AN ART gallery passionate about creating meaningful artistic experiences is organising its most ambitious project yet.
R Young Arts, Wokingham, has led a number of town-wide creative initiatives, with the aim of bringing communities together.
In June the gallery will host Wokingham En Plein Air, a large-scale live painting event that will transform the town into an open-air studio for one vibrant summer day.
The event, held in collaboration with Wokingham Town Council, will feature around 122 artists painting live at 49 locations throughout the town.
After six and a half hours of live painting, there will be a public exhibition, judging, and an awards ceremony in the Market Place.
Artists will be able to compete for cash prizes and art materials, with £1,000 being awarded to the overall winner.
“Our aim is that the event will not only be a celebration of plein air painting, but that it will serve as a cultural highlight for the town,” said Richard Young from R Young Arts.
“We hope it will encourage support for independent businesses, and build visibility for participating artists.
“Each of the painters will capture something of the unique atmosphere and charm of the town, with all of the artworks available for sale.”
Rich in character and close to beautiful countryside, Wokingham’s earliest Medieval roots date back more than 800 years.
As it developed into a centre for local trades and crafts, it has for many years enjoyed a market life tradition.
Today it is a thriving and busy town with an active and vibrant community.
And despite considerable development in the area in recent decades, the town has retained enough of its traditional architecture, and its historic Market Place, to preserve a distinctive and attractive identity.
Past and present continue to exist comfortably side by side in its independent shops, accessible green spaces and historic street layout.
On the day of the Plein Air event, artists will paint in a range of locations across the town and its green spaces.
From St Paul’s to All Saints churches, and at various central town locations, the charm of Wokingham will be recreated on canvas.
En plein air, meaning ‘in the open air,’ is a French phrase describing the practice of painting outdoors.
19th Century Impressionist artists Monet, Renoir, and Pissarro were all fond of taking their paintboxes outside to capture what they saw in nature.
Today, plein air painting remains a rewarding way for artists to connect with their surroundings.
The art event will take place in multiple Wokingham locations on Sunday, June 14, with artists painting from 9am through to 3.30pm.
Afterwards, an exhibition of work, and judging, will take place in the Market Place from 4pm until 6pm, followed by an awards ceremony and the giving of prizes until 6.30pm.
The artwork will then be available to buy.
Registration is now open for artists of all abilities to take part in the event.
Participation costs £60, including VAT (an earlybird 10% discount is available until March 31).
For information, a map of locations, and to register, visit: enpleinairadventures.com
