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Steven Whyte, a British-born sculptor will unveil his life-size figure of John Madden at the 31st Carmel Art Festival.(Courtesy photo)
CARMEL >> The 60 juried artists who will descend upon the Monterey Peninsula on Wenesday to sleuth out evocative settings, set up easels, and paint what they feel, are experienced, intuitive, highly skilled, prominent, successful and also really excited to participate in the 31st Carmel Art Festival.
Celebrated local artist Joaquin Turner, who has an eponymous gallery in Carmel, vividly remembers the first year he participated in the art festival and, in particular, the plein-air painting competition. Having moved from the area to San Francisco to pursue graphic design, he sensed when he quit his job to return to his community to paint full-time, no one would remember who he was.
Until he was juried into the Art Festival, one of the chosen to compete in the plein-air painting competition. And then he won the “People’s Choice Award,” the one painters hope for, the one chosen by collectors and spectators who are drawn to the image, the palette, the style, the mood, the one people want on their wall.
“Winning the ‘People’s Choice Award’ is not only validating; it gets you into marketing materials in the following festival,” Turner said. “The next year, my winning painting showed up on T-shirts and posters, helping me get recognition, a name for myself in Carmel. It was a turning point in my career.”
Joaquin Turner admits he feels a little spoiled to live in the community that hosts the competition, giving him a “hometown advantage” over other artists who travel from all over the country and even Europe to compete, arriving just in time to paint.
“Living here, I have a chance to stake out special areas to paint,” he said. “This year, there is a particular place in Point Lobos that caught my eye, and a spot on Pescadero Point in Pebble Beach, and maybe the dunes in Marina. A lot of it depends on the weather and the light. Sometimes I’m driving to my destination and, along the way, the light is so special, I just stop there.”
When painting plein air during the festival, Pebble Beach artist Coraly Hanson, who has won the Festival’s People’s Choice Award more than once, is looking forward to the “divine appointments” that show up throughout the weekend. She’s referring to the people she meets and engages with, those who watch her paint, those who attend the festival events, and fellow artists who are out there, painting along with her.
“I don’t take these interactions lightly,” Hanson said. “I absolutely love to paint, but people matter more. I’m looking forward to being pushed along by the inspiration of other artists, the beauty of the environment, and whomever God is going to send me to connect with. I’ll be painting in Point Lobos—my favorite place on the planet—for part of the time. My subject matter will depend on what I feel and the mood of the weather.”
In celebration of public figures
Figurative art takes on a broader meaning when used to honor prominent people in the community. Public events throughout the three-day festival commence in Devendorf Park on May 17, heralded by the annual Sculpture in the Park demonstration, featuring Steven Whyte, a British-born sculptor and renowned master of the craft, who trained at the prestigious Sir Henry Doulton School of Sculpture in England.
This year, Whyte will unveil an important new work, a life-size figure of John Madden (1936-2021). He began the piece during last year’s festival, inviting viewers to guess who he was portraying as he worked. Having completed the sculpture, Whyte will present and install it outside Bruno’s Market in Carmel, where the legendary pro football Hall of Famer, coach, and NFL sports commentator enjoyed sitting on the bench, having a sandwich, and engaging with passersby in his favorite community.
“Each year for the festival,” said Whyte, “I try to create a sculpture with a strong connection to Carmel. I think it’s beyond fitting that Coach Madden is the first of these figures that will have a permanent home in Carmel. John Madden was a fierce friend, a gentle neighbor, a kind-hearted member of the community. He loved Carmel, and now Carmel is returning that sentiment with this tribute.”
Last year, his wife Virginia Madden and their two sons, Joseph and Michael, came to Whyte’s studio while he was working on his sculpture of Madden. Whyte recalls, “On their third visit she said, ‘That’s him; he’s back.’ What an honor.”
During the unveiling ceremony, the community will be joined by Whyte, members of the Madden family, and representatives from sponsoring organization Carmel Cares, among them, Dale Byrne, president and chief caring officer for the organization.
Through his efforts to honor a prominent person associated with Carmel, while onlookers try to guess who is emerging in his work, Steven Whyte also has sculpted the likes of Betty White, Doris Day, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, and more.
This year, Whyte also is working on a two-figure piece, portraying legendary golf course designer Alister MacKenzie and his colleague, celebrated female golfer Marion Hollins, the 1921 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion. A pioneering golf course designer herself, she was known, as the pair toured the grounds planning a new course — among them Cypress Point and Pasatiempo — for teeing off to determine the appropriate placement and design of each hole.
“I will sculpt separate figures of Alister and Marion,” said Whyte, “based on a historical photo of them on the golf course. During the festival, people will be able to see how the composition develops. Then I’ll finish it back in the studio. The sculpture will be cast in bronze and ultimately installed on the first tee at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz next spring.”
Art & entertainment for all
The Carmel Art Festival will culminate in Devendorf Park, with a plein-air painters awards ceremony at 5:30 p.m. The Friday evening events conclude with a reception for artists and collectors, featuring live music from festival headliner Carlos Reyes, plus food from local restaurants and wine from Carmel wineries. Admittance to the reception is free with the purchase of a painting, or the public can purchase tickets to the Gala at the Park for a $40 donation to the Art Festival and its scholarship program for students pursuing the arts.
“Plein-air paintings will be on display in the park on Saturday and Sunday, as the festival continues with a series of events for the community,” said Art Festival Co-Chair Ellen Wilson, “including live musical performances and children’s art workshops, with representatives from California State Parks and Costanzo Creative. Salinas-based artist Ariel Mar will host a screen-printing session, where attendees can personalize festival merchandise on both Saturday and Sunday.”
The annual Quick-Draw Competition is scheduled Sunday, with select artists challenged to create works of art in just 30 minutes. The “fast fine art” will become available for purchase through a silent auction on Sunday afternoon.
“The Carmel Art Festival is a 501c-3 non-profit, committed to supporting Carmel’s rich artistic history and supporting the next generation of artists,” Wilson said. “Proceeds from this year’s festival will support the festival’s newly launched Carmel Art Festival Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to local students interested in studying the arts as part of their college experience.”
As Festival Co-Chair Hella Rothwell said, “Art is meant to be shared. Art helps to build community. We are grateful to live in a community that recognizes this symbiotic relationship. This is the spirit we celebrate annually through the Carmel Art Festival.”
Current Festival Sponsors include: Arts Council of Monterey County, The Barnyard Shopping Village, Bernardus Winery, Carmel Cares, Carmel Coffee House, Carmel Gives, Cypress Inn, Dawn’s Dream Winery, Esperanza Carmel, Forage Vintage Rental Company, Jacquie Adams, Realtor, Sotheby’s International Realty, Monterey History and Art Association, Oscar’s Playground, The Party Señorita, Printworks Solutions, Steven Whyte Sculpture Studios, Rothwell Realty, Inc., Terry and Paula Trotter of Trotter Galleries, The Cities of Carmel and Pacific Grove, UPS stores of the Monterey Peninsula, and The Wecker Group.
Additional information about the Festival, including a complete list of participating artists and the full Festival Schedule, can be found at www.carmelartfestivalcalifornia.com.
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