Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy Exhibition "Paint Local, Think Global"

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy Exhibition "Paint Local, Think Global"

"Cape Bear" 12x24 oil/panel
by Michael Chesley Johnson
Available at the Exhibition - $900

I'm proud to announce the ninth annual international exhibition of Plein Air Painters of the Bay of Fundy. Our group is made up of committed plein air painters who either live or spend significant time along the Bay of Fundy. Members hail from Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. It's a small group, but we are growing! (See www.pleinairfundy.org for details.)

Main gallery of the Saint John Arts Centre
(that''s my "Clearing, Acadian Prince" painting on the left!)
Photo by Andrew Kierstead

Each year, we try to have an annual paint-out, followed by an exhibition that alternates between Canada and the United States. Past exhibits have been in Lubec, Maine, and, in New Brunswick, Saint Andrews and Saint John. This year, we are doing something special. Rather than showing work from a single paint-out, we are presenting work created over the last few years. Each artist also will be allowed to include a favorite studio painting. All paintings will be for sale.

The region has a lot to offer the outdoor painter, and our members paint everything from the natural landscape and quaint villages to industrial scenes. It's always exciting to see what the show holds. Yesterday, when I delivered my paintings, I had a preview of the work. It was quite something to see all the paintings from all the artists. Fourteen of us are exhibiting for a total of 99 paintings. It will be a spectacular show!

Artists participating include: Poppy Balser (Digby, NS); Tim Gaydos (Lubec, ME); Michael Chesley Johnson (Campobello Island, NB); Anne Johnston (St David Ridge, NB); Wendy Manning (Quispamsis, NB); Caren-Marie Michel (Portland, ME); Bruce Newman (Fredericton, NB); David Reeves (Quispamsis, NB); Simone Ritter (St Andrews, NB); Cedar Sky (St Andrews, NB); Theresa MacKnight (St Andrews, NB); Helen Shideler (Quispamsis, NB); Evelyn Dunphy (Bath, ME); and Ann Oliver-Nickerson (Lubec, ME).

Some of you have read this before, but here is my statement for the group, a statement that I truly believe in:

"As plein air artists, there’s a reason why we paint landscapes. The landscape feeds our creative fire. Thankful for its inspiration, we are eager to see that it is cared for. And the best way to see that happen is to put it on display for the entire world to see. Our hope is that our paintings will encourage others to become stewards of the land – just as we have become its promoters."

This year, we are proud to be in the Saint John Arts Centre. Saint John has shown a real commitment to the arts over the years, and it has been a pleasure to work with Director Andrew Kierstead and his staff.

Here are the details of the exhibition and the opening reception:

Dates: July 10-September 4, 2015
Location: Saint John Arts Centre, 20 Peel Plaza, Saint John NB
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9-5 Atlantic Time
Website for SJAC: www.SaintJohnArtsCentre.com
Phone: 506-633-4870

Opening Reception, Friday, July 10, 2015, 5:30-7:30 Atlantic Time, Saint John Arts Centre

I am pleased to have eight paintings in the show. Here are the remaining seven (the other one is at top of post):