Now in its sixteenth year, Scene on the Strait is a premiere showcase for landscape or “plein air” painting, while raising money to help the environment. The art sold at Scene on the Strait goes to benefit the nonprofit Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center (CREEC), whose mission is to restore butterfly habitat along the Carquinez Strait. To do this valuable work, teenagers from underserved communities plant native oak trees and raise Monarch butterflies. Over the years CREEC has restored seven acres of land while releasing countless butterflies into the wild.

Twenty of the leading plein air artists in California will be painting on site that day. Attendees can stroll around and see and talk to the artists while a jazz trio plays. Additionally, all art purchases are tax deductible of 40 percent or more. There will also be art auctions and gourmet food and drink available. Parking and admission are always free. Call 510-787-9772 or bookmark this website, www.SceneOnTheStrait.org, for the latest updates and information.

Participating artists are: Rolando Barrero, Nikki Basch-Davis, Mary Lou Correia, Kevin Courtner, Cynthia Eastman-Roan, Sylvia Gonzalez, Jack Garasky, Dana Hooper, Geri Keary, Ramona Kennon-Fink, Susan McKenna List, Chris Newhard, Teresa Onoda, Nancy Roberts, Robert Sandidge, Ron Schlorff, Carol Tarzier, Gregory Vasgerdsian, Mamie Walters, and Norma Webb.

The 15th annual Scene on the Strait, held August 13 in Martinez, was, once again, a marvelous coming-together of art, people, sunshine, good food and music, and some nice dogs—all for the benefit of the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center, which restores habitat and raises butterflies for release along the Carquinez Strait. Enjoy these pictures of this year’s event, and we’ll see you back again in 2012!

An art patron buys a painting from Scene on the Strait Volunteer Pat Hicks.

Mamie Walters, one of more than 20 plein air artists on site to talk to patrons about their work, takes a cool drink on a beautiful afternoon.

Several of the artists in the show painted on site. One of them was Sandra Lo, admired by a friend and a canine connoisseur of art.

Book editor Jeannine Gendar and her husband Mitch made the Scene, in part to see and support their friend, artist Ramona Kennon.

Not only fine art, but fine music (and good food) too! It was all happening at the Scene on the Strait, and we owe a big debt of gratitude to the many volunteers (young and old) who helped make it happen. Two of them are pictured below.

Until we meet again…next year!

“Forty Two Red”

“Foggy Geometry”

“Reliable Airstream”

Locally, Greg’s award-winning plein air art has enlivened the spaces of Epperson Gallery in Crockett, Walnut Creek Civic Arts, Amfa Gallery in Orinda, and many more. Check out his paintings below and on his website, and as we always like to say, check out the real thing—and Greg himself, painting on site—at the biggest environmental and art festival in Northern California, Scene on the Strait, taking place August 13th in Greg’s hometown.

“Afterglow”

“Color on Main”

“Port in Light”

We are happy for that because that means Jack will be showing his work on August 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Martinez Regional Shoreline in Martinez, along with twenty other exciting plein air artists from around California. He says he has been influenced by, among others, Bryan Mark Taylor, who will also be on hand at the Scene showing his paintings. Proceeds from the sale of art at the event go to support the environmental and youth programs of the Carquinez Environmental Education Center. If you’d like to see more of Jack’s work, go to his splendid website, or better still, come to Scene on the Strait and see his splendid paintings and meet him in person. In the meantime, here are two more Garasky works (admittedly, presented too small here) upon which to feast your eyes.

“Scooter,” oil, 12×10

“Water’s Edge,” oil, 16×8

“Majestic,” oil, 48×36

This year’s event is the 15^th annual Scene on the Strait, which began in 1996 and has since grown into one of the largest and most popular showcases for landscape or “plein air” painting in the Bay Area and California.

Scene on the Strait is a benefit for the Carquinez Regional Environmental Education Center (CREEC), a widely praised nonprofit organization in which teenagers from underserved communities gain valuable work experience by planting native oak trees and raising Monarch butterflies for release. CREEC has restored almost seven acres of habitat along the Carquinez Strait and released countless butterflies into the wild.

Among the many hundreds of art lovers who come to it every year, Scene on the Strait occupies a special status because people can walk around and talk with twenty of the leading plein air artists in the state, who will be painting on site. There will also be live jazz music and gourmet food and drink available.

An added plus is that all art purchases are tax deductible of 40 percent or more. Art auctions will be held, and special discounts are available. Parking and admission are free. Call 510-787-9772 or visit this website for the latest updates and information.

Participating artists are: Rolando Barrero, Melinda Cootsona, Mary Lou Correia, Kevin Courter, Nikki Basch-Davis, Jack Garasky, Dana Hooper, Timothy Horn, Geri Keary, Ramona Kennon, Sandra Lo, Douglas Morgan, Teresa Onoda, Nancy Roberts, William Rushton, Robert Sandidge, Bryan Mark Taylor, Jerrold Turner, Gregory Vasgerdsian, Mamie Walters, and Norma Webb.

Scene on the Strait is made possible by the generous support of our many volunteers as well as Allied Waste Services, Conoco Phillips, Contra Costa Newspapers, Crockett Cogeneration, Richmond Sanitary Service, Shell Oil Products, Tell Rentals, and Southern Wine & Spirits.

The 2010 Scene on the Strait was one of our most successful festivals ever. A grand time was had by all. Twenty of California’s best plein air painters (including Sandra Lo, above) painted and chatted with hundreds of art lovers, who sipped wine and strolled around to the live sounds of a jazz trio in a beautiful waterfront park setting on a pleasantly mild and sunny afternoon. What’s more, all this sybaritic pleasure was for a great good cause: raising money for the Carquinez Regional Environmental Center (CREEC), which restores habitat for butterflies along the Carquinez Strait. And perfectly in keeping with the day, one could see an occasional tiger swallowtail butterfly flitting about, apparently enjoying the art as well. If you’d like to experience these pleasures yourself, be sure to come to this year’s event: August 13, 2011. Same spot, same time (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)!

The 2010 Scene was dedicated to the memory of Pam Glover, an artist and teacher and long-time friend and supporter of the event. A special easel was set up with her paintings and tributes to her from her fellow artists. Here, in front of the easel, her daughter Anne-Marie Glover (above left, in blue), also a painter, shared happy memories of her mother with a friend who stopped by. Below are two shots of Scene painters chatting with people who appreciate their art. One is Mamie Walters (in the hat) and Teresa Onoda (in the chair).

Proceeds from the art sales at Scene on the Strait go to support CREEC and its environmental programs. It’s a big event that takes lots of work and time, and we’d like to celebrate a few of the people who make it all possible.

Pat Glover was one of the volunteers who oversaw the silent auction.

At the center of the all-important art purchasing table were Dave Hicks, the driving force behind Scene on the Strait, and all the volunteers.

Jeff Hicks, right, made sure that everyone had plenty of beverages.

And don’t forget the band! And, of course, where would be without all the art lovers who come out every year to buy art and support our cause? Thank you, and we’ll see you next year!

“John Muir’s Almonds”

“The Bather”

“Phil’s Fish Market”

Here’s Mary, in action

Proceeds from Scene on the Strait go to support the Carquinez Regional Environmental Center, which restores butterfly habit in the Carquinez Strait and provides environmental education and work for under-served teenagers in the area. Art purchases are partly tax deductible. There will be live jazz and fine food and wine at the event. Admission and parking are free.