Cape Ann Plein Air Lays Out Schedule for Its 7th Annual Festival and Sale

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Cape Ann Plein Air (CAPA) this week announced its highly anticipated 7th Annual Festival and Sale, taking place October 8 -15 around Rockport, Essex, Manchester and Gloucester.  

This week-long celebration of art will gather 37 nationally and internationally acclaimed outdoor painters who will capture the scenic beauty of Greater Cape Ann, from rocky shores to tranquil salt marshes, historic homes, and magnificent shipyards.  The culmination of this artistic extravaganza will be the gala awards and sale.

Cape Ann Plein Air has established itself as a prestigious event that enriches the local arts scene, provides vital support to businesses in the area, and bolsters the creative economy across the greater North Shore region.   A significant portion of the proceeds from the week will be directed towards Cape Ann Art Haven, a Gloucester-based nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering artistic talent.  

This year’s Gala Awards ceremony promises to be a festival highlight, taking place at the Glen T MacLeod Cape Ann YMCA in Gloucester on Saturday, October 14th, from 5-9 p.m.  Attendees will have the unique opportunity to view and acquire all 185 competition paintings, which will be judged by the esteemed art collector, Tim Newton, hailing from Cody, Wyoming. Newton, with his extensive experience in the plein air art movement, is the perfect choice for this role. 

The gala will feature an innovative and elegant spread crafted by Vinwood Catering, with an open beer-and-wine bar included in the ticket price.  Brian King and Joe Cordoza will provide entertainment for the evening of, “What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?”.  Tickets can be purchased online.  As with the rest of the week, some of the gala’s proceeds will support Cape Ann Art Haven.

The week’s schedule is brimming with public events designed to engage and inspire, including daily artists’ demonstrations, a fast-paced “Quick Draw” event that brings an additional 100 painters for a two-hour paint-out on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day at Maritime Gloucester, Palate to Palette dinners featuring a CAPA artist painting at local restaurants, a “Meet the Artists” night at the the Beauport Hotel, a nocturne painting night on Bearskin Neck in Rockport showcasing CAPA artists creating paintings in the enchanting evening hours, and more.  

Cape Ann Plein Air is a significant contributor to the outdoor painting movement in the United States, celebrating the art form at its finest.  Ranked among the top five plein air events in the country, CAPA awards over $20,000 in prize money to its participating artists.  During the festival, each of the 37 artists will submit five paintings for general competition, one for the pop-up Sunday Small Painting event, and up to five additional paintings for sale during the weekend at the YMCA.

Susan Gould-Coviello, Executive Director of CAPA, expresses the excitement surrounding the event, stating, “There’s nothing as thrilling as CAPA week for artists and the public alike.  Shorelines are dotted with artists capturing the best of what Cape Ann has to offer. 

These hard-working artists make their living painting outdoors, and their expertise shines in the work they produce during the week.  To see these remarkable paintings displayed in one place is truly awe-inspiring.”

Returning CAPA artist Tim Kelly from Baltimore, MD, adds, “When it comes to plein air painting, Cape Ann’s historical pedigree is unsurpassed.  I’m humbled and honored to be able to contribute to this legacy by participating in the Cape Ann Plein Air Festival.”

Cape Ann Plein Air (CAPA) is a premier outdoor painting event that celebrates the beauty and artistry of outdoor painting in Greater Cape Ann.   Renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich artistic heritage, this local region provides the perfect backdrop for talented artists to capture its essence.   The annual festival features top artists from around the nation and beyond, who compete, exhibit, and sell their plein air creations.  

CAPA is supported by all five communities in the region, local business sponsors, grants, housing hosts, municipal collaboration, and partnerships with local arts organizations.  This year, CAPA also received a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

To learn more about Cape Ann Art Haven, click here.  For more information, please visit www.capeannpleinair.org.  

Cape Ann Plein Air