by Allison Malafronte

Seveal GVPAP members painted en plein air near Lake Ontario.

For nearly a year, members of the Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters (GVPAP) have been painting several of the same historic landmarks and landscapes of Western New York State that 19th-century plein air painters captured centuries ago, as a way to honor those artists and compare past depictions of their local landscape with the way it appears today. That yearlong plein air event will culminate this May with an exhibition titled “Under Open Skies: Painting Nature Past and Present” and will present 19th- and 20th-century paintings and prints alongside approximately 150 contemporary plein air paintings from GVPAP members. The show will be on view at the John L. Wehle Art Gallery at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, in Mumford, New York, from May 11 though October 13.

Brande Arno painted on location at Pultneyville.

The members of GVPAP have held approximately 70 paintouts throughout New York State this year in preparation for the exhibition, including those in the Niagara/Buffalo area, the Southern tier of New York State, the Finger Lakes region, and the Genesee Valley. These artists concentrated on painting subjects that the original plein air painters captured and that continue to be of enduring regional importance, including the local grain production, animal life, and fishing areas of the farming industry; the transportation systems, such as the Erie Canal, rivers, and railroads; the historic sites, buildings, and homes of urban industry and business; and the symbols of the War of 1812, such as specific battle sites and local lighthouses.

Christopher O'Handley took in the scenery near the Erie Canal, in Brockport.

This is the first year the GVPAP has held a historical show, and its members seem eager to participate in preserving the local landscape and increasing awareness of the past. “Painting in these areas and learning about the history of the Rochester area that I’ve been living in for five years has really been eye opening,” says Christopher O’Handley, a member of GVPAP since its inception in 2005. “Some information I already knew—such as that Rochester earned the name of “The Flour City” when the Erie Canal opened and flour was more easily transported from the numerous local mills—but other facts are more obscure and were very interesting to discover, particularly stories of the old farms and other historic sites.”

The hands of Barbara Jablonski hard at work on her plein air painting. Photo: Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York.

Those artists participating in “Under Open Skies: Painting Nature Past and Present” have had their art chosen from more than 300 entries, and the 150 selected paintings will be judged by artist, writer, and instructor Alan Singer in a competition associated with the exhibition. In addition to the show, there will be several panel discussions, demonstrations, and historical lectures held at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, as well as an opening reception on Saturday, May 10, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to commence the event. “The venue for the exhibition and other educational programs could not be more appropriate for the theme of the show,” says Barbara Jablonski, the president of GVPAP. “With costumed men, woman, and children carrying out the work and play of 19th-century work daily, history truly lives and breathes at the Genesee Country Village & Museum.”

Salmon Creek Under Snow by Christopher O'Handley, 2007, oil, 8 x 10. Collection the artist.

Several GVPAP members have been studying photographs of 19th-century painters and their work to understand on how past methods and approaches apply to their practices today. “In doing the research necessary to partake in this event I have gained a greater appreciation for the rich history in the area that I live,” says GVPAP member Claudine Bartlett. “Becoming familiar with the work of plein air painters of the past gives me a sense of continuity that I enjoy, and it also gives me a starting point from which to build.” Adds O’Handley, “Seeing photographs of these 19th-century artists painting huge canvases on flimsy easels in the middle of nowhere really makes me appreciate the commodities available to contemporary artists, such as quick transportation and access to mass-produced supplies. It’s impressive to think of what those painters accomplished considering the difficulties they faced.”

Dave Huebsch painted in the snow on the grounds of the GCV&M.

Reflecting on the past and preserving the local landscape of the present is the goal of “Under Open Skies: Painting Nature Past and Present,” and Jablonski hopes the collaboration between the GVPAP and the Genesee Country Village & Museum will inspire other organizations to develop partnerships. “I believe this historical project and show can serve as a model between other plein air organizations and educational institutions throughout the United States,” she says. “Museums preserve civilization’s past as they were captured on canvas, and contemporary landscape painters have the same responsibility to capture today’s traditions. A collaboration between the two truly exemplifies the power of painting nature past and present.”

For more information on the  Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters, visit www.gvpap.com. For more information on the Genesee Country Village & Museum, visit www.gcv.org.