The 5th Annual Driggs Digs Plein Air Festival, taking place July 25-30, kicked off yesterday with a welcome reception sponsored by the Teton Arts Council. Today, July 26th, will open with a demo by Doug Braithwaite on the Driggs City Plaza at 12 noon, followed by a Paint Out at the Teton River at 6 pm. The weather couldn’t be better for spectators taking in this “open air” event. In the world of art, Plein Air is an expression from the French which means “in the open air,” and is used to describe the act of painting outdoors.
The festival will include: Quick Draws at Shakespeare in the Park, and Music on Main, which are two hour periods for artists to start and complete a painting, and for onlookers to observe different methods; Paint Outs at the Teton River and Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort, which aren’t competitive, but allow painters and spectators to gather in one area; and an Awards Ceremony and Gala, hosted by the City Gallery, at the end of the week where participating artists will share the outcome of their work, and audiences can view and purchase their favorite compositions, or even meet the creative composer.
Plein Air painting is a large part of this region’s history. Early visions of the west, and the Tetons, came from Plein Air painters such as Thomas Moran (for whom Mt Moran is named) and Albert Bierstadt in the late 1800’s. Over 200 years later, Teton Valley is still an inspiring place as ever. Rich with wildlife, pristine landscape, captivating weather, and natural light, it’s no wonder artists travel from far and wide to find great places to paint in this area.
All proceeds benefit the Downtown Driggs Community Association, whose mission is to foster community development in Driggs, Idaho, through downtown beautification, promotion, and economic restructuring.
For more information visit: http://driggspleinair.org/schedule.html