In Borrego Springs, March means art – and lots of it. The 15th Annual Plein Air Invitational brings another outstanding exhibition of Plein Air paintings focusing on the unique beauty and environmental significance of the Anza-Borrego Desert and the Borrego Valley. These paintings eloquently testify to the ageless beauty that has been preserved in this special corner of California. The exhibition is a rich diversity of Plein Air paintings by a select group of 14 artists working in oils, watercolor or pastels, all producing work for the show during the week of March 1-6. The artists bring their own unique interpretation of the landscape and express it in the medium of their choice, communicating their intense feelings about the scenes they view. With COVID this year, we have one less artist than in past Invitationals and we have to limit public interaction with the event. But we are taking safety precautions very seriously to protect our artists and visitors to the Gallery.
Curator for the 2021 Invitational, Kay Levie, Director of the Borrego Art Institute Gallery has stepped in as curator to take the place of Shannon O'Dunn who won't be traveling because of the pandemic. Shannon has become Curator Emeritus and continues to be available for consulting.
Juror for the 2021 Invitational,Tim Horn, is an award winning artist from Fairfax, California.
Artists for the 2021 Invitational include returning artists Kadin Goldberg (Laurel, MT), Ryan Jensen (Blue Lake, CA), Thomas Kitts (Portland, OR), Margaret Larlham (San Diego, CA), Patty McGeeney (Del Mar, CA), Stephen Stauffer (Midvale, UT), Barbara Tapp ( Kensington, CA), Toni Williams (Solana Beach, CA), Simon Winegar (Farmington, UT), Jim Wodark (Orange, CA). New to the Borrego Invitational for 2021 are Dan DeLouise (Rockport, MA), Susie Hyer (Evergreen, CO), Natasha Isenhour (Socorro, NM), and Paul Rickard (Arcata, CA).
Schedule for the week of March 1-6:
March 1-5: Artists out painting. All work for judging must be in the gallery by 5:00pm on Friday. Public is invited to view work in the gallery each day, 10am-7pm.
March 3: Quick Draw competition, not open to the public this year. Work will be on display in the gallery March 4.
March 6: Reception and Awards, 3pm-6pm on the main patio in front of the gallery. Awards will be announced shortly after 3pm. Visitors in the gallery will be limited to no more than 20 at a time. Everyone is required to wear a mask.
The exhibit will hang through March 28. Gallery hours March 1-6, 10am-7pm. Gallery hours after March 6, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays.
14th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational
March 2-28, 2020
Artists: Bill Cramer, Arizona; Cynthia Rosen, Vermont; Margaret Larlham, California;
Patty McGeeney, California; Kadin Goldberg, Montana; Kathleen Lanzoni, Colorado;
Anita Winter, Colorado; Richard Prather, New Mexico; Clare Scott, Colorado;
Catherine Hillis, Georgia; Kathleen Weil, California; Jim Wodark, California;
Stephen Stauffer, Utah; Ryan Jensen, California; Simon Winegar, Utah
Juror: Scott W. Prior, Oceanside, California
Curator: Shannon O'Dunn
2020 Invitational Award Winners
1st Place
"White Truck" oil Ryan Jensen
2nd Place
"Lavender Shadows" oil Jim Wodark
3rd Place
"Sainted Cholla" pastel Margaret Larlham
People's Choice and Curator's Choice
"Night Sky" oil Stephen Stauffer
Honorable Mentions
"Storm Rising" oil Bill Cramer
"Morning Sleepyhead" oil Kadin Goldberg
"High Ground" oil Patty McGeeney
Quick Draw
"A Day at the Visitor's Center" oil Richard Prather
Artists' Choice for Body of Work
Jim Wodark
Returning Artists: Danny Griego, San Diego, CA; Margaret Larlham, San Diego, CA; Patty McGeeney, Del Mar, CA; Cynthia Rosen, Dorset, VT; Stock Schlueter, Eureka, CA; Aaron Schuerr, Livingston, MT; Barbara Tapp, Kensington, CA
