Art Show Previews
Juried art exhibition and festival Plein Air Easton returns this July for its 15th year.
Hosted in scenic Talbot County, Maryland, Plein Air Easton returns for its 15th year this July. The outdoor painting festival and art competition is an ideal place for plein air painting, thanks to surrounding marshes, beaches and working waterfronts.
The weeklong event will welcome approximately 6,000 to 8,000 visitors throughout its duration, including painters, collectors and art enthusiasts alike. At the forefront of the festival is the juried plein air competition, featuring 58 artists from the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia hand-selected by Daniel Weiss, president and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. In addition to acting as the competition’s entry juror, Weiss will also host a talk on July 18 at the Avalon Theatre.
Other event speakers include prolific artist Raoul Middleman, who will host a discussion on July 20, and Dr. David Levy, whose accolades include educator, museum director, art historian, musician, designer, photographer and judge of this year’s plein air competition. Among the other highlights to look forward to are Coffee and Conversation, which offers a chance to learn tips and tricks from world-renowned artists; a live demonstration with painter Jove Wang; the ongoing exhibit and sale featuring paintings created during the festival; a quick draw
event; the Small Painting Sunday art sale; Meet the Artists Dinner held on a private estate; and the Collectors’ Preview Party, the festival’s signature event in which competitors select their two best pieces to be judged.
“Plein Air Easton has set the standard for art competitions across the nation and our 15th year is no different,” says PAE coordinator Marie Nuthall. “This year’s programming of marquee events includes art professionals and educators from world-class institutions and internationally renowned artists—the catch is it’s only for one week, July 14 through 21, and only in Easton, Maryland.”