News Release

Seventh Annual Plein Air Event to Benefit Park Programs

Date: July 13, 2018
Contact: Andrew White, 307.739.3431

MOOSE, WY—Grand Teton National Park will serve as both the location and inspiration for the seventh annual Plein Air for the Park event. Grand Teton National Park, Grand Teton Association, and Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters will welcome 40 professional artists from across the United States to capture the magnificent Teton landscape on canvas. Beginning July 16, the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters will host a number of free public demonstrations.

During the event, park visitors may notice artists painting “en plein aire,” French for “in the open air,” in various locations throughout the park. First put into widespread practice by French Impressionists, painting en plein aire enables artists to work on location, translating their experience of light, weather, and landscape onto canvas in the most immediate way.

The Plein Air for the Park fine art show and sale runs from noon Wednesday, July 18 through Sunday, July 22 at 4 p.m. in the gallery of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. An opening gala reception is scheduled in the same location on Wednesday, July 18, at 7 p.m.

The final event will be a quick draw demonstration at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 21, at Menor’s Ferry in Moose. Park visitors and local residents are invited to watch paintings created from start-to-finish. Immediately following the quick draw, paintings may be purchased for a fixed-price between 11 a.m. and noon in the courtyard of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.

Approximately forty percent of the sale proceeds from this event benefit the Grand Teton Association, which funds ongoing educational, interpretive, and scientific programs in support of Grand Teton National Park. To date, Plein Air for the Park has raised over $150,000. More information about the event can be found at www.pleinairforthepark.org.

Other Events:

Painting at the Lodge. Monday, July 16, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Jackson Lake Lodge. Event artists will offer painting demonstrations and an informal discussion.

Painting on the Square Group Demonstration. Tuesday, July 17, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the Jackson Town Square. Event artists will gather to offer painting demonstrations and interact with the public.

Morning with the Masters Youth Mentoring. Thursday, July 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Schwabacher's Landing. Master artists will pair up with aspiring young adult artists for a morning of painting, mentoring, critique, and one-to-one instruction.