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St. Joseph Annual Plein Air Festival

Ahhh!  I got your attention, didn't I?       Nothing in existence, but an idea that came to me a few years back as I took on the role of Marketing Director for Brush Creek Art Walk, one of Kansas City's annual plein air festivals.  I do continue that role today.


     There was a short discussion back then with the St. Joseph Allied Arts Council about how to go about doing something like this, possibly as a fundraiser.  As ideas were shared, a problem kept rising, making a barrier for any further discussion.  There wasn't adequate space in St. Joseph that could host a juried show year after year.  The Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art was the only space at the time.  I'm sure the museum would be more than happy to host such an event every now and then, but probably not on a year-to-year basis as that would keep them occupied from having other shows.  Exhibition spaces are key in supporting a vital visual arts community.  Having enough room to hang up to 100 paintings, or more, is needed for such a competition.  This year, things are beginning to take shape.  With Paradox Theatre and the International Trucking Service Gallery now in existence, we have places that might be interested in having these types of events, either each year or alternating with other gallery spaces.  Who knows?  More galleries may open up as Downtown First Saturdays continue to flourish.


Award winning watercolorist, Dick Sneary.
MVIS paint out on Hall Street.
     The question is, "can St. Joseph become a painting destination?"  My answer is "Certainly!"  There's no reason why it can't.  Plein air events seem to be on the rise here in the Midwest region.  Brush Creek Art Walk is in its third year, as well as Parkville in Art.  Penn Valley Park Plein Air just started earlier this year, and there is talk about developing one in Omaha.  We don't need vineyards, rocky mountains, canyons, waterfalls, or beaches like many other painting competitions that are based around.  We may not have a dozen or so plein air painters in town either, but quite a few communities that host these competitions don't.  Many are small communities and have been hosting them for a number of years.  One small Missouri town's annual plein air competition attracts more artists than they have residence and is nationally known.  The thing is, our city does have it's share of riches to offer for such an event---grand historic architecture, a parkway system, a river and riverwalk, and orchards right outside the city.  Heck, we even have a wildlife refuge not too far north of here.  Iv'e already brought in reputable plein air painters through a series of MVIS small group paint outs these past few years, some of them are award winning artists in regional, national shows and have been chosen to participate in invitational competitions, so interest is here.  It's definitely a good way to promote the city, our area, and our local arts.  If such a festival existed and depending on how big you want to make it, it could gain regional or even national attention.  It would not only bring artists from near by cities, but from all over, spectators as well.  The arts do draw crowds, and with several potential spaces capable of hanging juried shows, we definitely can start talking about doing something.

Brent Seevers painting near the KC Country Club Plaza.
Bruch Creek Art Walk, 2013.
     If there is interest to follow through with such an event, there are several ways a plein air painting competition can be organized.  From what I know, plein air painting competitions can focus on one area, or they can focus on a number of them (urban and/or rural).   For instance, Kansas City's Brush Creek Art Walk is a three day painting event along the newly renovated Brush Creek Park (Blue River) near the KC Country Club Plaza.  The four mile stretch is divided into four zones, allowing artists to compete and win cash prizes in each.  A free musical performance by selected bands ends the Sunday evening as a finale, and an exhibit follows at a nearby gallery space where people can view and buy the art.  With a parkway system in St. Joseph, that model can easily be applied for our very own painting event, especially the stretch of parkway that runs from Krug Park to Corby Pond.

     Another example, is the Augusta Plein Air Art Festival around Augusta, MO (near St. Louis).  Augusta Plein Air is a ten day event.  Each day artists paint and compete at different locations and win cash prizes, each paint out is titled by its location (such as a park or private estate) or subject matter (such as a sunset or car show).  Some artists participate every day, while others pick and choose.  We can definitely do something like this, offering more options for one to paint.  Areas may include Downtown St. Joe, Museum Hill and Hall St., Krug Park, parkway system, Riverfront Walk and Wyeth Hill, Patee Park, Patee Park, Squaw Creek Wildlife Refuge.

     Stems Plein Air Paint is another one in the KC metro. It is a two week long competition in Overland Park, KS.  This event offers three different painting locations; the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, a farmstead, and historic downtown Overland Park.  Artists don't necessarily have to paint everyday, they are welcome to paint at any time during that designated period of time.  At the end, artwork is juried to show and then winners are chosen.
     Parkville in Art is similar.  A time frame is given for artists to paint anything Parkville, MO related, the artwork is then juried where awards are given.  Juried entries are auctioned soon afterwards.  

MVIS paint out in Museum Hill.
Adam and Andrea Clague from Kansas City.

     The kick off for these events usually start with a plein air workshop and/or a "quick paint" competition with a Purchase Award.  Workshops may be scheduled a week before the actual event starts, while "quick paints"  can take place the first day.

     Like many, an annual plein air festival such as this may be under the umbrella of a well established organization such as the local Arts Council or Chamber of Commerce, as they have a greater number of contacts and getting sponsors to help fund the event.  If not, they may run independently as a new organization.  Money is important when it comes to cash prizes---the bigger the pot awarded, the more artists are willing to participate.  Sponsors are key in providing the funds to pay respected jurors, attractive cash awards, marketing, additional entertainment, etc.  Entry fees for artists also help out.  Last year, Brush Creek Art Walk had over $3000 in total cash awards, while others had much higher.
   
"12th and Sylvanie St." oil, 2014, by Brent Seevers
Plein air from MVIS Museum Hill paint out.
     St. Joe has a lot of potential.  The riches our city contains should be shared on canvas.  As plein air events continue to grow in this part of the country, maybe it's our turn to draw interest.  We have a lot to offer for such an event.

Article about how Augusta Plein Air came to be.  Click Here


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