100 artists gather for Plein Air Coastal Delaware
Artists and photographers are gathering in the Cape Region this week, each hoping to capture the beauty and varied vistas of coastal Delaware.
One hundred participating artists and photographers are spreading out across the beaches, towns and fields for Plein Air Coastal Delaware, a competition and celebration of art scheduled to set up in Lewes on Monday, Rehoboth Beach on Tuesday, Bethany on Wednesday and Milton and Prime Hook on Thursday.
The artists are competing for cash prizes, but they are also participating in an innovative fundraising effort for the event’s three partners: Children’s Beach House, Food Bank of Delaware and Rehoboth Art League.
Each organization has a long history of serving the Cape Region – together more than 184 years – each one working for decades with a distinct mission: to help children with disabilities enjoy the beach; feed the hungry; and promote the arts and the artists who come here.
When participants complete their week’s work, it will be presented at a reception and sale at the Children’s Beach House in Lewes. A preview show and reception will take place Friday evening, and the accumulated works of 100 artists will remain on display for show and sale through Saturday.
Through the sale of the artwork produced, the event not only highlights the beauty of the region; it also supports the creativity of the artists who bring their talents to the competition.
Some artists were out before dawn Monday to secure their preferred spots, one hunkering down in the dunes to capture the sunrise while others captured the moon, still visible behind the World War II fire tower at Cape Henlopen State Park.
Some were captivated by nature’s beauty, others by the vitality of our towns and communities.
Plein Air calls on the artists to focus for a week on the Cape Region, each bringing their own vision to the task. As they work to capture the Cape Region through art, documenting the inspiring quality of the landscapes and endless horizons surrounding us, the artists remind us once again of the beauty of this place we call home.
