FMAAA has loaded April lineup

FORT MADISON - The FMAAA Art Center has an amazing April lined up for the Fort Madison area commencing with the area’s Annual High School Art Show kicking off on Thursday, April 4. The annual Expressions Art Auction is Saturday, April 13 featuring fine art and excellent experiences for bid along with a full range of food and beverage tastings on offer that evening. The month culminates with a full day of activities planned for Friday, April 26 including the Winter and Spring plein air competition and exhibition going on through the day. A Lunch ala Art gallery talk with guest artists from area High Schools. The SOUP SUPPER fundraiser will have locally made pottery and hand carved wood bowls available for purchase along with a variety of soups. The FINALE performance that evening features FMHS jazz musicians. The Soup Supper and FINALE will be held across the street from the Art Center in the 800 block of Avenue G in the retail space formerly occupied by Shug’s Tiny Town toy store, while High School and plein air work will be on display at the Art Center. The doors will be open until 9pm that evening for visitors who would like to take in all of the activities and view the exhibitions. See the table below for dates and times.
“Much of the success of April rests with a good launch of all of these events in March and then the domino effect will hopefully keep momentum building,” said FMAAA Director, Lori Illner Greene. “The Expressions Art Auction in April takes months to plan with tickets going on sale in March the week before Brews and Brushes, a fun painting experience held in several downtown locations on March 16. We are exited to have a train and depot scene by Jim Knapp for everyone to paint that night. Then the plein air event registration begins March 22nd and continues until the day of that event on April 26th. “We really appreciate the efforts of our volunteers to help us put on these events that both benefit the Art Center and are fun for our artists and the community to participate in,” Greene said. “For example, to get ready for the SOUP Supper, FMAAA member, Glen Hamman, is already throwing bowls on the wheels he has lent to the pottery studio. Soup bowls to choose from will include wooden ones from area wood carvers, Paul Simpson and Doug Gatton, who are hand-carving bowls and soup spoons for the fundraiser. Even Fort Madison resident and beekeeper, Neal Dodd, is donating honey to go along with the cornbread planned as part of the menu.”
Plein Air painting brings in artists and visitors from around the region. These events are great opportunities for artists who like to work onsite outdoors to create work and then get together with other artists for a friendly competition. The quickly rendered work captures what the artist is experiencing at that moment: a particular way the light hits a winding path, a spectacular sunset, or the moody atmosphere of early mornings. Many collectors are enchanted with the immediacy of this genre of painting. Even casual viewers admire and are taken in by the energetic strokes and vivid colors. The FMAAA plein air event will be a competition with prizes for first place through honorable mention along with overall Best of Show. Artists are invited to leave their work on display and for sale during a two-week exhibition during which a People’s Choice winner will be determined.
This plein air event is designed with open registration for a month culminating with the judging and additional two-week exhibition. The longer “open” time frame provides maximum flexibility to accommodate artists getting out in a variety of weather and atmospheric conditions to capture scenes from a 30-mile radius around Fort Madison. While artists can have several painting surfaces stamped, they will be limited in the number of submissions to the Plein Air competition. All artwork is due in by 3 p.m. on Friday, April 26 framed and wired for hanging. Judging commences promptly at 4 p.m. with winners announced at 6 p.m. People’s Choice award announced on Saturday, May 11 at 3 p.m. For specific details and rules, or to pre-register, please go to the EVENTS tab on the FMAAA Art Center website fortmadisonart.com
March and April FMAAA Art Center Events Details
Thursday, March 7           5-7pm Opening reception Landscapes and Farmscapes watercolors by Rebecca Williamson
Saturday, March 16          4-8pm Brews and Brushes 
Friday, March 22               8am  Winter and Spring plein air registration opens (continues to 4/26 10am) noon     Lunch ala Art luncheon and gallery talk by Rebecca Williamson; 7-9pm  FINALE featuring new material by Brad Kurz
Thursday, April 4               5-7pm Opening reception Annual High School Art Exhibition
Saturday, April 13             6pm  Expressions Art Auction
Friday, April 26, 2024      8am to 10am   Last chance for artists to register;  3 pm  Artwork submission deadline, framed and wired; 4 pm  Judging; 5- 7 pm  Soup Supper Spoonfest Fundraiser; 6 pm    Plein Air Winners announced; 7 – 9 pm FINALE performance evening featuring FMHS Jazz Band members
April 26 - May 11, 2024 Plein Air exhibition and People’s Choice Award voting. Plein Air artwork on display and for sale at FMAAA Art Center until May 11th at 5pm. People's Choice award will be announced by 3pm on May 11, 2024.