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Now entering its 7th year, the unfailing “success vibe” of
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this festival continues to build. Just seven years ago, Plein Air–Easton! took off out of the gate and has
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never looked back. Each year the festival has evolved and expanded as scores of painters descend on
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Easton and Talbot County, inging with them an up close and personal look at the excitement and
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spontaneity that surrounds art created en plein air (French for “in the open air”).
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This event has become the hottest art sale of the year in the MidAtlantic region and well beyond.
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In 2010, despite a struggling national economy, over 260 paintings were sold in one weekend, reflecting
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more than a 37% increase in total sales income compared to the previous year. But don't worry if you
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missed the excitement last year, 2011 promises to be even better.
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What is the key to these unprecedented accomplishments? “The Plein Air–Easton! success story
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presents itself in a myriad of different ways,” says Al Bond, executive director of the Avalon Foundation,
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the nonprofit organization that presents the event. “Fundamentally, it's all about the quality of the art. As
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we have continued to constantly raise the bar, the intensity of the contest has increased to the point where
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the competition is extremely fierce.”
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If you are an artist trying to enter the event or win an award from almost $20,000 in prizes, this
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competition element can be daunting. “There are really good painters who are not getting in,” Bond adds.
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If you are an art buyer, student, or enthusiast, the competition translates to a vast and engaging
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assortment of superior art.
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“Over the last several years, Plein Air–Easton! has seen a real shift in the caliber of
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artists submitting to the competition,” says Jessica Rogers, operations director of the Avalon
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Foundation. “Submissions have increasingly come from wellknown artists from across the United States
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and around the world. This year, almost 100% of those who applied have established careers, gallery
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representation, and professional websites.”
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This heightened competition rallies an exceptional mix of returning and new artists to the event.
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The competitive edge of this silverandgold Who's Who spurs more artists not only to enter, but to try to
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best themselves and their peers with great artwork produced during the Plein Air–Easton! festival. A large
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part of the appeal of plein air paintings is fresh perspectives on a sense of place. By attracting a varied
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group of artists each year, Plein Air–Easton! continues its history of producing and selling dynamic and
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desirable fine art.
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Not only has Plein Air–Easton! created a buzz among artists, it has caught the attention of the
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nation's art connoisseurs, some of whom have judged the event. Plein Air–Easton! is judged by some of
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the most knowledgeable and informed individuals in the world of representational art. This year both the
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jurist and the awards judge are wellknown experts from New York.
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The entry jurist, Tim Newton, is the founder and curator of “American Masters,” one of
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America's foremost art exhibitions and sales, which is held every May at New York City's Salmagundi
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Club. For more than 130 years, the Salmagundi Club has served as a renowned center and singular gather
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place for fine artists from around the country. An art collector since the early 1990's, Newton serves on
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the board of the Artists' Fellowship as well as being vice president of the Salmagundi Club. He is also on
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the advisory board of The Stobart Foundation.
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The awards judge is M. Stephen Doherty, editor of the recently relaunched Plein Air magazine.
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Prior to this, Doherty worked for 31 years as editor and publisher of American Artist, Watercolor,
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Drawing, and Workshop magazines. He is an active outdoor painter who travels around the United States
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and Europe. He serves on the advisory boards of several arts organizations, including the New York
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Academy of Art, The Florence Academy, and the Portrait Society of America. He has been a judge in
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various national and international competitions.
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“These are two of the most influential people in the plein air scene,” says Rogers. “They are
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extremely excited about being part of this year's competition, and they will both attend the festival in
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person.” (On the Saturday evening of the festival, Doherty will give a talk discussing his picks for this
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year's award winners.)
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Fifty five artists have been selected to compete in the 7th Annual Plein Air–Easton! competition,
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to be held July 1824. Those listed (see below) will be joined by three additional winners from the
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Mid Shore Plein Air–Easton! Competition, to be held in May.
