Two dozen painters scheduled to take part in RTPI Plein Air Festival
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A bigger and longer Plein Air Festival is coming to the Roger Tory Peterson Institute – and the surrounding area – starting Saturday.
From Sept. 12-18, the festival sponsored by RTPI will take place with artists at venues throughout Western New York. RTPI has expanded both the timeframe and geographic range of the festival, giving participating artists more time and more places to paint outdoors and capture the beauty of the region. Plein air is a French term referring to the practice of painting outdoors, where artists work to capture the natural light, atmosphere and character of a place in the moment.
While RTPI won't know exactly where inspiration will take the artists, Western New York offers no shortage of possibilities -- from Niagara Falls and Letchworth State Park to Chautauqua Lake, farmland, forests, quaint towns and countless other scenic locations throughout the region. RTPI officials anticipate that more than two dozen artists will be participating, and RTPI is still accepting artist registrations.
The week of painting culminates in the RTPI Plein Air Festival Show & Sale on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, when visitors will have the opportunity to see and purchase the freshly created artwork.
The show and sale is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20, with artwork displayed throughout the museum. An awards reception will be held Sept. 19 from 5 to 7 p.m., giving visitors an opportunity to meet the artists, celebrate the award winners and take part in an evening surrounded by art inspired by the landscapes of Western New York. Admission is $10 for non-members and $5 for RTPI members. A portion of the proceeds from every piece of art sold will benefit RTPI, helping support the exhibitions, programs and experiences the institute offers to the community and visitors throughout the year.
"I'm so excited to experience my first Plein Air Festival here at RTPI," said Stacey Otte-Demangate, RTPI CEO. "The landscape here in Chautauqua County and throughout Western New York is so diverse and truly stunning. I can't wait to see where the artists find inspiration and what they create."
The Roger Tory Peterson Institute is located at 311 Curtis St., Jamestown. For more information about the Plein Air Festival and other upcoming events, visit rtpi.org.
Home to the largest collection of Roger Tory Peterson's original artwork and archives, the Roger Tory Peterson Institute carries his legacy forward by connecting people with art and nature. Through exhibitions, programs and its collections, RTPI invites visitors to see the natural world in new ways and to be inspired by Peterson's lifelong curiosity, creativity and commitment to conservation. For more information, visit rtpi.org.