The Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens will host the eleventh
annual Winter Park Paint Out Plein Air Festival from April 21 to 27,
2019. The museum, sculpture gardens, and gallery will be free to the
public during the week-long event. Twenty-five professionally-acclaimed
plein air artists will paint at the Polasek Museum and locations nearby
with art lovers invited watch the artists at work, view their recently
completed paintings in the gallery, and attend free painting
demonstrations. More than ten free instructional demos with the artists
at the Polasek Museum and nearby locations will take place during the
week of the event.
Twenty five artists descended on the Albin Polasek Museum and Sculpture Gardens ( 633 Osceola Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789) for a group photo in front of the building. There was a gorgeous blue wisteria in bloom and the photographer wanted us all to pose in front of it. With so many glorious blooms there was a swarm of bees busy flying from flower to flower pollinating. Being tallish I had to stand in back with my head in the blooms. The photographer asked us to smile and I grimaced, certain a bee was nesting in my thin hair or settling on the tip of my nose. Ultimately I survived the excruciating photo shoot.
What followed was a several hour mix and mingle with some finger food and wine. Pam and I joked with several artists as we sat in the blue lawn chairs behind the museum. When it grew quiet, we realized the party had moved inside. There was a loud speaker which amplified everything said inside. When we were trying to hear what was going on inside it became impossible with everyone talking at once.
Contributing artist had painted small square canvases for Hal Stringer. This was his birthday and also the first day of his retirement. We were seated right next to the birthday cake which had lots of candles on it. I didn’t have a chance to count them. Hal made an announcement that he hoped that the number of candles would match the number of paintings sold this year.
Each artist would be hanging the painting created during the week on a section of the gallery wall that was designated with a number. Those spaces were assigned lottery style. Hal had created 30 small square paintings. The artists each were asked to pick up a painting. A number was inside each painting and that number would be the artists gallery spot. I picked up a deep maroon painting. I had considered a blue painting and a bright orange painting was also on my radar. I agonized before picking. My spot was number 13 which was in the second gallery room right next to the bathrooms. Last year I had exhibited in the spot right across from 13 even closer to the bathrooms. I think exhibiting near the bathrooms is a good thing. Everyone had to go there at some point and after they relieve themselves they might feel cheeky as they walk out and want to buy some art. I will be hanging a new painting each day at the museum. Be sure to stop out and check out all the work as it is created in the Polasek Museum Gallery.