(Another belated Idiots episode from October, 2017.)
The Escalante Canyons Art Festival includes a plein air competition, which creates an odd dynamic.
Artists usually work solo. Their art is all about seeking beauty through individual vision and creativity.
But when you bring a bunch or artists together, cross-fertilization occurs. The artists see many different works in many different media in a short time, all influenced by the same landscape. Many share ideas and techniques in a cooperative way.
And then there is the competition. The participants know there will be two grand prize winners and a few honorable mentions. Though many artists don’t think art should be competitive, there’s no doubt that when they enter their works for judging, they would prefer to see them hung on the winners display.
So the festival blends individual expression, cooperation – and competition.
Over 100 artists registered for the competition. They could enter in either or both of two categories - oil/acrylic and watercolor/pastel/mixed media. All entries had to be created in a six-day period and at least 75% of the work had to be "created in the pure intent of outdoor, on location, plein air painting” in one of three adjoining counties.
What’s to stop someone from spending months on a project and just bringing it to the festival? Artists have to get their blank canvas or board or whatever officially stamped after the competition starts. At the end of the festival, the entries are hung in the town hall. One grand prize winner is named in each of the two categories and there are also honorable mention awards. Visitors and artists also vote on an Artists Choice and a People’s Choice Award.
Here are a few of the “winners” – though the Idiots consider all the artists and festival organizers and folks who put in many hours to make this festival work – winners!
Best of Show – Oil a&Acrylic Lyn Boyer
Best of Show – Watercolor & Mixed Media Loretta Domaszewski
And a selection of the other entries…
