30 nationally acclaimed artists compete to capture the best of Bucks County – October 1-6, 2019 4 T H A N N UA L
Bucks County Plein Air Festival Online Gallery & Sales • VIP Collectors’ Preview event at historic Tyler Mansion • Public Festival featuring Juried, Public, & Kids Quick Draws, Food, Entertainment, and Live Music
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS From October 1 to 6, residents and visitors alike have the unique opportunity to observe 30 of the North America’s most talented artists as they paint en plein air in beautiful Bucks County.
October 1 Afternoon painting in the 1,711-acre Tyler State Park, featuring an original warm and woodland setting by the Neshaminy Creek, as well as historic Newtown Borough. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, this former county seat features notable architecture spanning some 300 years.
October 2 Painting day at Peddler’s Village during its annual Scarecrow Festival. For more than 55 years, this storybook village has featured charming colonial-style buildings and award-winning gardens.
October 3 Painting day in the Borough of Doylestown. Recognized by USA Today as having America's "best small-town cultural scene," the borough offers a rich history and passionate community centered around a unique downtown area called one of America's "Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In partnership with the Festival, the Doylestown Historical Society will offer historic architectural tours. The tours will include participating artists at their painting sites, on the streets of Doylestown. Tours will begin at the Doylestown Historical Society, 56 S. Main Street, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Registration through the Doylestown Historical Society preferred: 215-345-9430
October 4 Painting day in New Hope. The largest of the river towns, New Hope has deep roots in the arts and features 240 structures in its historic district. Stay for dinner and watch the artists during a special nocturne paint out.
October 5 The VIP Collectors’ Preview event at Bucks County Community College’s historic Tyler Mansion offers art enthusiasts the first opportunity to see the entire juried competition. The winners of this year’s Plein Air Festival will also be announced. To purchase tickets to this event, visit www.buckscountypleinair. com.
2018 Best of Show & Alan Fetterman Fine Arts Medal Recipient
October 6 The Plein Air Festival comes to a close in style with a full day of art on display as well as a juried artist, public, and kids quick draw competitions. Entertainment for the entire family accompanied by food and live music will all be nestled around Bucks County Community College’s historic Tyler Mansion in Newtown from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: Professional & Public Quick Draw 11 a.m.-noon: Claudia Pellegrini on the Violin — Tyler Hall, Dining Room 11 a.m.-noon: Tour of historic Tyler Mansion and Gardens — Meet in Tyler Hall Foyer Noon-1 p.m.: Poets Corner Hour — Tyler Hall, Dining Room Noon-1:15 p.m.: Jon Nichols on the Japanese Shakuhachi (flute) — Tyler Hall Courtyard 1:15-1:45 p.m.: Quick Draw Awards — Tyler Hall Courtyard 2-3 p.m.: Tour of Bucks County Community College’s Sculpture Walk — Meet in Tyler Hall Foyer 2-3 p.m.: Kids Quick Draw Ages 4-15 — Tyler Hall Courtyard 2-3 p.m.: Live Music by the NEWYARD Trio 3-4 p.m.: 4 Alla Prima or Wet-on-Wet Painting Demonstration with Festival Juror Joe Gyurcsak — Tyler Gardens Visit www.buckscountypleinair.com for more details about the week-long festival as well as to view the online gallery to see all of the paintings created throughout the week. In addition, follow #bcpleinair on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest Plein Air news.
2018 Best of Show & Alan Fetterman Fine Arts Medal Recipient Alison Leigh Menke, center.
“The Colonial Blacksmith” by Alison Menke
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Bucks County Plein Air Sunday, October 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bucks County Community College The Plein Air Tradition While artists have long painted outdoors, painting en plein air was developed during the 19th century with the Romantics whose search for authenticity accorded particular value to spontaneous sketching from nature. The introduction of paint in tubes in the 1840s further increased its popularity. Previously, painters made their own paints by grinding and mixing dry pigment powders with oil. Plein air is dependent upon the whims of the natural world. Brushstrokes are more visible and possess the fluid, painterly quality that is a hallmark of the plein air style — a quality often associated with French Impressionism. Famous schools of plein air painting include the Barbizon School and Heidelberg School. About the Festival Enjoy great art, live music, tasty food, family entertainment, and the company of fellow art enthusiasts at the fourth annual Bucks County
Plein Air Festival at Bucks County Community College’s Newtown Campus. The Festival features 30 of the finest artists from across North America, and celebrates the arts in Bucks County. Don’t miss the opportunity to purchase works from nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, and enjoy three Quick Draw Competitions on the scenic grounds of Bucks County Community College. Quick Draw Competitions At 10:30 a.m., the 30 juried artists will compete in a paint out on the grounds of the historic Tyler estate. Alongside the professional artists, the general public has the opportunity to participate in a quick draw competition. Registration is required. This is followed by judging and a wet sale. In the afternoon, kids ages 4 through 15 are invited to showcase their art abilities during a special hour-long quick draw, sponsored by the Artists of Yardley. The Festival is free to the public and runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6. Visit www. buckscountypleinair.com, e-mail bcpleinair@bucks.edu, or call 215968-8224 for more information.
