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Plein Air Peconic

The 2006 Plein Air Peconic was the first full-scale art exhibition to feature paintings and photographs than include many sites conserved in partnership with the Peconic Land Trust. Plein air painters and landscape photographers worked in the field during August and September of 2006 to create Plein Air Peconic, a project which takes one step further the ongoing collaboration between local artists and the Peconic Land Trust. Plein Air Peconic II -- the second major exhibition of all Plein Air Peconic artists, featuring new works of art -- was at the Wallace Gallery in East Hampton during October 2007. 

A Traveling Exhibition of the Plein Air Peconic artists work also happens throughout the year. The 2008 Season opened on April  26 with an "Open Spaces" Exhibition at Ashawagh Hall in East Hampton.

Next Show: Plein Air Peconic III: October 6 through October 19 at the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor. Artists reception on Saturday, October 11.

New!!! The Peconic Land Trust has just released a 2009 Calendar featuring the work of the Plein Air Peconic artists. The calendar, along with a 12-pack set of note cards, are available for sale now through the Peconic Land Trust's new online gift shop or by calling 631.283.3195.

Check Connections and our online calendar for dates, times, and locations for all Plein Air Peconic exhibitions throughout the year.

Up to 20 sites that were conserved in partnership with the Trust were or are being painted and photographed en plein air specifically for the exhibitions. The sites are located on the South and North Forks, Riverhead, and Shelter Island.

The History
The idea for this unusual exhibition came from talks in 2005 between local artist Gordon Matheson and Peconic Land Trust Vice President Rebecca Chapman, about developing important connections between the Trust and local artists. The Trust cleared the way for artists to spend considerable time in the preserves, painting, photographing and often just observing nature. Southampton Village was also generous in allowing the artists to park in reserved areas at Dune Beach, a preserve with bayfront, oceanfront, and beautiful dunes located in Southampton Village.

The artists participating in the program include: Casey Chalem Anderson, Susan D’Alessio, Terry Elkins, Aubrey Grainger, Gail Kern, Scott Hewett, Michele Margit, Gordon Matheson, Joanne Rosko, Eileen Dawn Skretch, Tom Steele, Kathryn Szoka, and Ellen Watson. Click here for bios and contact information (PDF) on each of the artists. To learn more about Plein Air Peconic and the artists, visit their new website at www.pleinairpeconic.com

The inaugural exhibition in 2006 was Columbus Day Weekend at Ashawagh Hall in the Springs, a hamlet within the Town of East Hampton. After the four-day exhibition in the Springs, Plein Air Peconic became a traveling exhibition for the Trust where it will be displayed in locations in Long Island and New York City to highlight the land conservation efforts of the Trust.

The traveling exhibition of Plein Air Peconic began at the Southampton Library, during the month of March 2007.