Youth Plein Air Event Gives Young Artists Chance To Showcase Skills
All youth interested in the arts will have the opportunity to showcase their skills in a Youth Plein Air event this month.
The event will be on Wednesday, May 8, and Saturday, May 11.
Young artists in Ste. Genevieve County and beyond, ages 4 through high school seniors, can paint or draw in a timed paint-out at the Moses Austin Park [Jour de Fete grounds] at Gabouri and South Main streets, across from the railroad trestle, in Ste. Genevieve.
Sessions will be 3 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, and 10 a.m. until noon on Saturday, May 11.
Participants will choose from various scenes in the area to render, using their choice of watercolor, colored pencils, ink, pencil or oil pastels. All materials will be provided.
Plein air painting is art done on location, outdoors, with the artists capturing their favorite scene in a two-hour period.
The location provides a 360 degree choice of scenery, including houses, the creek and a variety of landscape subjects.
Judging will be across three divisions; ages 4 through 8, 9 through 14, and 15 through high school seniors.
Best of Show will receive $50 and a medal.
First-place winners in each category will receive $25 and a medal; second-place finishers will receive $10 and a medal; and third-place winners in each age group will receive $5 and a medal.
The cash prizes will allow the youth funds to purchase art supplies or pursue other interests.
Artwork will be judged by local artists and will be on display at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center on Friday, May 25.
The Youth Plein Air awards will be presented at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, May 25, in conjunction with the Fourth Friday Art Walk series.
To enter, students may return their Plein Air Applications to their local school offices. Applications can also be mailed to the Valle Grade School office, 40 Fourth St., Ste. Genevieve, MO 63670.
Applications will also be available at the event. Last-minute entries are very welcome for those who just show up at the event.
The Youth Plein Air Event was started in fall of 2007 with local business Odile’s Linen and Lace and CIDD Company sponsoring the event. The Conco Community Arts Program Grant through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks’ Rural Schools Partnership was awarded to Valle Schools in 2009. This funding helped to expand the event. Local individuals, organizations and businesses have funded the event since that time.
Valle Catholic Schools sponsors the Youth Plein Air.
Financial support is provided by members of Ste. Genevieve Art Guild and individuals. It is organized and staffed by Angie Dalton, Iris Vincent, volunteers and parents.
(Information in a release from Iris Vincent.)