Sedona, AZ
Sedona Arts Center, October 12-19
This story was featured in the October 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art October 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
FOR ANYONE who loves art, beautiful scenery, and a sunny atmosphere, it’s hard to beat a plein-air festival set in Sedona, AZ, particularly when it features 25 nationally recognized landscape artists who bring the city to life in paint over the course of seven sparkling autumn days. The 15th annual Sedona Plein Air Festival is well worth a visit from art lovers who can make the trip to Sedo-na between October 12-19, when numerous art-related events unfold around town.
Lyn Boyer, Dimensions, oil, 12 x 12.
“There’s something every single day,” enthuses Vince Fazio, executive director of the Sedona Arts Center, which organizes the event. For starters, each of the 25 invited artists—among them Joshua Been, Lyn Boyer, Bill Cramer, and James McGrew—brings six studio and plein-air works to the opening reception at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 12, at the SAC campus in uptown Sedona. This opening exhibition and sale then expands and evolves throughout the ensuing week as the artists create new plein-air works and add their fresh pieces to the show.
In addition to the exhibition, must-see festival events include artists’ demonstrations at the SAC campus on Monday and Tuesday. Then, on Wednesday morning, the public can take a trolley to the nearby resort L’Auberge de Sedona to watch all of the artists capture the scenic sights along Oak Creek. At noon, awards are announced and the framed works go up for sale. Thursday brings a special ticketed paint-out and art sale from 3 to 5:30 p.m. at Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, where artists portray the area’s red-rock country in the late-afternoon light. Renowned chef Lisa Dahl serves as the awards judge, and gourmet tapas and wine are served.
Winners announced in 2018.
The flurry of activity continues on Friday with a half-day painting demonstration by this year’s keynote speaker, Dave Santillanes. The award-winning artist, whose keynote presentation takes place on Wednesday evening, also serves as the judge at the Friday-night awards gala at the SAC, for which each artist submits three of his or her best works created during the week for judging. One of these pieces snags the $5,000 Best of Show prize.
The festivities don’t end there, however. On Saturday, the popular Main Street paint-out and art sale gets underway in the morning. A cookout with the artists at noon concludes this lively and welcoming affair. “We serve anyone who shows up,” says Fazio. —Kim Agricola
contact information
www.sedonapleinairfestival.org
This story was featured in the October 2019 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art October 2019 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story.
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