $100 per person for the Preview Party and Award Ceremony 5 – 9 pm. Attend the Artists Award Ceremony and get first pick of the art. Your ticket price is good toward the purchase of a painting. General Admission is $25 from 6:30 – 9 pm.
Pre-Festival events:
Paint Your Heart Out: Tuesday, February 7, 2017 from 6-8pm at the Lighthouse ArtCenter, Tickets are $50 per person. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy some wine and hors d’oeuvres, while you create one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day cards. Bring your friends for a fun night out!
Plein Air Festival Food & Wine Tasting Party Tuesday, February 21, 2017 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery. Experience some delicious food & wine pairings from the chefs at the Jupiter Hills Country Club, while you get a taste of some award-winning plein air art. Four of our award-winning artists will be painting during the event, and their works will then be raffled. Tickets are $125 per person(which is your raffle ticket for the event)
Proceeds from both events benefit the 4th Annual Plein Air Event. To purchase tickets please go to LighthouseArts.org or call (561) 746-3101.
ABOUT PLEIN AIR
En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air,” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. The mid-19th century saw working in natural light become particularly important to the impressionists, which only increased with the introduction of paint in tubes, giving additional portability to the artists.
ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE ARTCENTER
The Lighthouse ArtCenter, a member-supported nonprofit organization, provides visual and performing arts for the community through unique collections, engaging exhibitions and cultural programs, a dynamic School of Art and diverse outreach activities. The Lighthouse ArtCenter Gallery is located at 373 Tequesta Drive in Tequesta, Fla. For information call (561) 746-3101 or visit www.LighthouseArts.org. The Lighthouse ArtCenter School of Art is located at 395 Seabrook Road in Tequesta, Fla. For information on classes, workshops or ArtCamp, call (561) 748-8737.
More Information:
Jennifer Chaparro, Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival Staff Liaison
Jennifer@Lighthouse Arts.org (561) 748-8737
Sheila McDonald-Bell, Lighthouse ArtCenter Director of Events
Sheila@Lighthouse Arts.org (561) 746-3101