Third Annual Capitola Plein Air Art Festival

By Edita McQuary

On Sunday, November 5, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., Capitola’s New Brighton Middle School Auditorium was the scene of the Third Annual Capitola Plein Air Art Festival. Organized by Jenny Shelton, Chair, and Laurie Hill, Co-Chair, of the Capitola Art and Cultural Commission, this year’s event attracted more than forty artists who displayed their works. The competition and sale, open to the public, also attracted a good–sized crowd of art lovers.

The works were by professional and amateur artists painting vibrant beachside landscapes and citywide impressions throughout Capitola, New Brighton Beach, Depot Hill, the Esplanade and the Jewel Box.

Most of the artists were local or from other parts of California, but there were also a couple of out-of-staters from Marlborough, New York and Bellingham, Washington.

The jazz duo of Marc Schwartz and Dale Mills, on guitar and bass fiddle, lent an air of “I’m in the mood to buy art” mellow sophistication to the event. Community sponsors of the event were the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County “SPECTRA,” Shadowbrook Restaurant, Palace Arts, Lenz Arts, City of Capitola, GoodTimes, Local Tape, Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria and Times Publishing Group.

Noted local artist Laurie Kersey was judge.

Awards presented were:

• First place ($1500 Purchase Prize) Wendy Brayton of Petaluma, “Morning Commute”
• Second Place $800 Purchase Prize) Barbara Tapp of Kensington, “The Spirit of Capitola”
• Artists’ Choice ($350 Prize) was Heather Ihn Martin of Concord, “Peeking Thru the Sandbar”
• People’s Choice ($350 Prize) was Cleo Vilett of Oakland, “The Venetian”

The Times Publishing Group Blue Ribbon and Gift Basket Winner was Julia Munger Seelos of Redwood City for her oil painting of the Santa Cruz coastline entitled “Primal Edge.”

Honorable Mentions were Rich Brimer for “Little Tikes Rose Garden;” Sergio Lopez for “Jack’s Place;” Suzi Marquess Long for “Surf Jetty;” Anette Power for “Peeking Thru the Sandbar;” Paul Rickard for “Eucalyptus Row New Brighton;” Randall Stauss for “The Yellow House;” Nancy Takaichi for “Crimson and grey;” Barbara Tapp for “Morning Fishing at Capitola Beach;” and Cleo Vilett for “Big Red.”

A portion of the proceeds from the art sales will go to benefit SPECTRA, a program of the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, and for arts education in Capitola.

For more information, please visit capitolapleinair.com or their Facebook page.