The Sedona Plein Air Festival will see many firsts this year. For the first time ever, the Sedona Plein Air Festival will be entirely virtual. From Oct. 24 to 31, you can visit sedonapleinairfestival.org and the Sedona Arts Center’s social media accounts to watch all female plein air artists in action. Also new, artists will be painting from their homes located throughout the country. It was important that the festival, now in its 16th year, continue on despite the pandemic.
“We wanted to still have the festival spirit, for the most part, during this tough time,” says Kelli Klymenko, marketing director for the Sedona Arts Center. “We’re trying to still give to the community as much as we possibly can and also support the artists.”
In honor of the centennial anniversary of women’s suffrage, the Sedona Arts Center has dubbed 2020 the year of the woman. In keeping with this overall theme, only juried female plein air painters will participate in an effort to raise awareness of women artists. Artists are required to paint original paintings during the festival. Those original works will be for sale on the site until November. A portion of the sales benefits the Sedona Arts Center.
Artists will submit their new work as they finish it. Artists are free to paint whatever scene they choose. Each piece will be accompanied by a short narrative where artists describe why they decided to paint their selected place and discuss their creative process. Some may even give in-studio tours. During the week, you can expect one or two lectures. The festival will conclude on Oct. 31 with a Zoom awards ceremony. All the artists will call in and notable plein air painter Lyn Boyer of Colorado will spotlight certain artworks. Above all, look forward to awesome plein air paintings of Sedona and other stunning spots around the country. “They all have beautiful landscapes. It’s just going to be more of an interesting and diverse festival more than anything else,” says Kelli. “We’re going to get great work, absolutely.” − Teresa K. Traverse
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