LEWISTON, Idaho – The opening and judging for the 6th annual Rivers & Vines Plein Air competition exhibit will be held on Thursday at 5 p.m. at the Lewis-Clark State College Center for Arts & History, located at 415 Main St. in Lewiston. The artist reception starts at 5 p.m. and the judging and awards will begin at 6 p.m.
The exhibit features a collection of works from veteran and new plein air artists who took part in paint-outs at local vineyards and venues with water views during June 18-22. Plein air art is the act of painting outside instead of in a studio. The challenges of painting outside include the type of paint used because acrylics tend to hard and dry quickly on warm days, weather and environmental conditions, and animals and bugs.
Award-winning juror Gloria Teats of White Bird, Idaho, will be the judge. She has been teaching oil-painting classes and workshops for indoor and outdoor painting for more than 30 years. She is known for her regional landscapes by using the alla prima painting technique in which layers of wet paint are applied to previously administered layers of wet paint.
Sponsors for the exhibit include Happy Day Restaurants, Visit Lewis Clark Valley organization, and Jan Vogtman, with grant funding from ARTSIdaho and US Bank. Venue Award partners include 2 Bad Labs Vineyard & Tammany View Winery, Arnett Vineyard, Blue Lantern Coffee House, Clearwater Canyon Cellars, Colter’s Creek, Jovinea Cellars, and Wawawai Canyon Vineyard.
The Center for Arts & History galleries are open Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free but donations are welcome. For more information about the exhibitions or to schedule a docent tour, visit www.lcsc.edu/cah or call 208-792-2447.