Spiva Center for the Arts to host 2nd annual Plein Air event
JOPLIN, MO— Joplin will become a giant art canvas on Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10, when regional artists scatter across town to capture all types of scenes in Paint the Ozarks Plein Air Paint-Out, an outdoor painting competition presented by Spiva Center for the Arts.
Anything in town will be fair game for their subject matter, as long as it’s outdoors. Some artists may choose to paint an urban setting, such as a historic building or home or a downtown scene, while others may select a landscape at such places as city parks, Grand Falls or the historic Redings Mill bridge.
Plein air painting is about capturing the ever-changing light, colors and shadows of the day or night. The paint-out runs for 24 hours to allow artists to paint nocturnes.
The competition will kick off with check-in at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Spiva Center for the Arts in the Cornell Complex at 212 W. It’s open to all painters, regardless of experience.
Entry fee is $35 with a $10 discount for members of Spiva and the Joplin Regional Artis Coalition.
Online pre-registration at www.spivaarts,org/paint-the-ozarks, is urged but not required.
The paintings must be completed for judging at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at Spiva. Prizes will be $500 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third. There will also be a Steve and Diana Graddy Purchase Prize, guaranteeing a sale for at least one artist.
An exhibit of entries will be held through Oct. 14 at Spiva.
Judge for the competition will be award-winning artist and workshop presenter Farley Lewis of Springfield. Lewis was in the sign and graphic design business until 2018 when he became a full-time artist. Since then, he has won several awards, including Best of Show, in plein air competitions, and he has been profiled by Plein Air Magazine and others.
Sponsors for Paint the Ozarks are the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau, Cardinal Scale Manufacturing Co., Dr. Richard Reed DDS, Mosaics Gallery, Steve and Diana Graddy, and an anonymous donor.
Spiva Center for the Arts is inside the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex at 221 W. 7th Street | Joplin, M0 64801.
Telephone (417) 623-0183. The Center is open Tue-Sat, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.