Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor’s Center, Grand Teton National Park, WY, July 13-15
This story was featured in the July 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art magazine July 2012 print edition here, or purchase the Southwest Art magazine July 2012 digital download here. Or simply click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!
The first-ever plein-air painting event in Grand Teton National Park takes place this summer, courtesy of the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters group. Plein Air for the Park is the group’s 11th annual national paint-out and exhibition, and it features 44 nationally recognized artists. For two weeks, participants paint in the park and the nearby Jackson Hole area, a region replete with history, majestic peaks, and expansive vistas. New works are then displayed in the 1,200-square-foot gallery space at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor’s Center, which is located at the park’s Moose Junction entrance.
The show opens on Friday, July 13, and runs through Sunday, July 15. A gala opening reception and awards presentation is held on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. with artists in attendance. Award-winning paintings will become part of the park’s permanent collection. The show judge this year is Stephanie Brennan, chair of the board of trustees at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Hole. Look for works by notable artists such as Kathy Anderson, Stephanie Birdsall, Stephen C. Datz, Jennifer Hoffman, Greg McHuron, John Potter, Dave Santillanes, and Carol Swinney.
Other activities taking place at the visitor’s center include daily painting demonstrations July 7-15. On Thursday, July 12, art-lovers can watch the artists work as they create paintings from start to finish in a Quick Draw.
Plein Air for the Park celebrates the rich tradition of landscape painting in Grand Teton and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Grand Teton Association. Founded in 1937, the association donates 100 percent of its profits to benefit the park’s educational, interpretive, and scientific research programs; 40 percent of proceeds from the sale of art at the show will go to the association.
The ambiance at a Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters event is friendly and passionate. Jake Gaedtke, one of the organization’s founders, is quick to express his enthusiasm for the occasion: “The opportunity to paint and experience the Teton region with fellow artists and visitors is one I wouldn’t miss. Every artist has their own unique way of creating a painting on location, and to witness them in action can be quite amazing. It never ceases to surprise me that in the short span of a couple of hours, a gorgeous painting can come into being that didn’t exist before.”
The organization was founded in 2001 by a small group of artists intent on increasing public awareness and enthusiasm for plein-air painting in the Rocky Mountain region and fostering camaraderie and professional development among its members. It has now grown to include 50 artists from all over North America. Choosing the site for this year’s national show was a no-brainer, according to the group’s president, Stephen C. Datz. “Grand Teton is a singularly beautiful park with a rich artistic history,” he says. “The opportunity to continue that tradition and, in doing so, to benefit the Grand Teton Association’s exceptional efforts is a genuine pleasure.” —Rosemary Carstens
contact information
970.640.1879
www.rmpap.org
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