“The Under the Arch Plein Air Event in Louisbourg will be a fun two days for any artist looking for great subjects to paint and a chance to meet potential customers from all over the world,” says event organizer Steven Rolls.
Under the Arch Plein Air Event, sponsored by the Fortress of Louisbourg Association, is looking for artists up to the challenge of creating new works inspired by the national historic site and nearby village of Louisbourg during the weekend of Saturday, July 31 to Sunday, August 1, 2010.
Participating artists will be able to paint some of Louisbourg’s many visual wonders, attend a unique artists’ mixer where they will be immersed in 18th century life found at The Fortress of Louisbourge Historic Site, present their art to an international market at the event gallery silent auction located at the Fortress Louisbourg Visitor Centre, and be able to take home the majority of the sale price of their work.
“I have participated in a similar event on mainland Nova Scotia,” says Rolls, “and was amazed at the variety of subject matter I had to paint, the people I met who were interested in my art, and that I was able to sell all but one of the pieces I created during the weekend.”
“Louisbourg has a lot to offer: dramatic seascapes, historic buildings, harbour-side boardwalk, a quaint village and vintage train station, and, for portrait painters, a large number of historical costumed animators available for the day,” Rolls explains. “In fact, more than any one artist could paint in just two days.”
“And, at that time of summer, we anticipate upwards of 3000 people will be visiting the Fortress over the two day event,” Rolls adds. “And that does not include the large number of local art lovers who will be coming out for the event. They are all people with a built-in interest in what you are creating.”
“We are delighted to have this new product to offer to the Town and Fortress alike,” says Sandra MacDonald, Program Manager, Fortress Louisbourg Association, about their association’s participation in the Plein Air event. “Fortress Louisbourg Association, with the help of ECBC, Destination Cape Breton and Parks Canada, has been working hard to incorporate a Fortress feel into the adjacent community.”
MacDonald also says, “Under the Arch will be a wonderful addition to providing a new product, giving visitors and local residents another reason to visit as well as provide the ultimate backdrop to the attending artists. We are proud to be a partner in making this event happen.”
The Plein Air website, www.pleinairevent.com, has all the information on how to register by the July 20, 2010, deadline as well as information on how to get to Louisbourg, where to stay and eat, and suggestions for possible painting subjects.
“We hope this inaugural event will attract artists from all over the Atlantic region and, with one successful event under our belt, they’ll be back in years to come to celebrate Louisbourg’s visual beauty,” says Rolls.
