Sedona’s stunning red rock landscape has been inspiring artists for decades, and the annual Sedona Plein Air Festival seeks to celebrate the city’s natural beauty and rich relationship to the arts. From Oct. 23 to 30, 28 plein air artists from all over the country will gather in Sedona to capture the city’s natural splendor with their paintbrushes. Last year’s event was almost entirely virtual due to the pandemic, but the festival is in person for 2021 and in its seventeenth year.
One of the most popular events, the Main Street Paint Out, will take place at the beginning and the end of the festival on Oct. 23 and 30. New this year, holding the event twice is designed to accommodate out of town guests who may only be able to visit on the weekends. During this event, artists will paint outside on the sidewalk all along Main Street in Uptown Sedona, specifically from the Sedona Arts Center to the Visitor Center. It’s no surprise to Kelli Klymenko, the marketing director of the Sedona Arts Center, as to why people love this event. “Sedona itself specifically, you could pretty much set up anywhere. That’s why the Main Street Paint Out is fantastic. You go out in front of all businesses that are out there, all the traffic that might be driving down the street, and you still have all these beautiful views. Red rocks to the left, to the right, behind you, everywhere,” says Kelli.
Confirmed as of press time are two paint outs where artists have about two hours – due to the fact that the light can change dramatically as time passes – to capture the beauty of two different spots. On Oct. 27, artists will be painting by Oak Creek at L’Auberge de Sedona. On Oct. 28, they’ll gather at the Sedona Heritage Museum. Artist Michele Usibelli will give a keynote address on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Participating artists can also win prizes and awards for their work. The festival also features a variety of workshops. Many of the events will be live-streamed via the Art Center’s social media channels. Visit sedonapleinairfestival.org for the most accurate information and to see where artists specifically will be painting. Above all, look forward to one-of-a-kind works of art. “They’re all unique individual pieces that you won’t find anywhere else,” says Kelli. − Teresa K. Traverse
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