FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Rita Olin
Southern California Plein Air Painters Association (SOCALPAPA)
Email: RLOlin@cox.net
Phone: (949)387-5229
SOCALPAPA Artists Return to Compete, Exhibit at Biennial Back Bay Event
Newport Beach, CA (April 23, 2012)
SOCALPAPA artists return to the Upper Newport Bay for their Biennial Fine Arts Juried Event and Display Sale. The two-part celebration of the Back Bay and its environs will feature a juried plein air art competition and a weekend display sale. Paintings on display will showcase the beauty and natural heritage of the area.
The local artists’ association will submit over sixty original paintings for jury review and awards at the Artists’ Reception on Friday, July 20th, 2012 , with the art to be exhibited for sale that evening. Nationally respected artist, Scott W. Prior, will be the juror. Mr. Prior has juried competitions and invitational events across the country.
Several hundred additional original paintings will be exhibited at the art show and sale, which takes place from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 21st and 22nd. SOCALPAPA Artists will display original plein air paintings of the bay and other local scenes, with a portion of the sales’ proceeds to benefit the Newport Bay Naturalists & Friends, a charitable organization.
New this year, free painting classes for kids ages 7 – 12 will be offered. The classes will be taught by Roy Gould, popular local artist and frequent instructor at Yosemite National Park. Students will be able to take home a completed painting at the end of class. Due to limited supplies and space, students are required to sign up for the classes. Sign-ups will be taken starting May 1st, 2012 inside the Muth Interpretive Center office.
The event takes place at the OC Parks Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center located at 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach. This innovative festival of fine art is a collaborative event organized by SOCALPAPA in conjunction with the Newport Bay Naturalists & Friends (NBNF), Orange County Parks and the Newport Beach Arts Foundation (NBAF).
SOCALPAPA’s nearly 300-member association dedicates itself to painting outdoors from life. For more information about SOCALPAPA, visit the association’s website, www.socalpapa.com
Following on the success of last year’s Impressionism show, SOCALPAPA has hung its third Impressionist Show. The exhibit includes 54 paintings and one alternate.
The paintings feature works depicting the California landscape once painted by the early California Impressionists, but as it appears today—still beautiful, inspiring, and always moving to the artists who capture it and to the viewers who immerse themselves in the story being told in light and color.
This year’s judge is Toni Dankchik, a long-time SOCALPAPA member who has received many awards and is well known in the Southern California arts community. In addition to her art career, Toni and her husband Paul travel several times a year to South Africa. They have helped organize a group that rescues HIV/AIDS orphans, giving them a home and hope for the future. (www.acresoflove.org).
Toni has a gift for explaining what is important in a painting. She was very excited by our show and commented several times how difficult it was to come to a final decision! We are very grateful for her participation and expertise. Thank you,Toni!