We are very excited at how our artists are able to spread out across the Jackson Hole area, always available to the public. ~ RMPAP President Jake Gaedtke
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters’ (RMPAP) 6th Annual PLEIN AIR FOR THE PARK (PAFTP) Art Show & Sale takes place Wednesday, July 12th, at the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor’s Center in Grand Teton National Park. The exhibition opens to the public at noon that day, and all works are for sale. Reserve works will be available for sale and viewing, and the event’s grand ART SHOW & SALE RECEPTION takes place 7:00-9:00 pm.
It’s a brilliant, rollicking, art-buying, tons-of-fun party, and it’s a fundraiser benefiting the Grand Teton Association.
Before that evening, however, true plein air painting will have been going full-speed ahead in, and around, the Park. Dozens of artists fan out to all the familiar places: Jenny Lake, String Lake, Moose and Menor’s Ferry, Oxbow Bend, the Moose-Wilson Road, and as far north as Moran. They can be spotted at turn-outs, and even in town. All are identifiable by their PAFTP i.d. tags. Watch, converse, and enjoy watching some of the country’s finest plein air artists at work in one of the most inspiring settings on earth.
RMPAP president Jake Gaedtke believes the organization’s continued relationship with the GTA and the benefits of the event separates the group and PAFTP from many other plein air venues around the country.
“A new scheduled demonstration this year is the demonstration at The Commons in Teton Village,” notes Gaedtke. “The Teton Village Association invited some of the artists to come over there and display their skills for the public. We are very excited at how our artists are able to spread out across the Jackson Hole area, always available to the public.”
A full list of participating artists can be found below! Who is YOUR favorite?
“PLEIN AIR FOR THE PARK!” 2017 EVENT SCHEDULE:
(Please note that July 13th’s “Morning with the Masters” requires pre-registration. See below.)
WEDNESDAY JULY 5 – SUNDAY JULY 11
Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters arrive in the area and begin painting in and around Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.
SATURDAY JULY 8
The second Saturday of each summer month, the Grand Teton Association stages a free event, “Artists in the Environment.” During PAFTP, artists join the RMPAP group to paint. The event is open to the public; in fact the public is encouraged to come and enjoy this group paint-out! Bring your own paint supplies if you wish, a picnic, and settle in for a wonderful interactive experience with some of the country’s best plein air artists. Each artist will talk about their own painting technique. FREE, as are all PAFTP events.
Event artists will offer a Q&A session. Participating artists are Greg Scheibel, Don Dernovich, and Kathy Wipfler.
LOCATION: Menor’s Ferry, GTNP.
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm.
TUESDAY JULY 11:
Having a hard time getting up into the Park? NO worries! Today is the day RMPAP artists gather on Jackson’s Town Square for a Group Painting Demonstration. Pull up a piece of buckrail fence and watch the fun! Jackson’s evening Town Square Shootout takes place at 6:00, so you’re likely to see some pretty colorful characters as well as colorful canvases!
Time: 3:00PM – 6:00PM
LOCATION: Jackson Hole Town Square
WEDNESDAY JULY 12:
TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT! PAFTP’S GALA RECEPTION AND SALE BEGINS AT 7:00 PM SHARP! People have been known to get there early, so be ready! (We should note that Cattleman’s Bridge is closed due to flooding. Please plan your route to avoid Cattleman’s Bridge.) The party and sale lasts until 9:00 pm, and you’ll be able to view works by all the artists arranged in a gallery setting. Hundreds of works are for sale, and artists are on hand to talk to you about their work. Prizes are awarded, and there’s plenty of music, fun and refreshments for all! And it all takes place at the stunning Craig Thomas Center in GTNP! All works are for sale, and sales help benefit the Grand Teton Association.
Remember, you are welcome to come preview the exhibit beginning noon today. Free, and open to the public!
Event Judge: Scott Jones, Gallery Director of Legacy Gallery in Jackson, Wyoming.
Opening Reception TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
LOCATION: Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor’s Center in Moose, Wyoming.
THURSDAY JULY 13
A day for the kids! “Morning with the Masters” Youth Paint Out takes place 9:00am-1:00pm today. This special youth event is sponsored by the Art Association of Jackson Hole, RMPAP and the Grand Teton Association. Nothing makes a life-long impression like painting your own picture in a National Park. Young artists will be joined by RMPAP members for a morning of plein air painting.
AT THIS WRITING, EVENT REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED. Please visit https://www.grandtetonpark.org/news-events/view-event/morning-with-the-masters-youth-paint-out to find out more.
Location: Schwabacher’s Landing, Grand Teton National Park.
FRIDAY JULY 14
Get your Rocky Mountain Plein Air High going! A Group Painting Demonstration takes place twice today at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village. Times are 9:00AM-11:00AM at the Commons, with artists Susan Blackwood, Michele Byrne, Howard Friedland, David Harms, Jeanne Mackenzie, Mike Rangner and Carol Swinney; and 4:00PM-7:00PM, get daring and take in PAINTING ON THE MOUNTAIN, Top of Bridger Gondola / Piste Restaurant, in Teton Village. Demonstrating artists are Michele Byrne, Debra Joy Groesser, David Harms, Jeanne Mackenzie, Greg Scheibel and Ken Spencer.
LOCATION: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
SATURDAY JULY 15
This may be the most delightful PAFTP event! RMPAP artists stage a Quick Draw & Sale, 9:00am -12:00pm, at Menor’s Ferry, Grand Teton National Park. Menor’s Ferry is directly across the river from the Dornan’s complex. Drive through the GTNP entry gate and take your first right. Follow the road down to the cabin and ferry location by the riverbank.
It’s a wonderful, wide open location, and artists spread out around the area to paint. Come out and enjoy watching the artists create finished works from a blank canvas. Get a glimpse of the plein air painting process, and interact with artists! Artists are allowed two hours to start and complete a painting.
Quick Draw paintings will be offered for sale immediately following the Quick Draw, on site, from 11:00am to 12:00pm. This will be a fixed price “off the easel” sale.
LOCATION: Menor’s Ferry, Grand Teton National Park
SUNDAY JULY 16
Plein Air for the Park’s Show & Sale concludes at 4:00pm at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitors Center. If you’ve not had a chance to peruse the art, you may do so up until that time. THANKS TO ALL THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PLEIN AIR PAINTERS!
PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
Cindy Baron
Eilenne Basa
Bethanne Cople
Bill Davidson
Lamya Deeb
Don Dernovich
Kaye Franklin
Jake Gaedtke
Richard Galusha
Lanny Grant
Robert Hagberg
David Harms
Jennifer Hoffman
Gary Huber
John Hughes
Peggy Immel
Eric Jacobsen
Shanna Kuntz
Ann Larsen
Michael McClure
Jeanne MacKenzie
Wes Newton
Niles Nordquist
Erin O’Connor
Walter Porter
Bill Sawczuk
Carol Swinney
Russ Tanner
Kathryn Turner
Kathy Wipfler
Phil Wright
GUEST ARTISTS
Susan Blackwood
Howard Friedland
Debra Joy Groesser
Greg Scheibel
Ken Spencer
Susan McCullough
James McGrew
Michele Byrne
Chuck Marshall
Mike Rangner
Tammy Christel 
