Artists help raise money for Glenn House

The Glenn House in downtown Cape Girardeau presented a Weekend of Art with plein air artists and a FANtastic fundraising event over the weekend.

Local and regional artists donated their talent, time and weekend to raise funds during the Plein Air Art Show to help maintain the Glenn House. Spotty rain had some artists scrambling to protect their work, but it did not dampen their enthusiasm or spirits.

The Glenn House was built in 1883 and, although it is on the National Historical Register, no city, state or federal funds are used to help maintain it.

Invitations were sent to local and regional artists inviting them to participate in the plein air -- or, "in the open air" -- art exhibition and the FANtastic fundraising event.

The artists set up easels around the Glenn House and performed their magic using a variety of mediums. During the event, visitors could talk with the artists and watch them work.

Tara Caldwell said she comes from a family of artists, so she grew up surrounded by art.

"Weather is the hardest part of air plein painting," she said. "That, and narrowing your subject matter to pick what to paint. Art is a part of me, it is who I am. I couldn't live without doing it."

Eight artists were at the event Saturday and nine on Sunday.

Volunteers dressed in period clothing added ambiance for the event and were available to answer questions about the Glenn House.

"There were very few rules for the artists," said Bonnie Chaudoir, who has been on the Glenn House board of directors for three years. "Must be tasteful, no nudes since this was a family event."

Carolyn Webb was in charge of the FANtastic fundraiser, in which artists bought paper fans for $2 and then decorated them using various mediums. The rules for the fan decoration were the same as for the plein air artists with the caveat that the fans be turned in before the exhibition so they could be priced for sale during the weekend. The fans were then available to be viewed and purchased in the carriage house during the event.

"It was a way to raise money without a large cash outlay," Webb said.

Organizers did not know yet exactly how much money had been raised over the weekend.

The fans will be on display at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri during June.

"We have had a nice, steady flow [of guests]," Chaudoir said. "The people that have come through have been very complimentary."

At the end of the event, the artwork produced over the weekend was judged to make the weekend a little more interesting. Brenda Sayer of Cape Girardeau won first place, Anita Dickerson of Cape Girardeau won second place and Gail Ade of De Soto, Mo., won third.

Pertinent address:

325 South Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

32 N. Main St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.