Belleville Hosts 2Nd Annual Plein Air Festival
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March/April/May 2014 COVERING THE ARTS IN QUINTE Volume 24, Number 1 Congratulations to our COMMUNITY PARTNER Belleville hosts 2nd Annual Plein Serving the Quinte region Air Festival - $4500 in prizes for more than 65 years! by Carol Feeney None of this work would website, www.bellevillepleinairfestival.com. have been possible without Registrants are encouraged to register in advance as the invention of the space is limited. Artists are allowed to submit two collapsible zinc paint tube pieces, that must have been completed outside, with stopper cap, portable during the festival, to be considered by the jurors. easels, palettes and paint All participating artists must bring their blank boxes. Before having access canvasses to the BDIA office for stamping prior to to these products, artists beginning their work. would painstakingly grind up There will be an opening reception on Thursday pigments with linseed oils night, lots of opportunity for participating artists to and prepare materials for explore and enjoy Belleville’s downtown shops and working outside. They would restaurants and a finale with an awards presentation also have to carry heavy on Sunday, where cash awards totalling $4,500 will equipment and trek some be given out. Last year’s award winners were: first The Belleville Downtown Improvement Area distance to find the perfect place. place, Frank A. Edwards from Kingston for his oil, (BDIA), in association with the Quinte Arts Council View from Victoria Park; second place to Sharon and the Ontario Plein Air Society (OPAS), is The Belleville-on-the-Bay-of-Quinte Plein Air Fox Cranston of Bloomfield for her acrylic, Hot and organizing the second annual Belleville-on-the-Bay- Festival has grown to a four-day event, where artists Hazy by the Bay; third place to Delibor Dejanovic of of-Quinte Plein Air Festival. From Thursday, May will be completing their works outdoors, capturing Toronto for his pastel, Break Time; and the OPAS 29 to Sunday, June 1, artists from near and far will natural light, colour, texture and nuance in their Artists’ Choice award went to Antonio Afable of capture the beauty of Belleville ‘en plein air!’ work. “The success of the first time this artistic event hit the streets of Belleville last year has been Toronto for his acrylic piece, Belleville Downtown. En plein air is a French expression which means “in very encouraging,” says Seppo Nousiainen, Plein After the awards presentation, the public is invited the open air,” and is particularly used to describe the Air Festival Chair. “Artists will have a chance to to see the exhibit and enjoy refreshments at Dinkel’s act of painting outdoors. Many famous French capture the beautiful images of historic downtown Restaurant & Courtyard. Impressionist painters, such as Claude Monet, Belleville, the shores of the Bay of Quinte, the Camille Pissaro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir famous ‘Old East Hill’ and the Moira River. This Last year, artists came from as far away as Kelowna, advocated en plein air painting and much of their event is a juried and judged competition, that is open British Columbia as well as Toronto and many parts work was done outdoors. to artists working in various media, such as of Ontario and the Quinte area. “What strikes me most about this event is the calibre of the work The beauty of plein air paintings is that the art is watercolour, acrylic, soft pastel and oil,” he added. created in such a short time frame,” states Carol based on direct observation of the subject, not from Participating artists can choose their own spot as Feeney, Executive Director of the Quinte Arts memories, or photographs. Artists must capture the long as it is along the Moira River, on the periphery Council. “It is also a joy to see how artists from near natural light and work quickly to catch the subject in of the Bay of Quinte, in downtown Belleville or in and far capture and express the beauty of spaces, that moment, as light changes significantly in a two- Old East Hill. Artists must register by May 17. The buildings, wildlife, streetscapes, and landscapes that hour period. The plein air movement has its origins fee is $25 for members of the Quinte Arts Council we as citizens take for granted or overlook in the 17th century, through the works of artists such or the OPAS and $30 for non-members. Young completely. It is my hope that people will plan on Nicholas Poussin (1594 - 1665) and Claude Lorraine artists under 18 years of age pay $15. coming out to watch the artists create their work and (1600 -1682), although much of the work that we take the opportunity to meet and greet them.” have come to know had its origins in the early 19th To add another element to this outdoor visual art century through the works of painters such as Jean- fest, organizers are looking for buskers and For more information, visit Baptist-Camille Corot (1796 - 1875) and John musicians, who will take to the streets while the www.bellevillepleinairfestival.com or contact the Constable (1776 - 1837). artists are creating their works. Interested parties are BDIA office at 267 Front Street, Belleville, 613- asked to contact the BDIA office. 