By Linda Segal, Event Volunteer
Annie Haines
Capitola Arts and Cultural Commission hosted its fifth Plein Air Art Festival from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3. Forty juried artists were welcomed by Laurie Hill, event coordinator, and an enthusiastic group of volunteers, to paint plein air (outdoors) for four days throughout Capitola city limits, from New Brighton to the Hook. This year artists were also allowed to paint along the Pleasure Point cliffs and in the Forest of Niscene Marks.
On Sunday, Nov. 3, the New Brighton Middle School auditorium was transformed into a gallery showcasing the artists’ completed works. This was a free-to-the public event, where about hundreds of attendees were treated to mellow music by Acoustic Madness, a DIY art table, and the opportunity to acquire original art. Sponsors shared free art supply samples and discussed new products. The Commission collected 30% of the proceeds to support art education.
Group picture of judged winners
Paintings were professionally judged; then the public and the artists themselves voted for their favorites. The winner of the professional judging, “Blues of Depot Hill” by Cleo Villett. Second place went to Durre Waseem’s “Shadows and Reflections”. Both first and second place pieces were purchased by the City of Capitola to be displayed in the Council Chambers. Heather Ihn Martin’s “Rising Tide” was chosen as the Artists’ Choice; and People’s Choice winner was Wendy Brayton’s “SoTola”. Wendy Brayton was a back to back first place winner in 2018 and 2017.
The artists, some local, some from as far away as upstate New York, took full advantage of the week’s perfect weather to create over 200 works for the Plein Air competition. Each showed a unique perspective of iconic subjects like the Venetian and Capitola Beach, as well as obscure paths and alleyways.
Artists at Mixer hosted by Shadowbrook
For the first time in five years, the artists were invited to join a Quick Draw competition on Saturday Nov. 2. Thirty-five of them took the challenge and had two hours to complete their best effort. At 3:30 P.M., all paintings were displayed at Esplanade Park, and the artists acted as their peers’ judges, while the public enjoyed the works and purchased 11 pieces at the silent auction. Annie Haines’ “Perfect Beach Day” was declared the winner and was purchased by the City of Capitola. Waseem’s work took second place, and Ihn Martin’s third.
This annual five-day event has become popular with participating artists and the public, and plans are already underway for 2020. New volunteers are welcome. For more information: www.capitolapleinair.com.
Plein Air Main Event Results
Judge’s Results
1st Place
Cleo Vilett “Blues of Depot Hill”
2nd Place
Durre Waseem “Shadows and Reflections”
Peoples Choice
Wendy Brayton
Artist’s Choice
Heather Ihn Martin “Rising Tide”
Honorable Mention
(in alpha order)
- Wendy Brayton “So Tola!”
- Tanvi Buch “Colors of Capitola”
- John Crawford “Capitola Cliff”
- Wendy Franklin “Shadowbrook Palms”
- Heather Ihn Martin “Rising Tide”
- Kristian Matthews “The Door”
- Gia Moody “Privates Beach”
- Erika Perloff “Moving Colors”
- Deborah Newman “Row Row Your Boat”
- Paul Ricard “Nisene Marks”
- Kari Ganoung Ruiz “Choice Spot”
- Nancy Takaichi “Wharf in a Square”
- Marti Walker “The Sparkling Sea”
Community Recognition Awards
Capitola Soquel Chamber of Commerce Award
Bonni Carver “Afternoon Nov. 3 Cap. Village”
Santa Cruz County Association of Realtors Award
Al Shamble “View From Depot Hill”
Capitola Village Business Improvement Association
Bruce Harman “Village Dusk”
Capitola’s First Quick Draw
1st Place
Anne Haines
2nd Place
Duree Waseem
3rd Place
Heather Ihn Martin
Honorable Mention
(in alpha order)
- Bonni Carver
- Oscar Lopez
- Deborah Newman
- Justin Owens
- Chris Potter