Wayne Art Center presents 2018 Plein Air Festival
RADNOR » One of the most sought-after national juried festival competitions of plein-air landscape paintings, hosted by Wayne Art Center, will take place from May 6-12 as artists paint in the Delaware Valley. The 12th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival will feature 33 nationally distinguished artists who will create 250+ landscapes that will be available at the Collectors’ Soirée and Sale on Saturday, May 12, from 6-10 pm and for the duration of the exhibition through June 30, 2018.
The Plein Air Festival will begin with a private Artist and Sponsor Welcome Dinner at a local patron’s picturesque farm on Sunday, May 6, 2018. Artists arrive with blank canvases, which will be stamped that late afternoon to ensure that all work is completely executed during the festival. Then they will be ready to begin the challenge of executing a brand new body of work in just 6 days, which will then hang in Wayne Art Center’s stateof-the-art Davenport and Vidinghoff Galleries.
The Collectors’ Soirée, will be held Saturday, May 12 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. (Ticketed event, ww.waynepleinair.org)
The Exhibition Dates are: May 13 through June 30, 2018 (Free and open to the public) Festival Schedule of Events: May 6, 5-7 p.m.: Artist and Sponsor Welcome Dinner
May 7-12: Artists Paint Within 25 miles of Wayne
May 11: Art of Water” Special Painting Destinations
May 12, 6a.m.–1 p.m.: Artists Community Paint Out in Wayne
May 12, 6- to 10 p.m.: Collectors’ Soirée and Sale
May 13, 1-3 p.m.: Lecture/ Demo by Juror, John Cosby
May 14-16, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: John Cosby 3-day Plein Air Workshop
May 18, 5-7 p.m.: Reflections Thru the Lens & Matthew Paskiet Glass Exhibition Opening
June 6, 10-1 p.m.: Barnes Foundation Docent Tour & Lunch of Renoir: Father & Son
June 14, 5:30-7:00 p.m.: Plein Air Artist Demo by Mick McAndrews
June 21, 6-9 p.m. : West Laurel Hill Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Fundraiser June 23-24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Tara Will Pastel Workshop
The Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival is an opportunity to bring valued talent to the Main Line community. Many of the artists come from other regions stretching up and down the East Coast out to the Midwest and as far as the West. This year, with the growing awareness of Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival, there has been an increase in the number of applicants and the festival is attracting artists from as far away as California and Florida. Out of town artists will be housed by committee members and other gracious patron families in the community for the duration of the festival.
Wayne Art center officials are honored to have John Cosby jury the artists and awards for our 12th plein air anniversary. Born in Hollywood, California, in 1955, Cosby was raised on the West Coast. At an early age, he began to draw and paint and was lucky enough to have been inspired by a grandmother who was an oil painter.
“She would give me the paint, some brushes and a scrap of canvas and set me off to paint. This early experience took the fear out of creating a painting,” says Cosby. As a painter Cosby travels extensively, painting what he sees and feels. Bold use of color and an energetic brush stroke, combined with the “truth of the place,” is what one will see and feel when viewing a painting by Cosby.
Cosby also started traveling at an early age. At the age of 18 he was chosen as an Advance Man for the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, served under two Presidents and traveled the world. He met many notable people and saw many things, but what interested him most were the great works of art he encountered. “They haunted me and helped set the course of my career as a painter.” After leaving the White House, Cosby rebuilt an old classic sailing sloop designed by Nathaniel Herrishoff. With a friend (who had dreams of being a writer), he set sail up and down the Eastern seaboard in the inland waterway for three years. Thus he began his art career.
Cosby currently resides and maintains a studio in San Clemente, Calif. He works on location around the world and is represented by some of the finest galleries. Cosby was a founding board member of the prestigious Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, a signature member of both Plein Air Painters of America and The California Art Club. He has served as an officer of these groups to help further the cause of art. Cosby was also a founder of the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational that was held at the Laguna Art Museum for 13 years and is now in its 18th year.
