Artist Christopher Reid Wins 2nd Place In Plein Air Competition
April 22nd, 2015 - Wilmington, NC
Nationally acclaimed artist Christopher Reid took 2nd place in Fuquay-Varina's En Plein Air Paint-Off 2015 for his pastel painting, "Flowers On Broad". The annual event is hosted by The Fuquay-Varina Revitalization Association and only 27 of the areas top artists are juried into the event. Artists painted within assigned areas on April 17th and 18th. At the close of the competition, a panel of judges selected the winners and an awards ceremony was held. Mayor John Byrne opened the ceremony and announced the winners to applause. Then the art was sold in a public auction to a packed crowd. Reid's painting was sold for the 2nd highest bid in the event.
The top 3 winners will have their work reproduced on large canvases and installed on walls in downtown Fuquay-Varina as part of the Revitalization Association's goal to encourage the arts in downtown Fuquay-Varina.
"This was my first time in Fuquay-Varina and it was an honor to be recognized among such great competitors" Reid said. Artist JJ Jiang of Cary, NC took top honors this year for his watercolor "Something New". Dan Nelson took 3rd, and honorable mentions went to Galina Stockstill and Tonia Gebhart.