Plein Air Painters To Capture Forgotten Coast on Canvas
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Exhibits Everywhere!

Throughout the 10-day event, there will be six exhibits running simultaneously in each of the communities of Apalachicola, Mexico Beach, Carrabelle, Port St. Joe and WindMark Beach.

The Wetroom Exhibit – Apalachicola. (Opens May 7) Consider this “control central” for the 10 day exhibit. You can stop here throughout the event to pick up information, meet the artists as they bring their work in daily and get updated event information. This exhibit will consist of art, fresh off the easel, which arrives daily at the Apalachicola Center for History, Culture and Art on the waterfront in downtown Apalachicola. The "wet room" will feature viewing and purchase of these masterfully produced paintings. Open daily 11 am – 5pm.

The Plein Air Process Exhibit – Mexico Beach. (Opens May 7) This exhibit details the Plein Air process and will be held at the Mexico Beach Welcome Center. Open daily 12-5pm.

The Plein Air Classics Exhibit – Carrabelle. (Opens May 8) Private collectors from the region have generously loaned their favorite paintings to present “Plein Air Classics.” The Carrabelle History Museum will host the exhibit daily. Open daily 12-5pm.

The Richard Carrell Collection – Port St. Joe. (Opens May 9) The Richard Carrell Collection will feature paintings donated by artists to memorialize the vision of the event founder, Mr. Richard Carrell. Carrell, who died in 2009, is being honored with a special collection of plein air works that will be a permanent feature at the newly opened Sacred Heart Hospital in Port St. Joe. Open daily 12-5pm.

The St. Joe Collection – WindMark Beach. (Opens May 7) The St. Joe Collection will be presented at the WindMark Beach Village Center and will feature more than 40 plein air paintings purchased during previous plein air events. These works have grown increasingly popular and stimulate discussion of how the area has changed since the event first began. Open daily 12-5pm.

Fresh Off the Easel Exhibit – Port St. Joe. (Open May 12-14) This exhibit, located at the Gulf County Tourist Development Council Welcome Center will feature viewing and sales of “wet” 2010 work. Open daily 9am – 5pm.

Get Involved in the Art!

The 2010 America’s Great Plein Air Paint-out will feature many opportunities for the aspiring artist or art enthusiast to get up close and personal to plein air through workshops, demonstrations and lectures.

The Forgotten Coast Quickdraw – St. George Island. (May 8) Artists of all skill levels are invited to practice the Plein Air technique at a “Quickdraw” event on May 8 at the St. George Island Lighthouse Museum. The event begins at 10am and involves participants painting the beauty of St. George Island for two hours and then displaying and selling their work at the Lighthouse Museum Park. Awards will be presented and art will be sold off the easels. There will also be music, shopping, and a creative art project for kids. The Quickdraw is presented by the St. George Island Lighthouse Association, The St. George Island Visitors’ Center and Lighthouse Museum, The St. George Island Merchants’ Association, and the Forgotten Coast Cultural Coalition. Applications and contest rules are available at www.pleinairfl.com or at the St. George Island Visitors’ Center.

Student Art Day – Port St. Joe. (May 12) Participating plein air artists will spend May 12 from 10am – noon instructing area students in plein air skills. Students from local schools will receive one-on-one mentoring to create a plein air work. This event will take place in Maddox Park in Port St. Joe and will be followed by a community luncheon at the Gulf County Welcome Center hosted by the Gulf Alliance for Local Art. The students’ completed paintings will be displayed in the Wetroom Exhibit through the duration of the event. Students must register to participate. For details, contact Natalie Shoaf at www.pleinairfl.com.

Free Artist Demonstrations Across the Coast – Areawide. (May 7-16) Art enthusiasts are encouraged to attend a series of free artist demonstrations and receptions throughout the 10 days. Area parks, museums and visitor centers will be featured during the demonstration series. Events will be held on Reid Avenue in Port St. Joe on May 7, at SummerCamp Beach on May 8, at Cape San Blas in Salinas Park on Monday, May 10, in the Carrabelle at the History Museum, May 11, on May 13 at the Mexico Beach Welcome Center, at Millinder Park in Eastpoint on May 14, and at the WindMark Village Center on Saturday, May 15. For a complete schedule and details visit www.pleinairfl.com.

“Art as a Historical Record” (May 14) This round-table discussion will explore the way the landscape, history and local culture is documented by the artist. The discussion will feature art historian Mallory O’Connor and a group of noted plein air painters, led by artist Mitch Kolbe. The program will be held in the loft of the Apalachicola Center for History, Culture and Art above the Wetroom on Friday, May 14, from 2-4 pm. The program is free and open to the public.

Art Parties!

Plein Air TGIF (May 14) Celebrate with artists and area supporters at this sunset gathering on the deck of the Gulf County Welcome Center, overlooking St. Joe Bay. A special selection of art will be available for purchase. Enjoy live music , dancing and refreshments from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Patrons’ Party (May 15) Artists will be asked to reserve their very best work to present at the Patrons' Party on Saturday evening, May 15, from 6:30-10:30 pm. This special event, held in the Wetroom in Apalachicola, will include delicious food, live music, and the opportunity to purchase the best art from the paint-out. This is an event open to patrons and sponsors only. To be a patron or a sponsor please contact Libia Taylor at www.pleinairfl.com.

Art in the Afternoon. (May 16) The final segment, Art In The Afternoon, is a free, family-oriented celebration of the Plein Air event. Children will enjoy fine arts projects, area music students will perform, and artists will paint on-site from 11am-4pm on Sunday, May 16. The Wetroom will extend into the street and overlook Riverfront Park in Apalachicola. This will be the last chance to purchase plein air art, mingle with the artists, and ask them to personalize a message on purchased paintings.

“America’s Great Paint-Out" is coordinated by the Forgotten Coast Cultural Coalition, a non-profit organization established to produce regional multi-community cultural events that improve the quality of life for the coastal area. The communities of Mexico Beach, WindMark Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, St. George Island, Carrabelle, SummerCamp and Alligator Point have joined forces to produce the most impressive art event seen along the coast. Funding from both the Gulf and Franklin County Tourist Development Councils as well as Visit Florida has been used to promote the event to a national market aiming to attract art enthusiasts and collectors.

The public is invited, encouraged even, to locate, stop and watch the painters throughout the week. To view the entire schedule of events, enter the Quickdraw contest, or learn about the event and artists, visit the website www.pleinairfl.com or call 1-800-378-8419.