14th Annual Plein Air Invitational
March 2-29, 2020
In Borrego Springs, March means art – and lots of it. The 14th Annual Plein Air Invitational brought 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 15 artists working in oils, watercolor or pastels, all producing work for the show during the week of March 2-7. 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.
Returning Curator for the 2020 Invitational, Shannon O'Dunn of O'Dunn Fine Arts, is no stranger to the Borrego Art Institute. As an artist and a gallery owner in La Mesa, California for seven years, Shannon attended many of BAI's Plein AIr openings. In 2016 she accepted the honor of judging that year's Invitational. In March of 2017, Shannon assisted BAI's longtime Plein Air curator Barbara Nickerson and then stepped into the curator position for the 2018 Plein Air Invitational. Shannon, now a resident of Boulder, Colorado, continues to be involved with BAI and will return to curate the 2021 Invitational.
Juror for the 2020 Invitational was Scott W. Prior, an Oceanside, CA Plein Air artist with numerous awards for his work.
Artists for the 2020 Invitational included returning artists Bill Cramer (Prescott, AZ), Cynthia Rosen ( Dorset, VT), Margaret Larlham (San Diego, CA), Patty McGeeney (Del Mar, CA), Kadin Goldberg (Red Lodge, MT), Kathleen Lanzoni (Boulder, CO), Anita Winter (Centennial, CO). New invitees to the 2020 Invitational were Richard Prather (Placitas, NM), Clare Scott (Lafayette, CO), Catherine Hillis (St. Simons Isl, GA), Kathleen Weil (Los Angeles, CA), Jim Wodark (Orange, CA), Stephen Stauffer (Midvale, UT), Ryan Jensen (Blue Lake, CA). Simon Winegar (Farmington, UT).
A Special Thank You to our 2020 Awards Sponsors:
Dennis and Sharon Nourse: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and People's Choice
Borrego Outfitters: Artists' Choice
O'Dunn Fine Art: Curator's Choice
King of Frames: Honorable Mentions
The 2020 Plein Air Invitational 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
13th Annual Plein Air Invitational
March 3-31, 2019
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
1st Place
Danny Griego El Rancho #8 Oil
2nd Place
Aaron Schuerr Ephemeral Abundance Oil
3rd Place
Kadin Goldberg Head in the Clouds Oil
People's Choice
Bill Cramer Light on the Mountain Oil
Curator's Choice
Cynthia Rosen Across Flowered Fields Oil
Honorable Mention
Ken Spencer Borrego Sunrise Oil
Honorable Mention
Lamya Deeb Such a Lovely Morning Oil
Honorable Mention
Margaret Larlham Kumeyaay Kitchen Oil
Quick Draw
Bill Cramer Beginning, Middle and End Oil
Artists' Choice for Body of Work
Bill Cramer
12th Annual Plein Air Invitational
March 9-April 1, 2018
Jurored by noted California Plein Air artist Richard Lindenberg,
the 12th Annual Plein Air Invitational artists were as follows:
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
11th Annual Plein Air Invitational
March 5-26, 2017
Jurored by noted California Plein Air artist Gil Dellinger,
the 11th Annual Plein Air Invitational artists were as follows:
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
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