2012 Denver Plein Air Arts Festival August 18, 2012

2012 Denver Plein Air Arts Festival – Largest Urban Plein Air Event in the Nation – Aug. 10 to Sept. 16

Artists to gain access to Denver Mountain Parks as part of its Centennial celebrations

DENVER – The Golden Triangle Museum District (GTMD), organizer of the Denver Plein Air Arts Festival, presents the 2012 fest which kicked off on Friday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. on the western steps of the Colorado State Capitol, followed by a reception at the historic restaurant, The Fort, 19192 Colorado 8, Morrison, Colorado. Artists are still being accepted to participate in the festival, which runs though Sept. 16.

The Denver Plein Air Arts Festival is the largest urban plein air event in the nation, and includes the museum district, several city parks, the 16th Street Mall and other Denver locations. This year, to help celebrate its Centennial, Denver Mountain Parks and the Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance partnered with the GTMD to arrange for artist access to various locations along the Lariat Loop National Scenic & Historic Byway. A lariat will be cut by organizers at the kick-off to mark the start of this unique annual festival and the new locations. The public is welcome to attend.

After the plein air, accepted works for a juried competition will be exhibited for the public at the Denver Central Library's Vida Ellison Gallery from Nov. 13 through Dec. 31, 2012. Additionally, History Colorado’s Byers-Evans House Gallery will feature three distinct exhibitions showcasing work by winning Plein Air festival artists from the previous year: 2011 “Emerging Artist” winners—Michael McConnell, Chris Alan Serr, and Jeannie Demarinis—opens with a reception on Friday, Sept. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. and ends Saturday, Sept. 29; 2011 “Professional Artist” winners—Jim Beckner, Siobhan Keleher and Mikael Olson—opens with a reception on Friday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. and ends Saturday, Oct. 27; and the winner of the 2011 “Best of Show,” Jim Beckner, opens with a reception on Friday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. and ends Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

Visit www.gtmd.org for a detailed festival schedule, as well as when and where to view artists working, and more.

Artist Entry Information

Artist participation in the event includes a $20 registration fee ($10 youth) and is open to all artists and all media. Artists have the option of entering one or more pieces completed during the event into the Denver Plein Air Arts Festival Juried Competition — artwork entry fee for juried competition for potential awards of cash and prizes is $10 ($5 youth). In addition to the two yearly categories for professional and emerging artists, Denver Plein Air is excited to announce a new Youth Artist category for 2012.

Artists may go to any location within the boundaries of the Golden Triangle Museum District (between Speer, Colfax and Pearl). Additional Denver locations include the 16th Street Mall, City Park, Confluence Park, Washington Park, and by special permission, the Denver Public Library's Acoma Plaza, the Denver Art Museum's Martin Plaza, and History Colorado’s Byers-Evans House Museum. Artists will also be able to visit several new locations including Red Rocks Park, Evergreen Lake (Dedisse Park), Lookout Mountain, and the Buffalo Overlook (Genessee Park). Visit DenverMountainParks.org andLariatLoop.org for more information and history.

Artists may submit one or more pieces, up to 24" x 30" on canvas/board/panel or watercolor paper, for official festival stamping between August 10 and September 16. Stamping locations are: the Byers-Evans House Museum (1310 Bannock), Native American Trading Company (213 W. 13th Ave), Gallery 1261 (1261 Delaware St.), and at the Center for the Arts Evergreen (32003 Ellingwood Trail, Evergreen). See www.gtmd.org for complete festival guidelines.

Participants wishing to enter the juried contest should email images between September 1 - 22 to info@gtmd.org.

The Denver Plein Air Arts Festival Juried Competition will be judged by Jill Rosentrater, director of Art in Public Places with the Colorado Council of Arts; Rose Fredrick, writer and curator of Coors Western Art Exhibit; and Kimberly Moore, regional sales manager for Southwest Art.

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About the Golden Triangle Museum District

Denver’s Golden Triangle Museum District (GTMD) is a member-based 501c6 organization with both private and nonprofit members. It is a Denver Registered Neighborhood Organization and is home to eight of the city’s museums, including History Colorado’s Byers-Evans House Museum, the Denver Art Museum (DAM), Denver Firefighters Museum, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, the Molly Brown House, as well as the new History Colorado Center and Clyfford Still Museum. Also within the GTMD are the Denver Public Library, Curious Theatre Company, Denver Musicians Association, Colorado Ballet, Denver Philharmonic Orchestra and the Art Institute of Colorado. These cultural centers are interspersed with art galleries and open studios, as well as professional offices, specialty stores, salons, spas, coffee shops, bars and restaurants, all committed to “the art of living with art.” Visit www.gtmd.org for more information.