The Fairmont Gallery in Sonoma and its owner artist Manette Fairmont will host “The Wine County Plein Air Invitational Exhibit 2009,” which opens Saturday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. The exhibit will offer for acquisition to art collectors landscape paintings by 15 California artists, including nine painters from the Sonoma Valley. The talented artists were selected for their achievements in the “plein air” style of painting, which in French means to paint outdoors.
“It is with great respect that I invite the public to be participants in this artistic experience and celebrate with these artists the wonderful beauty we have in the Valley,” said Fairmont, who opened her gallery 16 years ago in order to promote local artists. “I have had a special relationship with all these artists and encourage them in their creative endeavors to grow and develop. They are all exceptional people and deserve to be honored for their hard work.”
This will be the fourth “Wine County Plein Air Invitational Exhibit.” The gallery hosted earlier exhibits on its fifth, tenth, and 15th anniversaries. Last year’s event was so successful – with 400 people in attendance and a total of 48 paintings sold – Fairmont decided to break tradition and host the exhibit two consecutive years. It was some of the artists who regularly show at the gallery who finally convinced Fairmont to host the exhibit again.
“My relationship with the Fairmont Gallery is important to me because it gives me the opportunity to show my work in Sonoma, a beautiful place to paint,” said local painter Douglas Morgan, who studied art at the Academy of Art University San Francisco and is a signature member of the Oil Painters of America. “Manette is an artist and understands what we undertake as artists to earn a living. She represents a great group of artists who offer any collector a wonderful selection of high-quality paintings.”
Fairmont’s watercolor landscapes will be displayed alongside those by her fellow artists. While growing up in Burlingame, she first become interested in becoming an artist when a teacher asked her to illustrate what was being heard on taped history lessons. Discouraged in high school by an unsupportive art teacher, Fairmont decided to focus on writing. She would rediscover painting at Principia College in Illinois where she learned “plein air” and earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts with honors.
“My selection of subject matter now is inspired by the landscape shapes distinctive to the Sonoma Valley – natural objects such as weathered old oaks, unique rock formations, or man-made vineyard patterns,” said, Fairmont, whose paintings have received numerous awards and have been included in approximately 30 national museum and gallery exhibits. “I paint quite often outdoors in the ‘plein air’ style to stimulate an emotional response.”
Fairmont opened her gallery on Sept. 19, 1993 on Sonoma’s Plaza because she saw a need for more art venues for artists in Sonoma to exhibit their work. As president of the Arts Guild of Sonoma, she has learned plenty about the local art community and realized it was difficult for local artists to gain access to exhibit space. She wanted her new business to meet the needs of both artists and clients. The gallery’s first exhibition was of “plein air” landscape paintings.
“I have been with the Fairmont Gallery since it started, was part of the first ‘plein air’ show, and will have several new landscapes in this latest exhibit,” said Stock Schlueter, who was born in Oakland, studied art at the College of the Redwoods, and now lives and works in Eureka. “It’s important for an artist to be accepted in a good gallery that has a solid reputation and offers association with other artists. Manette and I went through all kinds of growing pains, but have always had a great working relationship”
The brilliant fall colors and the divergent terrain of the Sonoma Valley inspired all the works selected to be part of the exhibit. Many of the featured artists, including locals Brooks Anderson, Sally Cataldo, David Cole, Francine Hurd, and Ton Soltesz will be in attendance Saturday night. The show’s artist reception and opening will include live jazz guitar music and refreshments. The exhibit will be on view through Oct. 19.
The Fairmont Gallery, 447 First St. Sonoma, 707.996.2667, Web site: fairmontgallery.com.
