Gilmer Arts, in conjunction with the Gilmer Chamber, will host its long-running outdoor painting weekend a few months earlier than usual this year.
The seventh annual Plein Air, Art in the Mountains weekend will take place Friday, April 23-Sunday April 25. During the sprawling showcase, regional artists set up shop to paint outdoors, or “en plein air,” at various scenic locations around the county using Gilmer’s natural beauty as inspiration.
After a scaled-down event in 2020, Art in the Mountains switches from spring to summer this year, noted Elizabeth Vititoe, Gilmer Arts board chair.
“It’s usually around the September and October timeframe when it’s still pretty warm outside. A lot of artists have asked if we could do it in the spring, so that’s what we did this year,” she added.
Gilmer Arts Gallery Manager Pam Burns said this year’s outdoor painting sites will include Chateau Meichtry Vineyard and Winery, Mountain Valley Farms, Ott Farms and Vineyard, Ellijay River Vineyards, Cartecay Vineyards, the Warren Acree family homestead, Ellijay River B&B and various sites around downtown Ellijay and Carters Lake. The deadline for entrants to turn in applications is April 9.
“We’ve got our local artists, some artists coming up from Atlanta and a few maybe from further north Georgia. They are still signing up,” Vititoe said.
Paintings created over the weekend will be offered for purchase at a closing reception and live auction at Chateau Meichtry, 1862 Orchard Lane, Talking Rock, Burns noted. The closing reception is normally held at Gilmer Arts’ downtown Ellijay gallery, which hasn’t resumed holding large events.
A “quick draw” painting competition will also take place at Chateau Meichtry April 25, from noon-2 p.m., and Best in Show winners will be announced prior to the auction scheduled to start at 4 p.m. that afternoon.
“We’re real excited about this year’s plein air and also about Chateau Meichtry working with us this year to put that on,” Vititoe said.
A portion of the proceeds from sales of this year’s plein air artwork will benefit Gilmer Arts in its mission to locally provide opportunities and access to the arts, Burns noted.
“The public is invited to visit each of the plein air locations, watch the artists as they work, enjoy and purchase the artwork, participate in the live auction and enjoy the beauty that is Gilmer County. We do ask that the public honor current social distancing guidelines,” she added.
For more details about the plein air event or sponsorship opportunities, contact the Gilmer Arts Gallery at 706-635-5605.