The 2006 Plein Air Peconic was the first full-scale art exhibition to feature paintings and photographs that included 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.
Since then, the artists of Plein Air Peconic have presented many exhibitions of their works at local galleries on the North and South Forks — including the Wallace Gallery in East Hampton, the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor and South Street Gallery in Greenport.
Artists participating in Plein Air Peconic over the years have included:
- Casey Chalem Anderson
- Susan D’Alessio
- Terry Elkins
- Aubrey Grainger
- Scott Hewitt
- Gail Kern
- Anita Kusick
- Keith Mantell
- Michele Margit
- Gordon Matheson
- Joanne Rosko
- Eileen Dawn Skretch
- Tom Steele
- Kathryn Szoka
- Ellen Watson
During Plein Air Peconic exhibitions, the participating artists donate a percentage of sales to the Peconic Land Trust in support of our conservation mission.
Gift Giving: The Peconic Land Trust is currently offering a series of Plein Air Peconic notecards — featuring farms and fields — for sale. For more information, and to purchase, call us at 631-283-3195 or visit our online Gift Shop. The 10 card set makes a great gift for the holidays!
The History
The idea for this unusual exhibition came from talks in 2005 between local artist Gordon Matheson and 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.
To learn more about Plein Air Peconic and the artists, visit their website at www.PleinAirPeconic.com
Missed our recent conversation with three of the artists of Plein Air Peconic -- Casey Chalem Anderson, Susan D'Alessio and Kathryn Szoka -- on Zoom. You can watch it here now: