CFHS rolls lucky 7 with Winter Plein Air Event

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on February 8, 2015

Attendees at the Chadds Ford Historical Society's Winter Plein Air Event had an opportunity to chat with the artists as well as view their work.

Updated at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 10, to add details about ongoing sale

For the seventh year, artists and art lovers converged on the Chadds Ford Historical Society’s (CFHS) Barn Visitors’ Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, for the Winter Plein Air Event – an eagerly awaited exhibition that came with periodic warnings about receiving an unwelcome souvenir.

The admonitions were needed so that people didn’t brush up against the paintings on display. Many of them were still wet, having been created earlier in the day by the couple dozen painters who set up their palettes on area landscapes.

Ellen Gavin, a New Jersey artist, finds that opening a tube of paint is more challenging in the cold. She set up her easel in front of N.C. Wyeth's former studio. — Ellen Gavin, a New Jersey artist, finds that opening a tube of paint is a bit more challenging in the cold. She set up her easel in front of N.C. Wyeth's former studio.

Painting plein air, French for “in the open air,” prompted the artists to capture local scenic vistas in a single sitting outdoors. After a day of painting, many of the creators lingered to mingle with those who came to view the show.

This year’s artists, some of whom traveled several hours to participate, were limited to those featured in 100 Plein Air Painters of the Mid-Atlantic, a book by Gary Pendleton, who will speak at CFHS next month. A few artists who were unable to attend submitted paintings in advance that had been done in the plein air style.

Nadia Barakat, executive director of CFHS, said she was pleased with this year’s event, which attracted nearly 100 attendees.

“I think the quality of paintings were better and the colors brighter this year,” she said, citing this year’s invitation-only format.

Barakat noted that the seventh version of the fundraiser happened to occur on Feb. 7 and serendipitously resulted in the sale of seven paintings. Since an equal number of paintings typically sell after the opening night – they will be on display through March 15 – she said this year’s fund-raiser was off to a great start.

Artist Jacalyn Beam (center) is flanked by Frank and Carolyn McIntosh, who show off the painting by Beam that they had just purchased.

Lisa Vonderstuck, owner of Brandywine View Antiques in Chadds Ford, said she was one of the buyers who made a post-opening purchase a couple of years ago. She learned from someone who attended the opening that one of the paintings featured her shop.

“I figured I better get over there,” she said, adding that once she saw the painting, she had to buy it and put it on display at the business. “It was my five-year anniversary there so that made it very special.”

The event is special for the artists, too, said Bruno Baran, incoming president of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association.

“A lot of the artists feel that they are walking on hallowed ground,” said Baran, referencing the Wyeth painting dynasty that includes N.C., Andrew, and Jamie.

Some got closer than others to those muses. Painter Ellen Gavin set up her easel in front of N.C. Wyeth’s former studio while Joe Gyurcsak worked nearby to capture Andrew Wyeth’s studio. Jacalyn Beam painted at the home of the Kuerners, one of Andrew Wyeth’s favorite haunts.

Frank and Carolyn McIntosh went home with Beam’s “Kuerner Color” – and strict instructions to keep the painting flat for a couple of days until it dried.

Pendleton will speak about plein air painting on March 10, as part of the historical society’s Spring Lecture Series. For more information, call 610-388-7376 or visit www.chaddsfordhistory.org.

For those who were unable to attend the event, the paintings are available for inspection and sale at the Visitors’ Center of the Chadds Ford Historical Society through March 15. Call or visit the website for more information.