Coastal Virginia Plein Air is a grass-roots organization comprised of private citizens who live in Norfolk, Virginia. Its mission is to bring art to the community and to help build a sense of community through the funding of special projects. The organization obtained its 501 (c) (3) status in 2019 and donations are tax-deductible.
2023:
Our Farewell 2023 Coastal VA Plein Air event took place April 18-23 in Norfolk, Virginia. Nineteen of the best plein air artists on the East Coast participate in our best show ever! Upon the culmination of the Spring event, sufficient funds were raised and allocated to purchase a new public work of art for the Ocean View Community of Norfolk, along with a summer art camp for children.
2022:
Eighteen professional fine artists arrived on April 19 and began to depict their impressions of Tidewater onto canvases using oils, acrylics, water colors, and pastels. Coastal VA Plein Air held a professional artist workshop, free painting demonstration, facilitated a paint-out at the Virginia Zoo, and hosted the artists who painted the flora, fauna, architecture, and landmarks of our beautiful region. On Sunday, April 24, a huge party was held at COVA Brewing Company and the paintings began selling and going home with their happy, new owners. Congratulations to the winning artists Vlad Duchev, Elizabeth Rhoades, and Greg Johannsen. The Virginia Zoo Paint Out winners were selected by Judge Gale Smith. Winners were Maria Reardon, Lynn Mehta, and Karen Spaulding. An Honorable Mention went to our youngest artist Elena Clarke.
2021:
Coastal VA Plein Air and Norfolk Art's first collaborative public sculpture, "Chryshellis", an 8-foot tall, fire-glazed porcelain and tile mosaic, by Nevada-based mosaic artist and concrete sculptor Eileen Gay was installed and dedicated in Ocean View Beach Park on Saturday, October 30. The coastal inspired sculpture adds beauty and interest to the park and community.
Coastal VA Plein Air purchased watercolor paint sets for every child enrolled in Ocean View Elementary School. Teachers designed a children’s arts program for the students and reported that the kids had a wonderful experience learning to paint with watercolors.
2020:
Following a nationwide search, Nevada-based mosaic sculptor Eileen Gay was selected to create our first public sculpture in collaboration with Norfolk Arts.. The sculpture will be completed in 2021 and installed in Ocean View.
2019:
$50,000 was raised to commission a public sculpture in Ocean View, a neighborhood in Norfolk, Virginia. Coastal VA Plein Air contributed $24,000 and Norfolk ARTS contributed $26,000.