penn color is very proud to support all the artists in the
bucks county
Plein Air Festival
PENNCOLOR.COM
P: 215.345.6550 :: F: 215.345.0270 400 Old Dublin Pike :: Doylestown, PA 18901
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2019 PLEIN AIR COMPETITION ARTISTS
Tracy Everly
Dorothy Hoeschen
Barbara Lewis
Mark McCoy
Christopher Monteiro
Helena van EmmerikFinn
Bruno Baran, Nottingham, MD Al Barker, Bordentown, NJ Henry Coe, Parkton, MD Ann Crostic, Baltimore, MD Patrice DeVirgilis, Lansdale, PA Tracy Everly, Holland, PA Roberta Goschke, Waldoboro, ME Randall Graham, West Chester, PA Michelle Held, Sarasota, FL Dorothy Hoeschen, Riegelsville, PA Ryan Jensen, Blue Lake, CA Brett LaGue, Fincastle, VA Barbara Lewis, Doylestown, PA Elaine Lisle, Bryn Mawr, PA David Lussier, Somersworth, NH
Pamela Lussier, Somersworth, NH Meridee Mandio, Santa Fe, NM Fran Mangino, Westerville, OH Mark McCoy, Perkasie, PA Alison Leigh Menke, Clarksville, MD Christopher Monteiro, Yardley, PA J. Stacy Rogers, Lewes, DE William Rogers, Antigonish, Nova Scotia Radhika Srinivas, Devon, PA John Slivjak, Philadelphia, PA Susan Styer, Elverson, PA Helena van Emmerik-Finn, Doylestown, PA David Warner, Meadville, PA Durre Waseem, Corona, CA Stewart White, Baltimore, MD
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EASELS POP-UP! 30 TOP ARTISTS PAINT BUCKS COUNTY Exit #44
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Michener Art Museum 138 S. Pine Street Doylestown, PA 18901
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Afternoon painting in Newtown Borough & Tyler State Park
ARTIST HOSPITALITY CENTER: New Hope Visitor’s Center 1 West Mechanic Street New Hope, PA 18938
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VIP Collectors’ Preview Bucks County Community College 6:30 – 9:30pm
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Festival Day Bucks County Community College 10am – 4pm
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ARTIST HOSPITALITY CENTER: Village Green 2400 Street Road New Hope, PA 18938 (Between What’s in a Name & Free Will Brewing Taproom. Open 10am - 6 pm.)
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SPOT AN ARTIST?
Snap & Post #BCPleinair for a Chance to Win Tickets to the VIP Preview Event
@bcpleinair @bcpleinair
Visit and “Like” our page! facebook.com/bcpleinair Keep up with the artists!
Festival Jurors Joe Gyurcsak, AIS, OPA, ISAP, paints a broad range of subject matter including interiors, still life, figurative and landscape Joe Gyurcsak painting. He has a keen sense for capturing the essence of his subject matter with a bold and candid approach. Joe studied at Parsons School of Design and The School of Visual Arts in New York and had a successful illustration career early on. Later, he went on to study with many leading representational painters of our time in pursuit of a fine art career. He exhibits, lectures, judges and demonstrates across the country. Joe, a gifted teacher able to convey complex concepts and techniques to students with simple concepts, has taught workshops and privately for more than 25 years. His award winning paintings continue to
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gain the interest of collectors. Visit www.josephgyurcsak.com for more information. Valerie Craig has pursued her lifelong passion for painting on a full-time basis for more than 20 Valerie Craig years. Known for her expressive brushwork, she believes that painting is a celebration of life and the beauty that surrounds us. She feels that her best expressions happen when she is on location and can directly sense the mood and atmosphere of a particular scene. Valerie is the recipient of many awards in the United States and abroad, and has judged national and international painting competitions, including Ireland’s Art in the Open, Floyd Plein Air, Solomons Island Plein Air and Norfolk Plein Air. She has had numerous solo exhibitions and enjoys teaching workshops. Visit www.valeriecraig.com for more information.
M O R E V I E W S O F T H E F E S T I VA L
Public Quick Draw Juror James Bongartz began his passion for art during formal childhood lessons at the Carnegie Institute and continuing at Carnegie-Mellon University following a BSEd in art education from Edinboro State University of Pennsylvania. He has painted for over 30 years, exhibiting in galleries and juried shows throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Many of his works are in private collections. Most paintings are responses and interpretation from his own photography. Mastering the use of color and brushwork as a form of processing imagery and evoking experiences are current inspirations. Visit www.jamesbongartz.com for more information.
Awards Emcee Paul Bencivengo is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Visit Bucks County. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Paul began his hospitality career as a
bus boy and worked nearly every facet in the restaurant from dishwasher to line cook and server to managing food and beverage Paul inventory/cost. Prior Bencivengo to entering the tourism industry, he held various positions, including Content Manager for HoopsTV.com (a subsidiary of AND1) and Assistant Director of Operations as well as Traveling Secretary for the Alexandria Aces Minor League Baseball Team. In 2001, he joined the destination marketing industry as a Digital Marketing Manager for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. A Langhorne resident, Paul started as Marketing Director at Visit Bucks County in 2009. In 2014, he was promoted to Vice President and began focusing on stakeholder outreach, economic impact research and advocacy initiatives by dedicating his time to promoting collaboration and hospitality development throughout the County. He was appointed to his current role on July 1, 2019. For more information, visit www.visitbuckscounty.com.
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Thank you to the supporters of the Fourth Annual Bucks County Plein Air Festival PRESENTING SPONSOR
FRIENDS OF PLEIN AIR
M E D I A PA R T N E R S
BRONZE SPONSORS
Carol Tyler PAT R O N S O F P L E I N A I R
Steering Committee
The Benstead Family Geoffrey and Gretchen Jackson
F E S T I VA L H O S T S
Our sincerest gratitude to the event volunteers and those who hosted an artist or two in their home.
Jennifer Garey Festival Director Bucks County Community College Dr. Tobi Bruhn Vice President, Advancement Bucks County Community College Alan Fetterman Alan Fetterman Fine Arts Dr. Vail Garvin President & CEO Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Fran Orlando Director, Exhibitions & Artmobile Bucks County Community College Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt President Bucks County Community College Andrew States Coordinator, Foundation & College Events Bucks County Community College