The Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson J) presents the exhibition Au Naturel by the Sonoran Plein Air Painters, on exhibition from October 31 to December 1, 2024. As part of its Fine Art Gallery Season, the Tucson J is hosting an opening art reception on Sunday, November 3 from 2 pm to 3:30 pm, free and open to the public. This event gives the public the opportunity to peruse the art, chat with the artists, and enjoy a refreshment in a welcoming community atmosphere.
The Sonoran Plein Air Painters do just that, paint “en plein air,” which translates from French to “in the open air.” There is a unique challenge to painting in this way. The light is constantly shifting, the weather can present difficulties, and all materials, including easels, must be carried to and from the location. Plein air painters embrace these challenges and find joy in the experience of creating art on-site. The title of this exhibition “Au Naturel” translates from French to “in its natural state,” which is apt as the Sonoran Plein Air Painters seek out natural settings that offer both physical and atmospheric beauty. At times, these scenes cannot be captured by photographs in a way that conveys the full impression of being there in person. The process of studying a landscape and blending the artist’s impression with careful observation is what leads to the creation of a landscape painting. The creation becomes not only a work of art but also a memento of a fleeting moment in life.
This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for viewers to experience not just the final artwork, but the journey behind its creation, as each piece reflects a specific time, place, and emotional connection with the natural world.
Established in 2019, the Sonoran Plein Air Painters is a non-profit membership organization focused on the advancement and development of plein air painting. To achieve these objectives, the organization provides for its members and interested community supporters, opportunities for educational, creative, and cultural benefits, encouraging fellowship and mutual support. The Sonoran Plein Air Painters constituents and supporters benefit from activities such as art shows, exhibits, ‘PaintOuts’, workshops, study groups, critique groups, demonstrations, and meetings designed to stimulate interest in plein air painting.
Past Sonoran Plein Air Painters exhibitions include The Plein Truth at the Amerind Museum, in Dragoon, Ariz; Brush with the Desert at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Ironwood Gallery; Sonoran Light at Tucson Desert Art Museum, Four Corners Gallery; Off to the Races Art Show in collaboration with the Rillito Park Foundation; and Fresh Paint in Old Tucson at Old Tucson Studios plein air event and show.
For more information on the exhibition, click here.
