Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters’ Plein Air for the Park
Moose, WY
Forty-one nationally recognized artists, who are members of the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters or invited guest artists, will convene in Grand Teton National Park this July for an annual paint out of the mountainous landscapes. The artists begin painting July 9, with their works displayed at noon on July 18 at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Five days of festivities will then commence, allowing collectors and art enthusiasts the chance to view works being created and purchase pieces through July 22.
Marking its seventh year, Plein Air for the Park sees a percentage of its proceeds benefiting the Grand Teton Association. Jake Gaedtke, president of RMPAP and a founding member of the group, says, “Plein Air for the Park enlightens the public about how we work as plein air painters. But it also serves a higher purpose: enhancing visitor understanding and environmental efforts with Grand Teton National Park. We reach an incredible amount of people. The event simply gets better every year.”
This year’s show opens with the Gala Reception on July 18 at 7 p.m., when collectors will have the chance to purchase artwork created in the park and to mingle with the public. Prior to this event, any collector who has
decided to participate in the Purchase Patron program will have early access to the show and get the first pick of the new works to buy.
“All [the Purchase Patrons] have to do is commit to buying a painting at any size or price,” says Gaedtke, who adds there are other perks of the program, including a raffle and a special gift of appreciation. “That program is a good way to get a pick of the work out there.”
From 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 21, will be the anticipated quick draw at Menors Ferry in the park, where 25 participating artists will create works while the public watches them paint. Following, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the visitor center’s courtyard, will be a fixed-price sale. Attendees also have the chance to watch select artists paint during two demonstrations held during the artists’ painting week. On July 16, from 9 a.m. to noon, is the Jackson Lake Lodge Demonstration, while Painting on The Square in Jackson Hole happens July 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Morning with the Masters” Youth Paint Out, an event started last year, will be held July 23 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “A couple of our artists from our group volunteer to work with students from around ages 10 to 14, and it’s basically like a plein air class for young people,” explains Gaedtke. Following the painting session, he says, their work is hung in the visitors center alongside the RMPAP artists’ pieces. Gaedtke adds, “It’s a way to introduce plein air to young people and see if we can park interest and create budding artists.”
Among the artists painting in the 2018 Plein Air for the Park are Kathy Anderson, Bethanne Kinsella Cople, Steve Datz, David Harms, John Hughes, Michael Mcclure, Wes Newton, Erin O’connor, Greg Scheibel, Kathryn Mapes Turner and Phil Wright. There will be eight guest artists participating as well, including Kim Casebeer, Mike Rangner and Bart Walker. This year well-known landscape artist Josh Elliott will judge the show.