LEWISTON, Idaho – “In the Vineyard Plein Air” art exhibition opens Friday, Aug. 5, at the Lewis-Clark State College Center for Arts & History, located at 415 Main Street. The exhibition features plein air artwork created in the vineyards of Basalt Cellars, Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Colter’s Creek and Lindsay Creek Vineyards and will be on display through Aug. 27.
In late June, new and experienced plein air artists visited area vineyards to paint and for artist socials. Plein air is a style of painting developed in France during the mid-19th century and is usually characterized by the effects of natural light and outdoor atmosphere as opposed to painting in a studio.
Juried prizes will be awarded at the opening celebration beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday. Prizes include cash awards of $500, $300, and $200, Winemaker’s Choice Awards, and more. This year’s juror is Malcom Phinney, a painter and sculptor who owns and operates the Phinney Gallery of Fine Art in Joseph, Ore. Phinney’s representational paintings will hang in the gallery during the exhibit.
The “In the Vineyard Plein Air”exhibition is brought to the Center for Arts & History with the help of sponsorship from Tomato Bros. and Mystic Cafe, partnerships with Basalt Cellars, Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Colter’s Creek Vineyard and Winery and Lindsay Creek Vineyards, and grants from Idaho Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Open Monday-Saturday at 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., the CAH gallery features free admission but donations are welcome. For more information about the exhibitions or to schedule a docent tour, visit www.lcsc.edu/cah or call 208-792-2243.