CLARKSVILLE, TN — Thursday’s Artwalk includes an exhibition by the 2 Rivers Plein Air Painters, a regional group of artists who have translated their surroundings on canvas and paper.
Plein air is the style of painting outside. The practice goes back for centuries but became well-known by the French Impressionists. Plein air artists try to capture light and its changing, ephemeral qualities.
The 10 artists featured in this exhibition include Janet Felts, Leah Foote, Terri Jordan, Eunice Kern, Kitty Harvill, Betty Liles, Jennifer Pierstorff, Larry Richardson, Patsy Sharpe, and Gail Meyer. On their own, several of these artists have shown their work in solo and group exhibitions throughout the region and country. Many of the paintings being displayed at the Downtown Artist Co-op are scenes familiar to visitors from Montgomery County. Rotary Park and Dunbar Cave are two popular painting sights.
“During the COVID shut-downs, I really started to focus more on plein air painting. I had a need to be outdoors. Unlike my studio paintings, my plein air pieces are quick sketches in a loose style,” Terri Jordan stated. Leah Foote, who organized the show says many of the pieces on display were created during weekly group outings.
The plein air exhibition runs Oct. 6 through 30 at the Co-op, 96 Franklin St. A reception to meet the artists will be held Thursday, Oct. 6, as part of the Clarksville First Thursday Artwalk.