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The following artists will compete in the 2011 Plein Air–Easton! National Competition (in
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alphabetical order):
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Paul Bechem, Locus Valley NY
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Michael Kotarba, Baltimore MD
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Robert J Barber, State College PA (2007 Winner)
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Mike Kowalski, Nordland WA
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D. Eleinne Basa, Jackson NJ
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Jim Lamb, Sammamish WA
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Tim Bell, Annapolis MD (2006 Winner)
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Greg LaRock, Newport Beach CA (2008 Winner)
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Eric Bowman, Tigard OR
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Kirk Larsen, Hicksville NY
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Roger Dale Brown, OPA, Franklin TN
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Jeanette Le Grue, Tomales CA
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Michael Budden, Chesterfield NJ
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Tom Lynch, Naperville IL
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Michele Byrne, West Lawn PA
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Leonard Mizerek, Westport CT
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James Carson, Saluda NC
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Ned Mueller, Renton WA (2010 Winner)
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Hiu Lai Chong, Rockville MD
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Elise N. Phillips, Elverson PA
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Eddie Corkery, Villa Park IL
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Sara Linda Poly, Easton MD
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Sandra Corpora, Bethlehem PA
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Camille Przewodek, Petaluma CA
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Frank M. Costantino, Winthrop MA
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Sam Robinson, Baltimore MD
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Valerie Craig, St. Davids PA
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Morgan Samuel Price, Orlando FL
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David R. Csont, Pittsburgh PA
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Greg Scheibel, Bozeman MT
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Anthony Davis, Lindenhurst NY
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William A. Schneider, Village of Lakewood, IL
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Roger Dellar, Hindhead Surrey SU (UK)
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Julia Munger Seelos, Redwood City CA
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Ken DeWaard, Viroqua WI by way of Chicago
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John Brandon Sills, Phoenix MD
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David Diza, Annapolis MD
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Jerry Smith, Crawfordsville IN
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Charles Dickinson, St. Augustine FL
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Richard R. Sneary, Kansas City MO
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Lisa Egeli, Churchton MD
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Hodges Soileau, Venice FL
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Tracey Frugoli, East Peoria IL
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Jason Tako, Dover PA
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Ellen A. Gavin, Millville MJ
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Nancy Tankersley, Easton MD
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Stephen J. Griffin, Easton MD
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Bryan Mark Taylor, Lafayette CA
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Elaine Hahn, Holiday FL
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Karl Terry, Tenterden KE (UK)
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HaiOu Hou, Stevensville MD
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Carol Lee Thompson, Phoenix MD
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De a Huse, Balboa Island CA
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Stewart White, Baltimore MD (2009 Winner)
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Thomas Jefferson Kitts, Portland OR
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Plein Air–Easton! is the work of the Avalon Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
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provide diversified arts and educational programs that improve the quality of life in the MidShore region. The
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competition exhibit is held at the Academy Art Museum, which is an accredited museum. Plein Air–Easton! is
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supported by various corporate, media, and community sponsors, including the Talbot County Arts Council.
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Donations from Friends of Plein Air–Easton! support the event while promoting conservation and tourism
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through the arts and a distinct sense of place. Strong community support and sponsorships have been key
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components in the great success of this event.
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Artists' bios, galleries, itineraries, educational components, registration for ticketed events, and more
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are available at www.pleinaireaston.com. For further information, email info@pleinaireaston.com or phone
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410.822.7297.
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Ned Mueller of Renton WA is congratulated by Al Bond (far left) and Ellen General of the Avalon Foundation,
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and Awards Judge Jean Stern (far right) upon the announcement that “Monday Morning” won the 2010 Plein
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Air–Easton! Grand Prize. Mueller returns to vie against 57 other artists for close to $20,000 in prizes during
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the 7th Annual Plein Air–Easton! Competition & Arts Festival, to be held July 1824, 2011. photo credit: Ann Dorbin
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