VERO BEACH — Beginning Wednesday, Nov. 11, 10 professional artists will paint en plein air (outdoors) throughout Vero Beach, culminating with an art sale on Sunday, Nov. 15, to benefit McKee Botanical Garden.
This year, the Garden proudly celebrates the 20th anniversary of the purchase of the property and its rescue from development. In honor of this momentous occasion, McKee has invited five local artists who have been involved with the Garden since the acquisition to capture in brushstroke the beautiful McKee Botanical Garden of today.
The inaugural Five + Five + Five Paint Out brings together the talents of local artists Rick Kelly, Gus and Jan Miller, Sean Sexton and Emily Tremml who will join five Rocky Mountain West artists for five days of plein air painting.
Representing the Dana Gallery of Missoula, Mont. in the paint out are nationally renowned artists Dave Mensing, Caleb Meyer, Robert Moore, Silas Thompson and David Wilson. Gallery owners Dudley Dana and wife Candace Crosby are part-time residents of Vero Beach and have familial ties to the community.
The artists will paint at designated locations in Vero Beach on Nov. 11 and 12, and exclusively at McKee Botanical Garden on Nov. 13 and 14. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., McKee visitors will have an opportunity to watch the creativity unfold and witness as the Garden comes to life captured on the canvases of these accomplished artists.
“The Garden has provided inspiration to many artists over the years, and we are honored to welcome these talented plein air painters, both new and familiar, to McKee,” stated Executive Director Christine Hobart. “The Five+Five+Five Paint Out is an opportunity to watch the artists’ creativity develop, spurred by the Garden’s lush surroundings and resulting in a masterpiece that one can purchase and take home.”
The completed paintings will be displayed for sale in McKee’s historic Hall of Giants. An art sale will take place at the Garden on Sunday, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to come and meet the artists as they browse the display of original artwork. Admission to the art sale is free to the public, and light refreshments will be served. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale will benefit McKee Botanical Garden.
For more information about the Five+Five+Five Paint Out, including information about the artists, please visit www.mckeegarden.org.
To learn more about the Dana Gallery, please visit www.danagallery.com.