New Artists: Bill Cramer, Prescott, AZ; Lamya Deeb, Niwot, CO; Kadin Goldberg, Red Lodge, MT; Kathleen Lanzoni, Boulder, CO; Susan Hediger Matteson, Dolores, CO; Nancy Roberts, Oakley, CA; Ken Spencer, Blackfoot, ID; Anita Winter, Centennial, CO
Juror: Randy Higbee, Costa Mesa, CA
Sponsors:
1st-3rd place and People's Choice Awards: Dennis and Sharon Nourse, Borrego Springs, CA
Artists' Choice Award: Borrego Outfitters, Ben and Donna Nourse, Borrego Spring, CA
Curator's Choice Award: Shannon O'Dunn, O'Dunn Fine Art, Boulder, CO
Two-nights Housing for Judge: Borrego Valley Inn courtesy of Chef Tom of Kesling's Kitchen
Honorable Mention Awards: King of Frames/Randy Higbee Gallery
The 2019 Plein Air Invitational Winners
Danny Griego El Rancho #8 Oil
Aaron Schuerr Ephemeral Abundance Oil
Kadin Goldberg Head in the Clouds Oil
Bill Cramer Light on the Mountain Oil
Cynthia Rosen Across Flowered Fields Oil
Ken Spencer Borrego Sunrise Oil
Lamya Deeb Such a Lovely Morning Oil
Margaret Larlham Kumeyaay Kitchen Oil
Bill Cramer Beginning, Middle and End Oil
Artists' Choice for Body of Work
Bill Cramer
Cindy Carrillo, Arizona; Robert Goldman, Arizona; Thomas Kitts, Oregon; Margaret Larlham, California; Greg LaRock, California; Susan Lynn, Kansas; Patty McGeeney, California; Cynthia Rosen, Vermont; Stock Schlueter, California; Aaron Schuerr, Montana; Cheryl St. John, Colorado; Paul Strahm, California; Barbara Tapp, California; Toni Williams, California; James Wodark, California.
The 2018 Juror, Richard Lindenberg of Novato, California, a longtime and highly acclaimed artist with a passion for painting en plein air, is currently a marketing manager for Plein Air Magazine.
The 2018 Winners of the Plein Air Invitational:
1st Place
Margaret Larlham Notations-Palo Verde Wash Pastel
2nd Place
Jim Wodark Borrego Palms Oil
3rd Place
Greg LaRock Old Borego Oil
Honorable Mention
Thomas Kitts Passing Through Oil
Honorable Mention
Susan Lynn First Light Watercolor
Honorable Mention
Cynthia Rosen As the Day Rests Oil
People's Choice
Susan Lynn View From the Edge Watercolor
Curator's Choice
Aaron Schuerr Desert Rhythms Pastel
Martin Arriola, Judith Doxey, Mark Fehlman, Joe Forkan, Danny Griego, Susan Elwart Hall, Rose Irelan, Thomas Jefferson Kitts, Michelle Valberg Kondos, Susan Lynn, Phil Starke, Barbara Tapp, Mary Ann Warner, Andy Williams, Jim Wodark.
The 11th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational Winners:
(Work was judged on the body of work rather than individual paintings)
1st Place: Thomas Jefferson Kitts
2nd Place: Phil Starke
3rd Place: Susan Elwart Hall
Honorable Mentions: Danny Griego, Susan Lynn, Barbara Tapp
People's Choice: Andy Williams
The following paintings are part of each winner's body of work:
Water of Life II, oil by Thomas Jefferson Kitts
Morning, Coyote Canyon, oil by Phil Starke
60 Second Commercial, oil by Susan Elwart Hall
Coyote Canyon Twilight, watercolor by Susan Lynn
Lazy S Curve, oil by Danny Griego
Natural Sculpture, watercolor by Barbara Tapp
Desert Sands Airstream, oil by Andy Williams
The 10th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational Winners:
1st Place: "Borrego Colors" oil by Jim Wodark
2nd Place: "On a Dark Desert Highway" oil by Danny Griego
3rd Place: "Making the Bend" oil by Thomas Kitts
Honorable Mention: "Morning Wash" oil by Paul Kratter
Honorable Mention: "Air Plein" oil by Rita Pacheco
The 10th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational featured these artists:
Juror: Shannon O’Dunn, La Mesa, California
John Berry, Millville, Utah
Rich Brimer, Carmel, California
Patricia Rose Ford, Loma Linda, California
Danny Griego, San Diego, California
Karen Hedges, Laguna Beach, California
Thomas Jefferson Kitts, Portland, Oregon
Michelle Valberg Kondos, Borrego Springs, California
Paul Kratter, Moraga, California
Patty McGeeney, Del Mar, California
Rita Pacheco, Carlsbad, California
Karen Petrovich, Meadview, Arizona
Pauline Roche, Del Mar, California
Stock Schlueter, Eureka, California
Jim Wodark, Orange, California