If you are a fan of TR, the Roosevelts and Sagamore Hill, the new Plein Air exhibit at the Oyster Bay Historical Society (OBHS) will be “dee-lightful” for you. This is the fourth go-around for the Plein Air contest, awards and exhibit of paintings done over one day at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site. The result is a gallery filled with paintings competing for more than $2,000 in prizes. Many of the 25 competing artists submitted more than one paintings, on their path to be chosen for the show, open now through Nov. 16 in the Koenig Center.
Sagamore Hill Superintendent Kelly Furhman was thanked for allowing the open air painting contest to take place at the site by Phil Blocklyn, OBHS executive director. Fuhrman said President Theodore Roosevelt left a legacy of conservation, creating our national parks. He added that the paintings help share the vision of TR, and the mission of the NPS, “Not only tonight, but when they are sold, taken home and enjoyed over the next few years.”
One of the paintings has already sold, of the windmill at Sagamore Hill by Aleta Heisig of Locust Valley.
Fuhrman ended with a commitment: “See you next year.”
Rob Zeller of the Teaching Studios of Art of Oyster Bay, who partners with the OBHS for the event, had another aim: to explore the natural resources of the North Shore, saying people always talk about the South Shore beaches.
“This is to bring artists back to the North Shore’s riches, and capitalize on it,” he said.
Contest Juror Kenneth Salaz shared his five-part criteria for picking contest winners; it is what he uses when editing his own work. The reason for the revelation was that, while contestants want to hear what a judge is looking for, “No one talks.”
Salaz first looks at technique: is it, for example, Impressionist or Hudson River; the quality of light was the second criteria for these works done out of doors. Third is poetics: does the piece have an emotional or psychological element; does it pull the viewer in; does it have an “oh” factor?
Wholeness is the fourth quality, asking, are some sections painted loosely and others tight? Creativity is the last element, which he called the “wow” factor.
“That’s where I say to myself, ‘I’d never do that composition’ or it is something unexpected and therefore shows creativity.” He advised, “Trust your decisions. I don’t micromanage,” in spite of his list of criteria.
Contest winners received gifts from Jerry’s Artarama, including a new line of Charvin paint that Rob Zeller said had a special texture, “creamy and thick,” as well as great panels to work on, all creating a buzz for the gifts. [Jerry’s Artarama is now located in NYC but you can order their items online.]
The third place winner was David Paulsen of Southhampton, who painted the split rail fence near the Apple Orchard.
Second place winner was John Morra, who did the walkway at Eel Creek, showing a woman under a white umbrella, painting her view of the area. The first place winner was Matt Weigle. Picking the top winner was difficult and Salaz said it finally came down to the poetics. In the end, “I said to myself, ‘Look, he’s doing what I was trying to do.’” [A statement of great generosity.]
With the winners announced, everyone gathered around them, interestingly all placed on the same section of wall space. Artist John Morra said of Matt Weigle, “I saw his steely expression while he was painting and I knew he was going to win.”
[The artists may have judged themselves in the prices they put on their work: Morra at $1,250 and Weigle at $2,500.]
Weigle said, “I love painting. It is my form of meditation. It is therapeutic. It is one time you can put everything else aside.”
For information and hours of the Koenig Center please call 516-922-5032.
