Power outage doesn't stop 2024 Plein Air Festival opening reception

Through the first week in June, residents may have noticed a larger-than-usual number of artists painting outdoors in Niwot and throughout Boulder County. They were working as part of the 2024 Open Studios Plein Air Festival, a juried experience open to artists throughout Colorado and the United States.

This year's event was the first time the festival has been held since before the pandemic and last Saturday, the public had the first opportunity to view the results of their efforts, at an opening reception held at the former feed store at 291 2nd Avenue in Niwot. While the week of painting went smoothly, the reception, which drew about 70 people, was not without a surprise power outage, which caused guests to resort to using their cell phone flashlights to view paintings.

"I've been curating and running art events since 2009, but I've never had one with a power outage," joked Mary Horrocks, Executive Director of Open Studios, the organization that sponsored the event in conjunction with the Niwot Cultural Arts Association. "But really, we're just extremely excited that we've gotten back to the full, national festival format. It's an incredible exhibit of artwork here, with 39 artists participating. I hope people come out to see it in the coming weeks."

Artists appreciated the chance to be part of the exhibition. Steve Griggs, from Centennial, Colorado, painted scenes from the end of 2nd Avenue, from Chautauqua, from Left Hand Canyon as well as other areas. "A whole lot of artists get together, and choose a location out of several suggested, choose a perspective and create our renderings of what we see in an area," he explained. "There are artists in oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics and more. The interpretations of a single subject are always delightful and interesting. They show the artists' expertise in different mediums." John Slivjak traveled for the festival from Haddon Heights, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He heard about it through a notice in a nationally distributed magazine and took the opportunity to paint and visit family in the area. "When you're back east you paint in parks or at farms. It's different out here in the west. This is something I'd like to paint more of." The opening exhibit included a presentation of event awards that were based around a number of focused meeting points for the festival's creation period. Awards were distributed based on subject location and, one award's focus area of particular interest centered around the depiction of the Flatirons. The winning image in this category is further honored by being used on the event banner and other publicity materials for the following year's event. In the next several weeks, art lovers who missed the opening exhibit and awards will still have the chance to view and purchase artwork at the former feed store. Exhibit dates and times are: June 9 to July 3 - noon to 5 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays.

July 4 - 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., during the 4th of July parade. July 5 - Through the afternoon and during the First Friday Art Walk.