Cape Ann Plein Air Competition and Festival is Back with More Events Showcasing Nation’s Top Outdoor Painters and Local Arts Community
Cape Ann Plein Air (CAPA), one of the nation’s premier outdoor painting competition and festivals, will return to the North Shore for nine days this fall, October 6 through October 14, with more events and more community involvement than ever before.
Forty juried CAPA 2019 artists will paint “en plein air” across Cape Ann that week, submitting their works for judging on October 11, with award winners announced at a gala on October 12 at the North Shore Arts Association. Plen air painting involves artists getting out of the studio and into nature to paint what they see and how they feel, in that exact moment. Cape Ann’s natural light is famous in the art world, and it is the main reason American plein air painting is said to have been invented here. The light is perfect for the area’s natural beauty, rich with painting subjects from fishing, granite quarries and islands to lighthouses and miles of sandy beaches.
The mission of Cape Ann Plein Air is to preserve and promote Cape Ann’s legacy as the birthplace of American plein air painting, and to enhance the local economy. Launched in 2016, the Cape Ann Plein Air competition and festival is made possible through the close collaboration of committed supporters from across the region — businesses, regional arts and cultural organizations, and the Cape Ann communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the Sea — working with CAPA organizers to offer a robust, weeklong program of painting competitions, exhibitions and education.
“Cape Ann Plein Air has grown in popularity each of the past three years and is now recognized nationwide as a leading destination for the growing community of plein air artists and art enthusiasts,” said CAPA 2019 Project Manager Susan Coviello. “In 2019, we continue this tradition, again welcoming artists, art collectors and supporters of the arts to the birthplace of plein air painting.”
All competition paintings will be on view and available for sale for the first time at the awards presentation on the evening of October 12. Gala tickets are on sale on the Cape Ann Plein Air website. This year’s artists — who will compete for $20,000 in prizes — include leading plein air painters from across the country, with several from Cape Ann and surrounding communities. Award-winning artist Mark Boedges served as the competition selection juror, selecting the 40 participating CAPA 2019 artists. Competition awards judge Kenn Erroll Backhaus, a nationally-recognized plein air artist, will select the award winners to be announced at the October 12 gala.
CAPA Week 2019 begins with a kick-off party at the North Shore Arts Association on October 6, followed by events and activities that give the public “behind-the-brush” access to the artists. There will be artist demonstrations, dinners with the artists, painting events and more. Check the CAPA website for details on CAPA Week 2019 events in Gloucester, Rockport, Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
This year, organizers have worked with restaurants, museums, galleries, attractions, retailers, and others across Cape Ann to offer CAPA Week 2019 specials, which can also be found on the CAPA website. One of the week’s highlights is the CAPA 2019 Quick Draw competition on October 14 at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. The Quick Draw is open to anyone who wants to participate in this 2-hour wet paint competition, which will be followed by an exhibit and sale of the paintings.
Many local businesses and organizations, as well as private art patrons, have contributed to the awards. CAPA 2019 sponsors include Engels and Volkers By the Sea, Applied Materials, Brookwood Financial, Stephen and Jill Bell, the Beauport Hotel and Hospitality Group, the Dusky Foundation of the Essex County Community Foundation, Cape Ann Savings Bank, William and Ann Kneisel / the Kneisel Foundation, Bazel General Contractors, and the Rotary Clubs of Cape Ann.
“CAPA 2019 — one of the milestone events on New England’s cultural calendar — is yet another example of the vibrant arts scene here in our region,” said CAPA 2019 Board President Mike Storella. “This year, we’re excited not only about the impressive group joining regional artists for CAPA Week 2019, but also by the support from Cape Ann’s cultural community, businesses and residents.”
CAPA 2019 is organized by the Cape Ann Plein Air Board of Directors and Advisory Board, which includes local artists and community leaders. Among the board members are representatives from North Shore Art Association, Rockport Art Association and Museum, Essex Shipbuilding Museum, Cape Ann Museum, Rocky Neck Cultural Center, seARTS, and the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce.
