Attentive Artists: Masters in the Park returns for 18th year | Feature Stories

Masters in the Park is returning to Pasadena. It runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in an outdoor private event space at Maranatha High School. Artists summons students and the public to join them for an afternoon of creativity and discussion.

Masters in the Park is a relaxed affair where attendees are free to move among the artists, ask questions and observe their process. Guests are encouraged to stay the length of the event to capture the full experience of art and live music with friends and family. It is recommended that visitors pack a lunch and bring water, or to purchase food at Ralphs along Green Street, which is within walking distance from the venue.

Masters in the Park is hosted by Mid-Valley Arts League (MVAL), a nonprofit that strives to support fine art and raise funds for art student scholarships.

“This event once started out as an art festival, but it changed over time when people wanted to connect with other artists and to stimulate interest and promote fine arts in the area,” said Mel Peters, Masters in the Park event coordinator. “Now Masters impacts the community at large and can help other artists. This was an event I used to attend, before I was a member, and I got to learn so much from a watercolor artist I admired at the time. I’ve now been a member of MVAL for five years, and this is my fourth year coordinating the event. It’s MVAL’s biggest event and attracts about over 200 people each year. It’s an open invitation to anyone, and that’s great to take advantage of in such a beautiful space.”

Open painting is also available for visitors to paint or sketch alongside the artists.

“We really encourage people to bring their own art supplies,” Peters said. “It’s such a nice space to relax, especially with the music we have playing at the event, too. It’s like one big, creative picnic. We hope people can leave feeling inspired, having built connections with other talented artists.”

Nearing the end of Masters in the Park around 2:30 p.m., artists bring up the work they’ve created during the event for a critique session. As they display their work and discuss what they made, guests can ask questions or start conversations on what the process looked like for the artist. Raffle winners will also be announced during this time.

This year’s Plein Air Masters, including their art form, include Chuck Kovacic, oil; Fernando Perez, oil; Lin Hua Zheng, oil; Sunny Apinchapong-Yang, oil; Wei Jason Situ, oil; Fealing Lin, watercolor; John Pitblado, watercolor; Joseph Stoddard, watercolor; Marciano Martinez, watercolor; Pete Morris, watercolor; Richard Martinez, watercolor; Virginia Hein, watercolor; and Danny Folkman, gouache.

A $10 donation is requested, where proceeds (including raffle funds) will go toward MVAL’s Student Scholarship Fund to encourage promising young artists. Convenient parking is available, located under the Maranatha High School’s sport field off St. John Avenue. Visitors will turn right into the parking area, and the stairs at the southwest corner of the lot will be the registration table.