Inaugural International Plein Air Festival - Berlin Brandenburg

[George McHugh]

This blog was written by George McHugh. The photographs shown are a selection of the many taken during the event. The errors are solely mine.                       George McHugh

Website: www.pleinair-Brandenburg.de

The International Plein Air Festival in Berlin-Brandenburg,  the brain-child of Marko Fenske, took place from May 26 through June 2 2014. The event was based in the village of Altthymen, near the town of Fürstenberg/Havel. Pleineire users were notified and, in addition to artists from Bulgaria, Germany, Italy and the USA, five artists from Ireland made the journey to Altthymen at the end of May 2014.

All the artists were accommodated in Altthymenhaus, an owner-occupied hostel, where accommodation included full board.

The full list of artists who took part were: Marko Fenske. Alison Fox, Ellen Goldstein, Lynn Haines, Hartmut Jammer, Maike Josupeit, Nikolai Kraneis, Michael McGuire, George McHugh, Diether Münchgesang, Karen Scannell and Louise Treacy.

In this photo, from left to right, are: Hartmut Jammer, Diether Münchgesang, Louise Treacy, Silke and Manfred Saborowski (the local chairman in Altthymen), Marko Fenske, Ellen Goldstein, George McHugh, Michael McGuire, Karen Scannell and Angela Voigt (who cooked for us).

The three paintings chosen by each artist were judged in the Altthymen church and then moved to the exhibition in the Haus des Gastes in Himmelpfort. The judges were Bodo Neumüller and Matthias Schilling from Templin, and Hildegard Böhm from Mirow. Judging was based on the collected works of the artists, as submitted. Jury member Hildegard Böhm from Mirow praised the high quality of the artistic work. In addition to the prize-winning paintings, the Jury took a liking to one particular work. It shows an artist painting in the landscape. For this reason, Böhm said, Hartmut Hammer from Berlin received special recognition. The decision of the judges was:

First:                       Maike Josupeit

Second:                   Karen Scannell

Third:                       Nikolai Kraneis.

Best painting:           Hartmut Jammer

Marko (left) with the prizewinners , from left, Hartmut Jammer (best picture), Karen Scannell (2nd), Maike Josupeit (1st), Nikolai Kraneis (3rd), Hildegard Böhm, one of the judges, and the Bürgermeister of Fürstenberg/Havel.

The event was judged a great success for Marko and Nikolai, and all participants had a very enjoyable week of painting. Following the establishment world-wide of an international plein air scene, above all in the USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland, a place for meeting and exchange between plein air artists now exists in Berlin-Brandenburg. Marko is already making plans for a continuation of Plein Air Berlin Brandenburg in 2015.

Marko presented with a commemorative mug.

Photo: Nikolai Kraneis

 

A more detailed report of the week's activities is included in the following Word document, which you can download.

Download Word document of blog.

Sponsors: Skütr – Williamsburg - Vang - Ampersand - Krüger Bustours - City of Fürstenberg/Havel - Zukunft Altthymen e.V.

[George McHugh]

My pleasure.

[Karen Scannell]

I don't think you wrote anything about your own contribution to the Event George ! Thank you for being group translator, and also translating Markos speech at the exhibition opening. You were a great help to everyone.

[George McHugh]

Please note website: www.pleinair-Brandenburg.de

[Michael McGuire]

Well done, George. Brings it all back.

[Karen Scannell]

Great Blog George, thanks for bringing us all back to a great week of painting and laughs..