Cosby has selected artists from across the country to compete in Wayne Art Center’s Plein Air Festival. The artists will paint the luscious landscapes and beautiful architecture of the Delaware Valley. Cosby will select awards for the freshly painted framed works and present with Wayne Art Center for over $18,000+ in cash and gift awards at the Collectors’ Soiree on Saturday, May 12. He will also offer a free and open to the public painting demon on Sunday, May 13 from 1:00-3:00 pm. Cosby will also teach a three day, plein air painting workshop on May 14 through 16. Collectors’ Soiree tickets and registration for the workshop can be made at www.waynepleinair.org or by calling 610-688-3553.
Festival artists are directed to paint within 25 miles of Wayne during the first four days of the competition. A combination of pastoral scenes from nearby rural areas and parks as well as quaint scenes from historic Main Line neighborhoods will make for a pleasing variety of works that reflect the character of our area. On Friday, May 11, the painters will venture to site specific “Art of Water” locations in the area and in Center City. On Saturday, May 12, Wayne becomes the central spot for artists and community participates to paint on the final day of the festival. Artists can be seen capturing everyday life from early morning until 1:00 pm. Community artists can register to paint on May 12 at www. waynepleinair.org.
In years past, participating artists have produced over 250 to 300 fresh paintings within the festival week. The exhibit commences with the 12th Annual Collectors Soirée and Sale on Saturday, May 12 in the Davenport and Vidinghoff Galleries. Doors open precisely at 6:00 pm for those with early patron viewing tickets and 7:00 p.m. for regular admission tickets. The event offers a chance to meet the artists in a festive and elegant setting with open bar and savory hors d’oeuvres by Duffy’s Catering. Martinis will flow from a hand-sculpted ice luge created by Ron Capone, fine wines by LBD and craft beers will be served, and live jazz by Phyllis Chapell and Siora will create a festive environment for over 250 collectors and patrons. Guests will have first crack at purchasing the new paintings.
Wayne Art Center’s financial efforts are underwritten by several local major sponsors and private patrons and attendees who help raise funds for the 2018 Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival that benefit Wayne Art Center’s ever-growing educational, outreach and exhibition programs. Presenting Sponsor is West Laurel Hill Cemetery and Funeral Home, Major Sponsors include First Priority Bank, Beneficial Bank, Wayne Jewelers, Ralph J. DiMaio and many other generous local business sponsors and patrons.
During the 2018 Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival, the annual Reflections Thru the Lens, a regional juried exhibition of landscape photography will be on exhibition in the Ethel Sergeant Clark Smith Gallery. Byron Wolfe, this year’s juror of artwork entries and awards, is a Professor and the Program Director of Photography at the Tyler School of Art at Temple University. Over $1,000+ in awards will be presented at the opening on Friday, May 18th, 5-7pm. The reception is free and open to the public. Exhibition will run from May 13 through June 30, 2018.
In addition, Craft Forms 2017 glass artist, Mathew Paskiet, will show five breathtaking glass “web” vessels in the Link Gallery. Paskiet is a native to The Glass City, Toledo, Ohio, owner of Firenation, and studied at Toledo Museum of Art, Pilchuck Glass School and Fundacio Centre del Vidre in Barcelona.
Additional related Plein Air events will include a private docent tour and lunch at The Barnes Foundation to view the exhibition, Renoir: Father & Son/Painting & Cinema on Wednesday, June 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m, returning plein air artist and Wayne Art Center faculty member, Mick McAndrews with conduct a plein air painting demo on Thursday, June 14 from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, then presenting sponsor, West Laurel Hill will create a spellbinding Murder Mystery Dinner and Theater Benefit for Wayne Art Center on Thursday, June 21, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. and lastly, another award winning plein air artist, Tara Will, will offer a Spring and Summer Landscape Pastel Workshop on June 23 and 24 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please visit www.waynepleinair.org to register for these events.
The 2018 Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival will remain on display and open to the public from May 13 until June 30, 2018. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 am until 5:00 pm and Saturdays 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. For more information about events surrounding the festival contact Wayne Art Center at 610-688-3553 or go to www. wayneart.org or www.waynepleinair.org.