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(GOLDENDALE, Wash., July 20, 2021) – Beginning July 26, close to 40 artists will descend on the Columbia River Gorge with easels, paint and brushes in hand to find the perfect vista from which to capture the incredible beauty of the region.

With last year’s edition of Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge paused due to the pandemic, artists are eager to get back to this annual tradition hosted by Maryhill Museum of Art since 2016 and founded by Hood River Artist Cathleen Rehfeld Meyers 17 years ago as a way to bring artists to the Columbia River Gorge.

The four-day plein air paint out will take place July 26 – 29, with artists fanning out to paint the vast, scenic beauty of the Columbia River Gorge.  With plenty of inspiring views to choose from, some artists will paint views of Mt. Hood and the Columbia River, while others will be drawn to vineyards and farms, waterfalls or the high desert plateaus. Artists will also be invited to paint on Maryhill’s grounds, giving museum visitors an opportunity to see these talented plein air artists at work.

For those interested in bringing home a painting, finished artworks will be on view and available for purchase August 1 – 28, 2021 in the museum’s M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Education Center. Artists are anticipated to create 200+ pieces during the four-day paint out. As work is sold and removed, other work created during the paint-out will replace it. Proceeds support Maryhill Museum of Art.

Juror for the 2021 event is artist Peggi Kroll Roberts, who will choose awards in a number of categories, including “Best Sky,” “Best Mountain,” “Best Water,” “Historic Columbia River Highway Award,”  “Maryhill Museum of Art Award” and more.  The Friends of the Columbia Gorge will select a “Friends of the Columbia Gorge Award” and there will also be a museum purchase award, chosen by Maryhill curator Steve Grafe.

Participating artists: Celeste Bergin, Tedd Chilless, Wayne Chin, William Elston, Amalia Fisch, Katy Ann Fox, Laura Gable, Scott Gellatly, Carole Gray-Weihman, Susan Elwart Hall, Dotty Hawthorne, Debra Huse, Aaron Cordell Johnson, Thomas Kitts, Steve Kleier, Ken Klos, Bhavani Krishnan, Tracy Leagjeld, David Marty, Alison Leigh Menke, Anton Pavlenko, Joanne Radmilovich Kollman, Natasha Ramras, Cathleen Rehfeld, Sally Reichmuth, James Sampsel, Erik Sandgren, Raphael Schnepf, Kristina Sellers, Mark Shasha, Nathan Sowa, Matt Sterbenz, Melanie Thompson, Elo Wobig, Rick Woods, Paul Zegers, Yong Hong Zhong, Yer Za Zue.

SPONSORS:
The 2021 Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge is made possible by the generosity of sponsors Byron and Sue Henry, Stephen and Laura Muehleck, Dave Burbach Photography, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, and Scottsdale Artists’ School.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

July 26-29 | all day
Pacific Northwest Plein Air Paint Out

Look for artists painting in the Gorge, including on the grounds of Maryhill Museum of Art. Follow @maryhillmuseum on Instagram and search #pnwpleinair2021 to see artists in action!

August 1 – 28 | 10 am to 5 pm daily
Exhibition and Sale: Pacific Northwest Plein Air in the Columbia River Gorge
The public is invited to view the paintings artists created in plein air. Artwork will be available for purchase with proceeds going to the artist and to support Maryhill Museum of Art.

Image at top: Yong Hong Zhong (Lake Oswego, OR), Vista House at Sunset (detail), 2019, watercolor on paper, 12”x 16”; Collection of Maryhill Museum of Art