With artists throughout the area taking part, the second annual South Shore Plein Air Festival, sponsored by the South Shore Arts Council, will be a short drive for all in Apollo Beach, Riverview and Ruskin.
Having six sites at the moment, the YMCA's Camp Christina in Riverview, The Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach and in Ruskin, Camp Bayou, The Resort and Club at Little Harbor, E.G. Simmons Park and the Woman's Club, the festival allows art lovers to visit the site of their choice to observe artists in action. The free event will be held Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with the participation of approximately 40 area artists.
Following the event on March 30, residents are invited to attend The Resort and Club at Little Harbor, located at 611 Destiny Dr. in Ruskin, from 1-6 p.m. Here artists will receive recognition for their work as one artist will be awarded for Best of Show, $2,500, two artists will receive the award of Merit, $1,000, four will gain the award of Honor, $500, and one artist will be bestowed $500 for the Quick Draw Contest. The prize money, totaling $7,000, was donated by The Community Foundation of Greater Sun City Center through the John and Elizabeth Crawford Fine Arts Fund. Those in attendance are welcome to purchase the pieces of art put forth for sale with a commission of the sales being put towards the South Shore Arts Council.
"This style of festival is becoming more and more popular," stated Anne Madden, president of the South Shore Arts Council which was assimilated in 2005. "The term 'plein air' refers to a style of painting that is spontaneous and drawn directly from nature. The process of creating plein air art, however, may not be as simple as the concept. Spontaneously capturing the ever-changing elements of nature requires true craftsmanship and patience."
Madden credits this talent to the artists' use of both sides of their brain, bringing together the competence of each while painting objects made mobile by nature.
Other sponsors of the event are The Resort and Club at Little Harbor and Blue Ibis Consulting. Residents who are interested in taking part in the event are encouraged to contact Madden at 645-3732. Residents can also contact her for more information. To learn more about plein air art, go to www.pleinairflorida.org.
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