Welcome to the 2012 Mountain Maryland Plein Air event! This fourth annual juried exhibition and art competition is sponsored by the Allegany Arts Council, a non-profit organization that was established in 1975 to support and grow the arts in our community.

The 2012 Mountain Maryland Plein Air event will take place from Tuesday, May 29 - Sunday, June 10 throughout Allegany & Garrett Counties in Western Maryland. Only thirty (30) artists will be accepted to participate, and $5,000 in prize money will be awarded, including $1,500 for Best of Show! Here is the schedule of activities for our 2012 Mountain Maryland Plein Air event:

- Tuesday, May 29, 5PM: Welcome Dinner for Participating Artists (Participating artists only)

- May 30-June 1: Artists paint throughout Allegany and Garrett Counties

- Friday, June 1, 6-8PM: Artists & Sponsors Reception at the home of Tom & Mary Kay Finan (Artists and Sponsors only)

- Saturday, June 2, 10AM-Noon: "Quick Draw" event in Downtown Cumberland (Local artists are invited to participate. Prizes will be awarded and artwork will be available for sale. Free Arts Bus activities for children.)

- Saturday, June 2, 5-6PM: Sponsors Social Hour & Preview at the Saville Gallery (Artists and Sponsors only)

- Saturday, June 2, 6-8PM: Opening Reception & Awards Ceremony at the Saville Gallery (Free and open to the public)

- Sunday, June 3, 12:30-2:30PM: Plein Air Jazz Brunch Fundraiser at the Saville Gallery (Delicious Food. Live Jazz. Great Art. Bloody Mary Bar and Mimosas available. Tickets are $25/person, available in advance at the Allegany Arts Council. Call 301-777-ARTS and reserve your tickets today with Visa or MasterCard. Also, enter our drawing to win an original Plein Air watercolor painting–only $20/chance!)

- June 3-10: Artwork remains on display in the Saville Gallery and available for sale

This year's juror and awards judge is Stephen Doherty, editor of PleinAir™ magazine. Stephen earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Cornell University; taught art in public schools, colleges, and workshops; worked for an art-materials manufacturer; served as editor-in-chief of American Artist magazine for 31 years; and is now editor of PleinAir™ magazine, a print and digital magazine dedicated to people who enjoy artwork based on direct observation of nature. He has written a dozen art books and hundreds of magazine articles; exhibited his paintings in solo and group exhibitions; served on the advisory boards of art schools and artists’ organizations; and judged art exhibitions for museums and art societies.

Congratulations to our 2012 Mountain Maryland Plein Air artists: