6 local artists create 50 paintings in 7 days during Tulip Festival to sell for charity THIS SATURDAY
The Downtown Rideau Business Improvement Area (DRBIA) is pleased to announce that 6 local artists participating in the 1st annual PLEIN AIR Art Exhibit & Sale have created 50 original works of art while painting outdoors at various locations in Downtown Rideau during weekends of the Tulip Festival. They will be out again this Friday between 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., which is their last day of painting before the Exhibit & Sale on Saturday.
The PLEIN AIR connects artists with new audiences by providing them access and approval to high pedestrian areas and landmark views to create works from sidewalk, boulevard and parkland spaces and promote them under Downtown Rideau’s “marketing umbrella”. In addition to connecting and promoting artists, the PLEIN AIR offers artists an opportunity to create, compete, exhibit and sell, while also raising funds for charity.
The artists are donating 15% from the sale of each of their works to the Ottawa Arts Court Foundation. The Foundation is a charity organization based out of Arts Court that manages, programs, and provides arts services to Ottawa’s local emerging and professional artists.
The public and Tulip Festival visitors can VIEW AND PURCHASE THE ARTWORK at a Meet the Artists Reception during the Exhibit & Sale this Saturday, May 22 from 12:00—5:00 p.m. at The Underpass, at the corner of Rideau Street and Colonel By Drive. Works range in sizes varying from 3”x5” to 20”x26” and prices from $30 to $650. They can be viewed on the BIA’s website and from a link off the homepage www.downtownrideau.com. The Brian Downey Jazz Quartet will be performing and refreshments will be available. Over $2,000 in prize money will be awarded during a COMPETITION before the works go on sale at noon. 1st Place ($1,000) and 2nd Place ($750) will be selected by jury, with 3rd Place ($300—the People’s Choice Award) chosen by public vote between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Public vote ballots will be drawn at noon for a chance to WIN a Downtown Rideau gift basket valued at over $400.
Participating artists include: Barbara Nathan Marcus, Brian Seed, Shirley Moulton, Johanne Jutras-Pendleton, John Alexander Day and Brenda Beattie. “This has been a wonderful experience”, says artist Barbara Nathan Marcus, who had people wanting to buy her works-in-progress. “People stopping to watch me paint wanted to buy, but I told them to come back on Saturday, May 22 when they would be for sale”. When Peggy DuCharme, the BIA’s Executive Director heard about the interest to buy works, she encouraged the artists to pursue commissioned works when people inquired about buying — “offer to make them another one”, DuCharme suggested. “We don’t want the artists to loose a sale. On the other hand, we want to ensure we have artwork to sell on the 22nd”.
