WET PAINT LIVE 2018

0ne of the highlights of season on Marco Island is that we are flooded with displays of our talented artists’ offerings at every farmer’s market, craft show, art exhibit, and art fair; but we get an extra special glimpse into our local talent every February at Wet Paint Live.

In fact, Wet Paint Live is a “can’t miss event” for many of our island’s locals and tourists alike, as it is an excellent opportunity to explore parts of the island, get inspired by our local talent, collect a great piece of art (sometimes at a steal), and support art education. The 11-year tradition of Wet Paint Live is a special day-long event where a collection of the island’s talented artists challenges themselves with plein-air painting, the fate of the elements, and a ticking clock.

The arduous day of painting begins at 8 AM as the artists get their canvases stamped at the Chamber of Commerce to insure authenticity. The artists then scatter about the island and Goodland to their chosen locations of the day; locations selected in advance then advertised and published so potential bidders may inspect the works in progress throughout the day until the 3 PM deadline when the wet canvases are turned in and set on display.

“I’ve participated in every Wet Paint Live. Funny thing is that this year, I finally remembered to wire the canvases before I began painting,” laughs Tara O’Neill while painting her palm tree triptych. “It really would have been a tricky mess with three canvases.”

“We didn’t really have anything planned today. We saw this advertised in the paper and thought we’d check it out,” explains Lynn Scraggs while at Tara O’Neill’s home. He continued later in the day while visiting with Inez Hudson on location at the Marco Island Historical Society. “We have been lucky and have found most of the artists. We’ve spent the entire day exploring the island and talking with the artists.”

“In all my years of experience with Wet Paint Live, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. The weather can change quickly. You just have to be prepared for anything,” remarks Inez Hudson referring to a gust of wind, which face-planted her just-completed wet painting on the Goodland Bridge in 2009.

This year, JoAnn Sanborn also has an incredible story to share. Shortly after 2 PM, as she was finishing off the edges of her canvas, completing her painting for the day, pausing for a quick moment to smile at the camera, an unexpected gust of wind came out of nowhere and forcefully threw her painting to the ground. Sanborn, however, was not as fortunate as Hudson. Upon landing, the handle of her brush pierced through the canvas. Although nearing the deadline, Sanborn calmly examined the damage and stated, “I can repair this. Van Gogh and Picasso repaired their canvases, too. I know how to do this.”

“Where did the wind come from? It has been calm all day. There was no wind before. There is no wind now,” Sanborn quietly questioned.

All paintings for the silent and live auctions were beautifully placed on display by 6 PM, including JoAnn Sanborn’s, in the Rose Auditorium for the viewing and meet the artists reception of catered hors d’oeuvres by Kretch’s. Promptly at 7 PM the bidding wars began. Participating artists in order of auction numbers drawn in the morning included: Victor-Hugo Vaca ($250), Inez Hudson ($600), Kathy Graf ($300), Phyllis Pransky ($350), Malenda Trick ($550), Donald Sunshine ($250), Nancy Norman ($600), Robert Amirault ($1,000), Judy Chinski ($350), Betty

Newman($500), Dave Klocke ($550),

Karen Swanker ($400), Tara O’Neill

($450), Kim Belange ($1,300),

Judy Harthorn ($300), Carolyn

Burger ($450), and JoAnn Sanborn

($625).

As the evening festivities concluded, lucky bidders carefully walked away with their newly acquired, wet masterpieces. Fifty percent of the proceeds were given to the participating artists.

The remaining 50% was divided among the Leadership Marco

Scholarship Fund, Marco Island

Center for the Arts, and Marco Island Foundation for the Arts. More pictures bottom right.

For more information on upcoming events, go to: www.marcoislandchamber.org.