The Redstone Gallery and Redstone Art Foundation are partnering in 2025 to bring another Plein Air Festival to fruition. From June 23-29, artists will gather to paint under the open sky and the public is encouraged to mosey over and watch them work.
June 23 will feature a private painting workshop with Scott Ruthven at the Redstone Gallery. The following day, artist registration and painting will begin at 8am and continue until 6:30pm, when a casual dinner will take place at the Redstone Gallery.
Public events will take place June 25-29, starting with a talk at the Redstone Gallery with Lanny Grant at 10am followed by a demo by mosaic artist Rebecca Swain-Grant along the Boulevard beginning at 2pm. There will be other talks, demonstrations, a makers market, historical tours, awards and more throughout the week, with work created by participants on display for purchase at Joy & Wylde June 28-29.
“The theme of this year is inherent in the name of the festival itself. Since it’s plein air, those participating are celebrating the beauty of our surroundings,” Stephen Springfield, head of marketing and media at the Redstone Gallery, stated. “It’s just as much about having artists mix together. I think that is one of the best parts of it, because artists often don’t get the chance to be collegial and share and celebrate one another’s work as often as they would like to.”
Springfield believes this camaraderie among the artists has been a driving point in the success of the event, especially when combined with the receptions curated specifically for the artists with live music, food and wine.
“We have over 30 artists this year being part of this, and that creates value for the community who comes out,” Springfield continued. “They get to see a broader range of talent and get a bigger appreciation for the work.”
The festival was inspired by the Gallery and Foundation’s recognition of a deep history of art in the Crystal River Valley. The area was a home and living muse for nationally renowned artists including Jack Roberts, whose memorial scholarship was granted to four seniors across three different high schools this year. The recipients were Lilu Illouz of Basalt High School, Danica Lee of Yampah Mountain High School and Sawyer Patrick and Willa Corcoran of Glenwood Springs High School. The Scholarship is presented annually by the Redstone Art Foundation to outstanding art students in the Roaring Fork Valley.
“The Valley has a great history of some pretty nationally renowned artists,” Springfield said. “This is part of the legacy of where we live in this valley — the beauty that brings people out. There’s such an artist community here.”
He continued, “By artists, I don’t mean strictly people who paint or people involved in the visual arts. There’s such an appreciation for aesthetic beauty and our surroundings, and appreciation for creative expression that comes out just through the sort of Bohemian culture that exists here. It’s just something people enjoy, and it’s been the history of the Valley.”
Discussing the importance of events such as this, Springfield said that once the community comes together to witness the creative process more intimately, many doors can open.
“I can’t think of a better way for people to support the arts than to show up, be present and to show support through their personal enjoyment of the art. Everything else stems from that, as some people will be so moved they’ll have to buy a piece of art. Others might form a relationship with an artist and others might be inspired to take up a paintbrush themselves.” Springfield concluded, “This sort of event allows people to come for various reasons, and everybody can take something from it, and we’ll all be better for it.”
This year’s sponsors are Joy & Wylde, The Redstone Inn, Redstone Art Foundation and State Farm Agent Hailie Mickley. For more information visit www.redstoneartfoundation.org and redstonegallery.art