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Sedona Plein Air Festival
If you have a penchant for 1920s Paris and Gertrude Stein’s salons – or even Boardwalk Empire – then this year’s Sedona Plein Air Festival is right up your alley. In addition to landscape artists painting “in the open air” throughout Sedona Oct. 17-24, a selection of figurative painters will set up shop in the Speakeasy Salon at the Sedona Arts Center, organizer of the festival. During the day, the artists will paint models in the salon, and at 5 p.m., the salon will open its doors to ticketholders for happy hour (everyone is encouraged to dress in period attire). Guests can meet the painters and models, check out the artwork, listen to live jazz and partake in specialty cocktails until 8 p.m. The Speakeasy Salon opens Oct. 17 and culminates in a final reception on Oct. 21.
“The plein air movement comes from the Impressionists, who painted more than just landscapes,” says Vince Fazio, SAC’s director of the School of Arts. “The idea behind Impressionism was exploring new subject matter, and that could be horse races, circuses, the ballet, bathrooms and brothels. There was a figurative aspect, and we are bringing that to this year’s festival.”
The 11th annual festival will see the return of the popular Paint Out on Main Street on Oct. 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. as well as events in Jerome and at the Sedona Heritage Museum. There will be a final reception and awards ceremony on Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. Paintings will be available for purchase at SAC through Oct. 24. Artists take note: There is a full lineup of plein air workshops taking place throughout October and into November.
Vince says more than 20 artists will participate in this year’s invitational festival. The keynote presenter is figurative painter Randall Sexton, who will deliver the keynote address on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. To kick off the festival, Red Earth Theatre will present Moliere’s comedy Tartuffe at the Sedona Arts Center Oct. 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 11 at 2:30 p.m. in the Theatre Studio, which is the same location as the speakeasy. For information on the play, visit www.redearththeatre.org or call 928-399-0997.
Sedona Plein Air Festival
Oct. 17-24
Admission to most events is free with the exception of the Speakeasy Salon (prices not determined at press time)
Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road in Uptown
928-282-3809
www.sedonapleinairfestival.org
Taste of the Verde Valley Wine Harvest Festival
Verde Valley wineries will be in the spotlight during the Taste of the Verde Valley Wine Harvest Festival at Cliff Castle Casino Hotel Oct. 17, 1-5 p.m. The fourth annual event takes place outdoors at the casino’s Stargazer Pavilion. Enjoy wine from a dozen local wineries and food from Storytellers, Cliff Castle’s award-winning steakhouse. There will also be an auction of 12 wine barrels painted by local artists. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Verde Valley Humane Society and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters. Marc Nelson, marketing manager, says 500 people showed up the last time the event included the wine barrel auction.
“We enjoy hosting this event because it’s for the wine community,” says Marc. “It gives the wineries a chance to gather and show off their wines.”
Tickets to the festival are $25 and include a wine glass, five tasting tickets and $10 in casino money. The tasting tickets can be used for food or wine. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the casino and online.
Taste of the Verde Valley Wine Harvest Festival
Oct. 17, 1-5 p.m.
$25
Cliff Castle Casino Hotel’s Stargazer Pavilion, 555 W. Middle Verde Road, Camp Verde
928-567-7999
www.cliffcastlecasinohotel.com
MORE THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN SEDONA: Sedona festivals, secret Sedona, Sedona Bluegrass Festival, four-wheeling, kayaking, hang gliding and skydiving, Sedona confidential, wine tasting rooms, best pizza in Sedona, Sedona calendar of events, Sedona skygazing, Sedona dance classes
