News Feature
Originally published in
Castine Patriot, August 1, 2013
Castine’s first plein air festival called “an overwhelming success”
Dan Graziano, chairman and driving force of the plein air festival, and Kristen Blanck at the exhibition and sale at Maine Maritime Academy that ended the July 27 event.
by Anne Berleant
Thirty-six artists from Florida to Maine descended upon the town commons on Saturday, July 27, to register for the town’s first plein air festival.
“I suggested the idea of Castine organizing a plein air event last year as a way of introducing the town and its beautiful surroundings to the many artists who travel around the country taking part in other plein air events,” said Castine artist and festival chairman Dan Graziano. “It was an overwhelming success. I think we can now confidently look to an even bigger event for 2014.”
The artists created over 80 paintings that were displayed in a juried exhibition that evening at Maine Maritime Academy.
“The exhibition hall was literally jammed with art collectors and enthusiasts,” Graziano said, with 42 paintings sold at prices ranging from $125 to $2,600.
Forty percent of the proceeds will go to the Castine Arts Association, host of the event, and is earmarked for costs associated with the Schoodic Sculpture, coming to Castine next summer.
