01 Nov Sorrel Sky Gallery to Host 8th National Juried PAPNM Members Show (November 2016)

Sorrel Sky Gallery is proudly hosting the 8th National Juried Members Show of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico (PAPNM) the weekend of November 4-6 at the gallery’s downtown location, at 125 W Palace Avenue in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The varied events will feature the work of artists dedicated to preserving and promoting painting en plein air. The opening reception and awards ceremony will be held on Friday the 4th, from 5-8 pm. On Saturday the 5th, from 12-3 pm, Judge of Awards, Jeff Legg, will give a still life oil painting demonstration. There will be three additional painting demonstrations by PAPNM members on Sunday the 6th, as follows: from 10 am-12:30 pm: Lee MacLeod, Oil; from 12:30 pm-2:30 pm: Damien Gonzales, Oil; from 2:30 pm-5 pm: Lee McVey, Pastel. The show will then continue through the month of November.

Plein Air painting, taken from the French expression meaning “in the open air,” has been called by some an extreme sport. Its devotees brave wind, rain, intense heat and sun, bugs and the constantly shifting light to capture their subject matter. With the desire to observe and paint directly from the source of their inspiration, these artists display a sense of determination that could easily be missed when contemplating their finished works. However, it takes a capable person with both physical and emotional strength to paint in these ever changing conditions. Plein Air artists flock to the Southwest which provides a wealth of inspirational scenery, with its clear blue skies, wide open plains, twisting canyons, stately cottonwoods and gnarled piñons. Although these challenges can be daunting, these artists experience great satisfaction in painting outdoors, meeting nature and their surroundings face to face.  

Past PAPNM shows have drawn top artists from across the country and this show will be no different. Each artist is invited to submit up to four paintings that they have produced over the last two years and a jury committee selects the paintings to exhibit. Bill Gallen, Walt Gonske, Albert Handell, Peggy Immel (represented at Sorrel Sky Gallery) and Paul Murray, the five Master Signature Artists of PAPNM, have all been invited to participate, as well as the Signature Artists. This year’s Jurors of Selection for the show are American Landscape painter Clive R. Tyler, Sorrel Sky Gallery owner Shanan Campbell Wells, and last year’s Best of Show Winner Cecilia Robertson. The Judge of Awards is Jeff Legg, Master Signature member of “Oil Painters of America.”

Gallery owner Shanan Campbell Wells sees Plein Air artists as “frontline” painters. “There is a sense of energy and excitement that can be felt when looking at works by Plein Air artists. They were right there, painting in the field as frontline artists, observing in person a scene unfold before them. That moment, that sliver of time, you don’t just see it, you can feel it,” she says.

Sorrel Sky Gallery’s fresh approach to Western art presents a select collection of contemporary and traditional fine art and jewelry for the discerning collector. Sorrel Sky Gallery was founded in Durango, CO in 2002 and opened its Santa Fe, NM location in 2014. It represents over 90 painters, sculptors and jewelers including bronze artist Star Liana York and jewelry artist Ben Nighthorse, among others.