The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino Art Center:
The Mendocino Art Center (MAC) hosts more than 60 artists for the Mendocino Open Paint Out (MOPO), a plein air festival, September 19-25.
Established in 2013, the festival includes daily plein air painting, with wet paint sales of new artwork exhibited each day in the Art Center’s galleries and demonstrations by featured artists. On Saturday, September 24, the festival also includes a Quick Draw Competition and Sale, followed by a celebratory Awards Ceremony, culminating with an After Party, headlined by Mendocino Coast band, Mama Grows Funk. Also on exhibit will be an event opening Artists Showcase Exhibition with each participating artist showing a previously created painting, and a Featured Artists Exhibit which will continue through October 30. All events are free and open to the public, including watching the artists paint outdoors all week along the Mendocino Coast.
The three featured artists – Ryan Jensen, Carolyn Lord and the Mendocino Coast’s Maeve Croghan – will paint outdoors each day during MOPO, conduct daily demonstrations (Tuesday through Thursday, 7:00 p.m., donations requested), and also judge the artwork of the 60 participating oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media artists competing for cash and prizes. More than 400 works were painted during the last weeklong MOPO event in 2019. Artists are traveling from throughout California, as well as visiting from Illinois, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
On Saturday, September 24, there will be a Quick Draw Competition, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with the location to be announced at 10:30am (at the Art Center, on the community announcement listserv, the MAC website and on Facebook, facebook.com/mendocinoartcenter), in order to remain a surprise to the participants. The public is invited to watch the competition and then vote for their favorite Quick Draw piece at the Quick Draw Sale, held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the MAC. The day’s festivities will continue with a special MOPO Reception and Celebration, including an awards presentation, at 5:00 p.m., followed by live music, 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with Mama Grows Funk, bringing their potent mix of funk, soul, Latin, and R&B influences.
On Sunday, September 25, the gallery will be open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This will be the final opportunity to purchase paintings created during the 2022 Mendocino Open Paint Out.
The Mendocino Coast, located along a beautiful expanse of the Pacific Ocean in northern California, is a spectacular setting to paint en plein air. Artists claim that the quality of light is unlike anywhere else in the world. From the rugged surrounding landscape, to the bay and beaches, to the quaint Victorian architecture and water towers in the town of Mendocino, to the nearby vineyards and wineries, artists are sure to find abundant creative inspiration.
The Mendocino Open Paint Out is sponsored by Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine, Plein Air Magazine and Southwest Art magazine, as well as KZYX & Z, Sea Pal, and Visit Mendocino / Mendocino County Tourism.
Support has also been provided by Frankie’s Pizza and Ice Cream, Frey Vineyards, Gallery Bookshop, John Hewitt, Husch Vineyards, Rick Keller, Debra Lennox, Mendocino Grove, Dale E. Moyer, Noyo Harbor Inn, Trish and Trevor Orchard, Janis Porter, Prentice Gallery, Redwood Roofers, The Stanford Inn By the Sea, Thanksgiving Coffee and Village Veterinary.
Masking is highly recommended and greatly appreciated in the MAC buildings. For a full schedule of events and gallery hours, visit MendocinoArtCenter.org/mopo. The Mendocino Art Center is located at 45200 Little Lake Street (at Kasten Street) in Mendocino.
