OpSail2012: July 6th – 9th
Painting dates: July 6th – 8th
Show Dates: July 8th – August 11th
Locations: Downtown New London (Bank Street, State Street) and New London Piers.

Thank you for your interest in THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE's OpSail Plein-Air Event and Art Sale 2012. This event will run from July 6th – 8th, 2012, coinciding with OpSail 2012 CT and Sailfest. You can readily access many inspiring painting locations in downtown New London or within walking distance of the city. Additional painting locations are located within a short drive.

OpSail and SailFest 2012 Participants in this event will have their work judged by:

Russ Kramer: President of the American Society of Marine Artists
Grant W. Westerson: President of the Connecticut Marine Trade Association
Captain Joe Vojvodich: Commander. USCG. Sector Long Island Sound

Cash prizes will be awarded ($500/first place, $250/second place, $100/third place). Additionally, we are pleased to announce a very special and prestigious prize: one work created during this competition will be awarded the cover on the 2013 Connecticut Boater's Guide!
OpSail 2012, a national celebration, will begin in April in New Orleans and will include ports of call in Norfolk, Baltimore, New York and Boston before it's grand finale in Connecticut. Many tall ships and their sailing cadets from nations all around the world will converge in the Thames River Harbor for an extravaganza that will commemorate the Bicentennial Anniversary of the War of 1812. This war was fought from the Great Lakes to the mouth of the Mississippi, including battles in Stonington and Essex, CT. Additionally, the Thames River played a role, as naval heroes and privateers were trapped on the river between New London and Groton.

The public is invited to welcome our international visitors, see the Parade of Sail, visit tall ships and to enjoy food festivals, entertainment, live music, family activities, sailing races and spectacular fireworks. With both the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy participating, and the Coast Guard's tall ship Eagle leading the parade, it will be a festive and patriotic event.

The chairman of this year's OpSail event is John S. Johnson, a proud local business owner with a long history of maritime interest and involvement. Mr. Johnson is proprietor of downtown New London's only Maritime Art Gallery, THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE, the host of this plein-air competition.

The Connecticut Boater's Guide, produced by The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), is the standard reference for up-to-date laws, regulations, safety tips and information of interest for the boating public. This pocket-sized guide is mandated by law and over 96,000 copies will be distributed throughout Connecticut's marinas, town halls, libraries, boating classes and boat shows. This guide will also be available online.

Info for PLEIN AIR PARTICIPANTS:

Sign-in/Drop-Off
As you all know, this is the weekend of OpSail/Sailfest. Painting dates will be all three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (July 6,7,8). It is suggested that you come into downtown early Thursday or Friday morning. We will be at the gallery at 9am both days, and I would suggest arriving Thursday to sign in and drop off your work. You may also leave your plein air painting materials in the gallery, if it makes things more convenient for you.
For those of you who plan to come in Friday, again arrive at 9am if possible, sign in, drop off your work, and find a place to park before the streets close down. The streets will start being closed around noon. The parking garage is located on water street, there are a few parking lots in the downtown area, yet look out for parking signs. Lots such as Family Dollar (Ocean ave) and Bennie Dover Jack Middle School (36 Waller St) are about 10 minute walks from downtown. These are personal suggestions. Friday there are no major traffic concerns, Saturday is when OpSail begins and Bus Services will be in affect. If you are in need of the Bus Service on Saturday or Sunday, July 7th/8th, buses will leave these locations at 1pm. Ocean State Job Lot, Crystal Mall, Conn College and New London High School. Drop offs will be at Fort Trumble, Union Station and State Pier. If you need anymore details on this OR Amtrak, please go onto the OpSail web site.

Parking Details:
Attention artists: Downtown parking will be available throughout the morning. We highly recommend dropping off your work early. If arriving before noon, you should be able to find a parking spot in the garage located at 160 Water Street, or at one of the nearby commuter lots located throughout downtown. Please keep an eye out for parking signs. We are seeking special permission to park for the Plein Air event, and will contact you if we get confirmation from the city. If arriving later than noon, downtown streets will be closed. Bus services will depart at 1 pm from Ocean State Job Lot, Conn. College, Crystal Mall and New London High School. Drop-off locations are Fort Trumble, Union Station (suggested for artists; closest to gallery) and State Pier.

Painting Locations:
We encourage you to stroll around downtown and find a spot that interests you. The Custom House Pier is right down the road from THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE. If you take a right onto Bank Street Conn, it is very easy to get to. As previously mentioned, the earlier you get down here, the better of a spot you will get. THE GALLERY will provide signs for those of you painting on ground level. We suggest you place the small sign on the back of your easel. (We will provide tape.) As of this writing three roof top locations are available. Roofs one and two can each accommodate two artists: two women at 243 A Bank Street, and two men at 88 Bank Street. The third is located at 13 Golden Street and can accommodate one artist. First come first served! Katie will be available to answer questions and assist throughout the weekend. She will ensure that every artist has her cell phone number.

Please keep in mind the judges for the event! One is president of CMTA, USCG Captain and president of ASMA. We are sure most of you are considering painting the tall ships, though you do not necessarily need to paint this subject matter.

The ships will not arrive till Saturday at 10am. It is suggested that you use Friday as an open day to paint anything downtown that interests you. Again, we suggest that if you choose to paint the tall ships, make this your Saturday and Sunday project.

Ship arrivals
List of ships sailing into New London:

City Pier:
Wolf
New Horizons

State Pier:
USS Carter Hall
Juniper
Morro Bay
Ridley

Custom House:
(4) YP 108's

Fort Trumbull:
Amistad
Regulus
A. J. Meerwald
Appledore V
Tyrone
Brilliant
Spirit
Cisne Branco
Ticondaroga

Competition Rules

All paintings judged in the competition must be done on location during the competition. No photography may be used in the process.
 No sales can be conducted at artist easels during the entire three day event and all sales will be handled through Katie Fogg (Gallery Manager). Any submission of people or pets must incorporate life jackets in order to be considered for the 2013 Boater's Guide Cover Contest.

Note: if someone approaches you to purchase your work please let us know and we'll find a way to handle the transaction on the spot so you don't lose that sale. 
THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE will collect a 35% commission on all work sold during this event/exhibition.


Cash prizes will be awarded for competition winners.

Schedule
Show Date: Sunday July 8th

Painting Drop off time:
4pm - please prepare artwork to be framed, wired and ready to hang
(We suggest you leave your site around 3pm to walk to gallery and prepare piece(s) to be hung)

Opening Reception:
6pm-8pm – Food wine and good conversation!
Judging will take place at 5pm. The "Brick" Gallery will be closed from 5-6 for judging.
6:30 pm: Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette will announce the winner for CT Boater's Guide 2013.
7:30 pm: Russ Kramer, Grant W. Westerson, and Captain Joe Vojvodich will be announcing the winners for Cash Prizes!!!

Participating Artists:
Kirk Larsen
Laura Levine
Patricia Foster
Bernard C McTigue
Jennifer Holmes
Randie Kahrl
Jay Babina
John Caggiano
Bruce Wood
Jaqueline White
Jeanne O'Brien
Dianne Gorrick
Stephan Giannini

Location:
THE GALLERY AT FIREHOUSE SQUARE
239 Bank Street
New London CT 06320