Come Watch the Paint Dry!
For Release – July 7, 2009
Whidbey Camano Land Trust
Contact: Danielle Rideout, Program Associate, (360) 222-3310
Island County, WA
You’ll have a chance to do that when plein air artists show their talents at the Whidbey Camano Land Trust’s “Art Celebrates Conservation” garden party and art auction July 19. Over 30 artists are helping the Land Trust celebrate its 25th birthday by painting scenes of properties protected by the organization.
The artists, who work outdoors using natural light, will visit and paint 23 Land Trust sites before the party, but some also will be painting during the party itself. Along with the party’s honorary chair, Floyd Jones, a philanthropist and active member of the Camano Island community, party guests can sip wine, sample hors d’ouevres, bid on paintings in a silent auction, and watch the artists at work. When the paint dries, there will be a live auction with a chance for everyone to bid on these newly completed paintings.
The 23 sites are among thousands of acres of forests, farms, beaches and wildlife habitat protected by the Land Trust during its 25-year history. “Many artists can stay in their studio and paint, but we are motivated to be painting outdoors to fully appreciate our natural landscapes,” said Gordy Edberg of the Plein Air Washington Association. “This is a natural fit for us to work with a Land Trust and support the good work they do.”
The Land Trust is very excited about the fine art being produced. “Twelve artists attended our welcoming kick-off event at Dugualla Bay on June 28,” said Elizabeth Guss, Land Trust director of outreach and development, “and the paintings from that day alone are just amazing. These high caliber artists are just as enthused as we are about our beautiful surroundings.” Among the talented artists participating in the invitational event is a nationally recognized plein air artist.
The garden party will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 19, at the Four Springs Preserve, 585 Lewis Lane, Camano Island. Tickets are $40 per person, or $30 for Land Trust members. They are on sale at the Land Trust office at Greenbank Farm (Barn C) and from the event’s cosponsors, Pacific Northwest Art School (formerly Coupeville Arts Center), 15 N.W. Birch St., Coupeville, and Gallery by the Bay, 8700 271st St. NW, Stanwood. The ticket price may be applied as a discount to art purchased in the auctions.
The Land Trust thanks the Camano Island and Stanwood Windermere Real Estate office for its sponsorship of the party, and to Gallery by the Bay, which will host a month-long showing of remaining paintings from the invitational.
The garden party is one of numerous events planned by the Land Trust this summer and fall in celebration of its anniversary. See www.wclt.com for more information.
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The Whidbey Camano Land Trust protects the islands’ most important natural habitats, scenic vistas and working farms and forests in partnership with landowners and our island communities. Incorporated in 1984, the Land Trust is a local, non-profit, non-political organization working to protect those places that Whidbey Camano Islanders hold precious and important for current and future generations. For more information, visit our website at www.wclt.org.
