Denver Plein Air Arts Festival

The Golden Triangle Museum District (GTMD), organizer of the Denver Plein Air Arts Festival, presents the 2012 fest which kicked off on Friday, Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. on the western steps of the Colorado State Capitol, followed by a reception at the historic restaurant, The Fort, 19192 Colorado 8, Morrison, Colorado. Artists are still being accepted to participate in the festival, which runs though Sept. 16.

The Denver Plein Air Arts Festival is the largest urban plein air event in the nation, and includes the museum district, several city parks, the 16^th Street Mall and other Denver locations. This year, to help celebrate its Centennial, Denver Mountain Parks and the Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance partnered with the GTMD to arrange for artist access to various locations along the Lariat Loop National Scenic & Historic Byway. A lariat will be cut by organizers at the kick-off to mark the start of this unique annual festival and the new locations. The public is welcome to attend.

After the plein air, accepted works for a juried competition will be exhibited for the public at the Denver Central Library's Vida Ellison Gallery from Nov. 13 through Dec. 31, 2012. Additionally, History Colorado’s Byers-Evans House Gallery will feature three distinct exhibitions showcasing work by winning Plein Air festival artists from the previous year: 2011 “Emerging Artist” winners—Michael McConnell, Chris Alan Serr, and Jeannie Demarinis—opens with a reception on Friday, Sept. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. and ends Saturday, Sept. 29; 2011 “Professional Artist” winners—Jim Beckner, Siobhan Keleher and Mikael Olson—opens with a reception on Friday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. and ends Saturday, Oct. 27; and the winner of the 2011 “Best of Show,” Jim Beckner, opens with a reception on Friday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 9 p.m. and ends Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012.

Visit www.gtmd.org for a detailed festival schedule, as well as when and where to view artists working, and more.