Fifty artists from all over the East Coast will soon arrive in Chestertown for the Sixth Annual Paint the Town plein air event, sponsored by Chestertown RiverArts from, April 23 to April 26.
Their first three days of painting the historic streetscapes, colorful Farmers Market, beautiful Chester River, and surrounding rural landscapes of Kent County will culminate in a Wet Paint Show and Sale on Saturday, April 25 at the RiverArts galleries, 315 High Street, Suite 106. A reception, free and open to the public, will take place from 6:00-8:00pm.
The reception, show and sale will provide the public with a chance to acquire art and to meet with the artists themselves. It is not often that one can purchase a painting, take a “selfie”with the artist, and learn the story behind the art. Prizes for “Best in Show” and “Best Body of Work will be voted on by the artists and awarded at the reception.
Patrons for Paint the Town will be invited to enter the show at 5:00 PM, one hour before the general public, giving them first choice. Patrons will also have their names listed in the event program and on the RiverArts website. You can register to become a patron by donating $25 online at https://chestertownriverarts.org/events/paint-the-town or stop by the gallery.
On Sunday, April 26, a two-hour Quick Draw competition will be judged by Hai-Ou Hou, owner and director of the Chesapeake Fine Art Studio who will award first, second, and third place awards. Hai-Ou was born in Beijing where she received her B.F.A from Central Institute of Fine Art and Design. She earned her M.F.A. from Towson State University. and taught at the Hubei Fine Art Institute, China.
Artists will set up their paintings in Fountain Park for review from 11:00-Noon, when visitors can make purchases and vote for the People’s Choice Award.
Visitors may also enjoy the annual Taste of Chestertown, held under a tent in Fountain Park from 12:00 to 3:00 PM, where they can sample the flavors of local chefs, local food, local wine and beer.
Write a Letter to the Editor on this Article
We encourage readers to offer their point of view on this article by submitting the following form. Editing is sometimes necessary and is done at the discretion of the editorial staff.