968-2242, or [email protected]. This type of painting influenced the development of the Barbizon School, a group of artists who were “The BDIA is very excited that we are able to bring based in the village of Barbizon in France, near the back the Plein Air Festival to downtown Belleville forest of Fontainebleau. In later years, this work in for 2014,” said Karen Parker, Executive Director of turn influenced the French Impressionist movement, the BDIA. “Last year we were thrilled to welcome This issue sponsored by which held that painting in heavy brushstrokes and 55 registered artists and their friends and families to flecks of colour would create the overall impression the Quinte area and we look forward to increasing of a scene, as a means of capturing and conveying that number this year and encourage everyone to Essence the outdoor experience, although not as take part in this truly unique event.” representationally as earlier works of the artists. The registration form is available on the event Publishing Open 44 Bridge St. E. every 613-966-2556 day at 38 Bridge St. E. 11:30 613-966-6542 Two great restaurants side by side Village of Downtown Belleville www.dinkelsrestaurant.com A PUBLICATION OF THE QuinteArtsCouncil Cultivating Creativity Message from the Chair Umbrella The winter months have typically been trying ones support our organization in order to coordinate and for the Arts Council as we cope with decline in deliver these programs. A task force from the revenues to support our organization, programs and Board’s Finance Committee has been meeting to services. These problems have been modified this determine what the possible options are for EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE year with reductions in sponsorship, funding from fundraising events, particularly those not involving a Gala, with an emphasis on those that will highlight Chair Dan Atkinson the Ontario Arts Council, ticket sales to events and revenues from our Gala, a situation not unlike what the QAC’s leadership role in the arts community. I Past Chair Barbara-Jo Clute many of our member organizations are experiencing. think we have a terrific opportunity to move, as they 1st Vice Chair Pat Feasey say, outside the box, and to promote a number of In anticipation of this, and with a view to being 2nd Vice Chair Anne Cunningham different activities in our community. I will keep you proactive, we embarked upon a campaign last year Secretary Heather Smith posted on our progress and hopefully we will have a to do two things: one was to increase our Treasurer Jenny Woods plan in place by spring. membership in both the artistic community and the BOARD OF DIRECTORS business community and the other was to move As always, I welcome any comments or suggestions. Rick Zimmerman, Tina Osborne, membership to a calendar year basis in order to Please remember that our AGM is in early June. Dianne Coyle, Daniel Vaughan smooth our external funding sources, i.e. to bring in Dan Atkinson FCPA, FCA and David Vaughan more funds during the winter months. That being said, these changes are now well under way, but as I Chair STAFF have stated on many occasions, we do need to find a more sustainable source of revenue that will not Carol Feeney only provide for our programming costs but also Executive Director [email protected] Carol Bauer Artist and Member Services Officer [email protected] Kim Lidstone Notice to QAC Membership Administrative Assistant [email protected] The Quinte Arts Council’s Annual General Meeting will be held Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 5:30 to 7:00 pm The Quinte Arts Council is a not-for-profit, charitable organization, registration number 107869448 RR 0001. In the Meeting Room, 3rd Floor, Belleville Public Library Publications mail agreement number 40667523. 254 Pinnacle Street, Belleville Umbrella is delivered without charge to QAC members, to municipal, provincial and federal representatives, funding agencies, community arts The meeting includes: councils, Quinte region public libraries and to selected • the election of the board of directors media and public distribution outlets. • reports on the QAC’s strategic planning initiatives Editorial Staff Carol Bauer Jane Mackenzie • social time and networking Carol Feeney • finger foods, cash bar Poetry Editor Chris Faiers Design Marc Budgie Bourdon • live entertainment Production Carol Bauer Published by The Quinte Arts Council Everyone is welcome. Please RSVP by May 20. 613-962-1232 36 Bridge St.