ABOUT AMoA 

Alexandria Museum of Art is the premier arts center of Central Louisiana, providing quality programming, exhibitions, and events, as well as outreach programs, taking a collaborative approach to meet the educational and cultural needs of our community.

For over four decades, the Alexandria Museum of Art (AMoA) has promoted understanding and appreciation of art through exhibitions and educational outreach programs. The Mission of the museum is to foster a culturally rich community by engaging, enlightening and inspiring individuals through innovative art experiences.

2023 JUROR: John P. Lasater IV

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, John P. Lasater IV is an award-winning artist who now lives, paints and teaches in Siloam Springs, located in the beautiful hills of Northwest Arkansas. Lasater once known for his impressionistic style and bravado brushwork, has recently evolved under the mentorship of Jerusalem Master, Israel Hershberg, as well as from his travels to Italy and in depth historical and experimental self-studies. His recent works have matured to a quieter, more thought out and simplistic approach, giving himself more time and focus on each painting.

Lasater has been a main figure on the plein air scene for several years, considered by many to be one of the best in the genre in American outdoor painting. He has won many awards including Best of Show twice in Easels in Frederick, Best of Show twice in the Plein Air Southwest Salon, and Best of Show in Plein Air Rockies just to name a few. Most recently Lasater has taken to his studio where he is creating more calculated and ambitious works, and although outdoor painting will likely always hold an important place in his process, he believes these new studio works to be the next step for him in his trek to wherever he is going. (Written by Jason Sacran)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Event Details: The Farm to Forest Plein Air Festival will be held October 12-15, 2023 in Alexandria, Louisiana at the Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second Street, Alexandria, LA 71301). Please see below for tentative schedule of events.

Note: While festival dates have been finalized, individual event dates/times may change.  

EXHIBITION & SALE RULES

• Canvases and/or paper must be stamped with AMoA’s Farm to Forest Plein Air stamp. Stamping will be available Thursday through Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 3pm at the Alexandria Museum of Art (933 Second Street Alexandria, LA 71301).
• All works must be completed during the Farm to Forest Plein Air painting event.
• Artists may paint as many paintings as they choose and may display them at their designated wall space. All artwork can be dropped off at the museum lobby and will be hung by museum staff.
• All paintings displayed in the museum must have accompanying label and info card attached.
• Paintings and drawings must have hanging hardware to be displayed in the museum. Gallery wrapped pieces accepted as long as they are able to be hung on the wall.
• Materials allowed
  • Canvas, panel, paper, copper, wood boards, etc. of any size up to 12”x 16”
  • Oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor, gouache, ink and pencil are all acceptable mediums
  • Artists may paint at suggested daily locations or may choose to paint in any area within Central Louisiana (Parishes: Rapides, Avoyelles, Grant, Vernon)
• Check-in at museum Visitor Services to obtain label cards.

SMALL WALL

• Optional
• Pieces must be no larger than 8" x 6"
• Suggested price point: $200 or less
• Work must be stamped
• Works do not need to be framed but must be able to be hung

ART SALES

• All art sales will be split 70% to the artist and 30% to the museum.
• Artist will set his/her price.
• Artists will receive their payment within 3 weeks of the event. No payments will be made during the competition week.
  • Commissioned pieces will be permitted at the above-mentioned 70/30 rate. All payments must be processed through the museum.
  • Off the easel: Artists are allowed to sell off the easel. They will be provided with two label cards, which will be filled out with painting details such as artist name, painting title, medium, location and price as well as the buyer’s contact information and form of payment.
• For credit card transactions, please call the museum or find a staff member with an iPad for processing.
• Checks must be made out of AMoA. For Cash or Check sales, artist will notify the museum and bring in the payment in a timely manner.
  • Museum Sale: Artists are invited to bring in finished paintings to be hung in the museum galleries. Works should be framed and wired, with the label affixed showing painting details clearly. Sold paintings will remain hung up, marked with a red dot sticker until the end of the event, so they may be eligible for awards/prizes.
• Artists will be responsible for picking up or shipping any unsold paintings.

QUICK PAINT

Join us on Thursday, October 12 for a Quick Paint Challenge, a timed open-air painting event open to the public. Quick Paint participants will set up within a designated area with a stamped blank canvas or paper and their supplies. Painting will start at the sound of the first horn. At the sound of the second horn, brushes must be placed down. The finished pieces may be sold off the easel, or submitted to be hung at the museum.

• Quick Paint event will be held on Thursday October 12, at 2:30pm to 7:00pm
• Must be stamped, we will be on site to stamp materials one hour prior to the beginning of the event
• Artists will have 2 hours to paint, from 3pm – 5pm
• Public invited to observe
• 2 categories – Juried and Open
• All works will be available for sale on site, Quick Paint awards will be presented after competition

AWARDS

Final cash awards to be announced at the Palette Party, October 15, 2023

• First Place - $1,000
• Second Place - $750
• Third Place - $500
• Artists’ Choice – Ad in Plein Air Magazine*
• Peoples’ Choice - $250

HOUSING

Housing is available on a first come first serve basis. Once artist has received notification they have been accepted into the show, please contact us to arrange housing. 

RELEASE OF LIABILITY

By entering this competition you are granting the museum a non-exclusive perpetual license to produce images of your artwork for promotional materials.

EXHIBITION OF WORKS

The museum will be keeping the finished works up from October 16 – 21, 2023 to give the public extra time to purchase works. Exhibit is optional for artists. Please note, artists are responsible for arranging return of works either by providing prepaid shipping labels or arranging in-person pick up.

Application Requirements

Please submit 2-3 samples of plein air work completed within the last 3 years. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Artists must be 18 and older to participate in the Farm to Forest Plein Air Festival
• Artists must work in 2D medium
• Artists are responsible for their own transportation while participating in the festival; framing of works; and shipping/picking up works after the exhibition period.