NEW IBERIA, La. – Shadows-on-the-Teche received a record number 61 applicants from 15 states and the Philippines for the Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Painting Competition, now in its fourth year.
The phrase
plein air describes art created in the open air, a process much different than producing canvases in the studio. Artists must deal with shifting angles and tones of light as well as adverse weather conditions.
Applications were submitted from across the United States, from Colorado to New Hampshire and Wisconsin to Florida. Thirty-five artists have been selected from the talented pool of applicants for this year’s competition scheduled for March 10-16, 2018.
In alphabetical order, the artists are Deborah Bacon, Suzie Baker, Susan Clark, Amy Collins, Ron Cutrera, Tony Cutrera, Kathy Daigle, Claude Ellender, David Gary, Amie Gonser, Wendy Hazey, Ken Hopel, Darlene Johnson, Troy Large, Harold Letz, Spencer Meagher, Mary Monk, Monica Nelson, Auseklis Ozolos, DK Palecek, Craig Reynolds, Phil Sandusky, Glinda Schafer, Andrea Schellman, Linda Shannon, Mary O. Smith, Richard Sneary, Billy Solitario, Ann Sutton, Patricia Sweet, Sherri Thomas, Peg Usner, Gwen Voorhies, Robin Wellner, and Marcia Willman.
All 35 artists will be coming to New Iberia to the Shadows Visitor Center on March 10 to have their blank canvases marked with the official Shadows Plein Air dated stamp before heading out into the town and the surrounding area to paint. Artists can paint as many pictures as they wish from Saturday, March 10 to Thursday, March 15 when they will submit their two best paintings to be judged by New Hampshire based plein air artist and instructor Erik Koeppel.
Artists’ work painted throughout the week will be exhibited at the Shadows Visitor Center on Friday, March 16 where competition winners will be announced and prizes awarded. All work will be available for purchase. The ceremony, reception, and fine arts sale are free to attend.
Other festivities planned during competition week are a public program and "Paint Out." On Wednesday, March 14 Mr. Koeppel will provide a free public program on plein air painting. On Friday, March 16, all interested artists are invited to participate in a "Paint Out" in the Shadows Gardens and downtown New Iberia from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Event organizers encourage artists of all ages to come take part in this activity. Works produced at the "Paint Out" will be judged, awarded ribbons, and put on display at the Shadows Visitor Center. Visitors are also invited to travel around the parish and watch artists paint.
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