Capitola Plein Air 2016

Last fall the Capitola Art and Cultural Commission hosted their inaugural Plein Air event, to the delight of the public and participating artists. Now they are hosting their second annual exhibition at New Brighton Middle School Performing Arts Center 250 Washburn Ave, Capitola on November 6. Admission is free, and includes live music, hands on art activities, and art sales benefitting art education.

Forty professional local and regional artists will converge to paint outdoors capturing the charm and beauty of Capitola. The artists paint on the spot, laying down only what they can see, the particular light, and the feel of the place.

This year, Moss Landing artist Annette Dion McGowan returns to paint in the professional category, while her daughter, Madeline Aranda, from Walnut Creek, paints alongside her in the amateur division.

Artists find the event a welcome change from painting alone, since the life of an artist at work can be solitary. Plein Air artists often get up early, pack their easels and paints, and head out to find their painting site as they capture the changing light, shadows, and atmospheric conditions (fog!). These are the challenges as they translate the moment they are witnessing often returning the next day at the same time to complete the piece. Some artists work into the evening, painting nocturnes, putting their twist on the reflection of moonlight on the bay, or the twinkle of lights on Depot Hill.

Commissioner and Committee Chair, Jenny Shelton, is looking forward to seeing this year’s entries. “Last year, the artworks were really lovely, with oil, pastel, and watercolors of some landmarks and some not-so-familiar spots. We got to see Capitola in a new way — through the eyes of these talented artists.”

Observe and Interact

With forty artists painting outdoors throughout Capitola, the best time to see them in action is Saturday, November 5 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when all competing artists are required to paint.

The Capitola Wharf, Esplanade, New Brighton Beach, top of the steps at Depot Hill, and near the parking area along the jewel box were popular spots for artists competing last year.

Scavenger Hunt for Kids

On Saturday, kids can pick up a scavenger hunt guide at the esplanade, seek out the art and artists, and then bring their completed scorecard to the exhibition on Sunday to claim a prize. The scavenger hunt can also be downloaded online at capitolapleinair.com. For the best experience, get the Commission’s free interactive iOS app, the “Capitola Public Art and Historic Sites Self-Guided Tour” before you start.

Collect Original Art: On exhibition day, November 6, you can view the winning paintings and take one home with you! Award winning landscape and plein air painter Kevin Courter judges the artists work, selecting the first, second, and third place paintings and honorable mentions. The top two paintings will be purchased by the City from Public Art funds, to become the latest pieces in the City’s permanent public art collection. All other pieces submitted in competition are up for sale, some with the paint still wet!

Paintings created in Capitola during November 2-6 are eligible to win more than $2,500 worth of prizes at the competition. And cast your vote for the people’s choice award!

Art sales support these local and regional artists, and a percentage of the proceeds from sales are donated to the Arts Council Santa Cruz County SPECTRA program.

Create Art: The whole family can enjoy the hands on art activities in the Art Pop-up tent inside the Exhibition building.

Plein air is a French term meaning ‘outdoors’. Nineteenth century landscape painters including many of the impressionists, painted en plein air, adding color and texture that was their interpretation of the landscape.

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The Capitola Art and Cultural Commission produces cultural events such as the Twilight Concerts, Summer Movies at the Beach, and the Art & Music at the Beach Series. They recently released a free iOS app that provides information about local historic sites and public art. The “Capitola Self-Guided Tour of Public Art and Historic Sites,” is available at the app store. More info at Capitolapleinair.com