By Kay Levie
Borrego Art Institute / Curator, Plein Air Invitational
When you are surrounded by 600,000 acres of rugged desert, and your plein air curator drives a 4×4 pickup truck and carries a can of bug spray in her pocket, you know this isn’t your normal plein air event. The Borrego Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert were blessed with some wonderful late winter rains and warm days, all conducive to a stunning wildflower bloom (and bugs… gnats to be exact), which greeted 16 invited artists at the 20th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational.
The artists checked in at the Borrego Art Institute gallery on Sunday, March 1, had their canvases stamped, then gathered for an evening social hour and welcome dinner. Monday morning found them out painting, developing their visual stories of the incredible beauty of the Anza-Borrego Desert. By Monday evening, paintings were already going up on the walls and sales were being made.
Each day of the paint out began with colorful sunrises followed by warm temperatures and afternoon breezes. A full moon and a lunar eclipse added another dimension to the available subject matter. Wednesday morning, March 4, started with an hour and a half Quick Draw at Rams Hill Golf Club with its expansive views of the valley and badlands plus picturesque water features, rocks, and a variety of blooming shrubs. Quick Draw juror Jeanne Plekon gave the nod to Debra Huse’s “Legacy View” (oil, 10 x 7 in.).
Thursday and Friday had the artists spread throughout the desert capturing and interpreting in their own creative styles the views of running creeks, dry washes, magnificent boulders, badlands, mountains, and fields of wildflowers. Five days of intense painting culminated on Friday evening at turn-in time. Artists were required to hang six to nine pieces for jurying.
New Mexico artist Natasha Isenhour, citing the wonderful mix of artistic styles on display and the quality of the work, noted that the show had an amazing excitement to it, a palatable vibe. Isenhour presented her selections at the awards reception attended by over 300 patrons of the arts.
Awarding first place to watercolor artist Geoffrey Allen for “Lesson Number One,” she stated “that guy can paint; he truly understands light.” Second place went to Jim McVicker’s oil painting, “Old Borrego.” Pastelist Margaret Larlham secured third place with “Flow/Coyote Creek.”
Honorable Mentions went to Paul Kratter for “Blue Shadows,” Lynn Mehta for “Borrego Badlands,” Stock Schlueter for “Fonts Point Wash,” and Carolyn Lord for “Anza Borrego Afternoon.”
Montana artist Marcia Ballowe received the Shannon O’Dunn Excellence in Pastel Award for “Early Morning in Coyote Creek.” Jason Li’s watercolor, “Finally Cooling Off,” was selected as People’s Choice, and oil painter Paul Kratter was voted Artists’ Choice for body of work.
For more information about the Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational, please visit borregoartinstitute.org.
Edited and prepared for the web by Cherie Dawn Haas, Editor of Plein Air Today
