Here are some things that are fun: eating food, listening to live music, walking around outside in beautiful spring weather, and watching artists work.
Well, head to Camp Hill for the fourth annual Plein Air Camp Hill Competition and Arts Festival, held all over town from May 16 to 18, and you can do all of those fun things.
“Plein air” is used to describe the act of painting outdoors. It comes from the French phrase “en plein air,” meaning “in the open air.” The 19th-century impressionists were famous for plein air painting, used to capture the effects of sunlight at different times of the day.
Plein Air Camp Hill started in 2011 by the nonprofit Economic and Cultural Development Group of Camp Hill, which organizes the festival in partnership with Camp Hill Borough. It has grown in size and scope ever since.
“This competition and festival have become a ‘don’t miss’ event showcasing regional and national artists, all painting live outdoors, and Camp Hill’s commitment to the arts, education, our youth, and business and economic development,” said Craig Bachik, executive director of the Economic and Cultural Development Group. “Each year, attendance has grown as artists and guests are traveling from as far away as Massachusetts to participate and attend.”
Julie Riker of Camp Hill is one of the participating artists. She’s also president of the Susquehanna Plein Air Painters and has participated every year since the festival began. I asked her about her experience painting “for a crowd.”
“Well, every time you paint outside, it’s likely that you’ll run into the public in some capacity,” she explained. “People often ask questions or just watch you work. I’ve actually sold paintings that way. Someone watches you paint a piece, and they feel a sense of ownership.”
Why paint plein air instead of in a studio?
“I love being outside,” Riker explained. “Some people like to golf outside, some people like to fish outside…I like to paint outside. I also like painting from life rather than from a photograph. Even if I’m painting indoors, I set up a still life rather than paint from a photograph. And painting plein air is challenging simply because you’re sort of racing against the clock. The light changes, so you have to make decisions quickly.”
The festival kicks off Friday morning as artists set up easels all over Camp Hill. A special Collectors’ Preview Party begins at 5 p.m. at Gallery 2318 (2318 Market St., Camp Hill), where partygoers will have an opportunity to check out the work of 72 artists and photographers from five states who have entered into the festival’s juried portion, as well as student artwork. The $25 tickets can be purchased on the festival’s website.
While there are activities on both Saturday and Sunday, Saturday boasts the most action. In addition to artists painting plein air all day, there are “Quick Draw” competitions for both youth and adults. Participants will choose a location within a designated area and will have two hours to create a piece of art from scratch.
There will also be a “Quick Shoot” photography competition on Saturday, during which photographers will have 24 hours to take photos within the borough, print and frame their photos, and hang them for exhibition and judging.
Additionally, there will be free workshops on all sorts of art media from painting to glass blowing, bonsai, jewelry and more, as well as painting activities for artists of all ages. The “Youth Paint Out” is always a hit among the younger set as everybody wins free ice cream and older participants compete for cash prizes.
While focused on art, live music will be found in several locations, including Willow Park Gazebo. On Saturday morning, for instance, renowned local classical/jazz/flamenco guitarist John Catalano will perform.
This year, the festival will add a “business scavenger hunt” involving businesses from Camp Hill and surrounding areas. It begins before the festival does, on May 12, and lasts until May 17.
“At each participating location, a tidbit of local Camp Hill history or trivia will be posted in plain view on a petal-shaped piece of colored paper,” explained Bachik. “Teams will have the week to locate and glean certain information from them, [which] will be useful in solving the scavenger hunt final answer.”
When a team has visited each location, it will have to decipher a final question, he said. The answer to that question will be revealed on Saturday, and a drawing from the teams’ submitted answers will determine the winner. The grand prize is $1,000.
Proceeds from the festival benefit a variety of activities and projects. Among the most visible are banners featuring student artwork.
“I love to see the student art banners blowing in the breeze along Market Street, knowing that 10 area schools have worked on this cooperative project,” said Susan Schreckengaust, a member of the festival planning committee.
Proceeds from this year’s event also will be placed in an endowment fund created to provide scholarships to art students of all ages and for organizations and events seeking funding to support community-based arts programming, said Bachik.
“The proceeds go towards promoting and enhancing artistic expression in our region and to improve our quality of life through the arts,” he said.
For a complete schedule of events and to learn how you can be a part of the festival, visit pleinaircamphill.org.
