CENTRAL CITY - On September 4, 2025, the narrow curves of Eureka Street were transformed into open-air studios for the 28th Annual Plein Air competition.

Easels popped up in doorways and on sidewalks as artists from across Colorado and beyond set their sights on painting the mountain town’s historic architecture and landscape.

“This goes back to the roots of art,” said Marc Courage, a Parker-based painter who was live-painting in the competition.

“Monet, Van Gogh, the Impressionists, they all painted plein air, or 'open air.' It’s a discipline, and there’s nothing wrong with coming back to the scene.” He explained that plein air isn’t about getting an exact copy of something.

Streets filled with seasoned artists

Some artists came with decades of experience. “Oh no, this isn’t my first time,” laughed Lucy Strupp when asked if she was a newcomer. “I’ve been doing it for 30 years.” She’s been doing more painting since she retired, but this is her first time painting a mountain townscape.

Others, like Karen Conduff, were revisiting Central City after a long absence. “My first time here was back in 1983,” she said. She has painted in this style for many decades. However, this was her first cityscape.

Jennifer Reifenberg, the show chair, has been part of the show for the past 15 of the 28 years it has been held. She mentioned that last year the show was in New Mexico, and they alternate between states. 

She explained that jurors score the entries, resulting in a limited number of paintings being accepted, which is also dependent on the gallery space available. 

Then the winners of the accepted entries are determined by a judge. This year, that judge is Denver painter Desmond O’Hagan.

Reifenberg said every artist who painted plein air was invited to hang a piece on the “wet wall.” A wet wall is a place to hang fresh paintings that are still in the process of drying. 

The event, coordinated with the Gilpin Arts Association, was kept deliberately simple.

“We wanted it to be easy for the artists, easy for the gallery, and easy for me,” explained longtime educator and organizer, artist Virginia Unseld. “No stamping, no strict rules. Just come paint, turn in one framed piece, and enjoy yourself.”

The reception and awards

On Friday night, the Arts Association gallery in Washington Hall was packed with artists, locals, and visitors weaving through the crowd to get glimpses of the newly hung works.

More than 200 paintings were entered overall, with about 105 accepted into the main show. The juried exhibition filled the historic gallery with a wide range of styles and mediums. Judge O’Hagan admitted the job wasn’t easy.

“What I do is scan the whole room and pick the ones that just jump off the wall,” O’Hagan said. “A lot of them do, and then I have to narrow it down. It’s subjective.

“Another judge might have picked different winners. But this is a great show. The quality and variety are just stunning.”

O’Hagan stressed the difficulty of narrowing down so many strong works: “I’d love to give 40 awards if I could, but I can’t.”

Award highlights

Before O’Hagan announced his choices, two special honors were presented:

• Leslie Allen Award: Kathleen Lanzoni for “The Beautiful Doctor”

• PAC Board Award: Ann Larsen for “Early Moon”

The complete list of awards include:

Best of Show went to Anna Rose Bain for “Lower Doyles River Falls.”

• 1st Place Signature Award: Ann Larsen “Early Moon” (oil)

• 1st Place Associate Award: Suzanne Burnell “The Last Snow” (pastel)

• 2nd Place Award: Clay Turner “Fall Drama”

• 3rd Place Award: Michelle Farner “Morning Light on the Mesa” (oil)

Merit Awards (all of equal importance)

• “Farm Chores Start Early” Lindsey Ternes

• “Cottonwood Fields No. 1” David Mayer

• “After the Storm” Larry Day

• “Springtime Comes Softly, My Love” Buffalo Kaplinski

• “Upper Bear Creek Above Kittredge” Tim Standing

• “September Song” Virginia Unseld

Celebration of community and craft

For many, the awards were just one piece of the experience.

“I’ve had a great time, and people are so nice!” said painter Marcia Nebera, who recently returned to Colorado after years abroad. “You’ve got all these characters here [in Central]; it’s been so much fun.”

She praised how the Gilpin Arts Association curated and displayed the show. Several of the pieces from the wet wall had already sold by the close of the reception.

At the end of the day, one thing was clear: Central’s steep streets, mountain charm, and historic buildings inspire art worth celebrating.