Artists will be racing in Ladner Village Sunday as part of the second Grand Prix of Art Delta.
"We're expecting to have a full house," says Artists in the Village president/founder Mary Ann Burrows, noting there should be 100 artists taking part in the plein air painting race.
She says last year's inaugural event was successful thanks in large part to the amount of community support, starting from the Corporation of Delta to the many volunteers who helped out.
"I think it went really, really well in the first year," says Burrows, adding that winning a Delta Chamber of Commerce Hats Off to Excellence award for the event was "icing on the cake."
Artists will be painting at various spots, 25 in total, throughout the village from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.
They will be judged on basically three criteria areas - capturing the spirit of the location, the creativity of the artwork and the technical handling of the medium they choose to work in.
Due to the road construction on Delta Street, there will be more painting sites along the Ladner waterfront, including the park area near the Seven Seas building and down towards Speed's Pub, she explains.
Burrows also notes that if the weather holds out, a few antique cars will be brought into the village so competitors can incorporate them into their paintings.
Adding to the atmosphere of the event will be live music.
"There's going to be music throughout the village," Burrows says.
The Delta Community Music School will also provide music at the artist/volunteer lunch on the lawn in front of the McKee Seniors Recreation Centre. That is also the site where award winners will be announced.
Hungry spectators can visit three different food trucks - Rocky Point Ice Cream, Old Country Pierogi and Roaming Dragon, which are scheduled to be at the event. Spectators are encouraged to watch the painters while they work.
"We just ask they don't disturb the artists, because it is a timed race," says Burrows.
At every location there will be volunteers from the Artists in the Village society to answer the public's questions.
There are adult and youth categories once again with about $2,000 in prizes up for grabs.
The event concludes with an art show and sale from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Ladner Community Centre. The public will be able to vote for a special "people's choice" award at the sale.
Visit www.artistsinthevillage.com for more information.
EVENT DAY SCHEDULE:
9 a.m. - Artist registration at Ladner Community Centre
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Painting race
1:30 to 3 p.m. - Artist/volunteer lunch at McKee Seniors Recreation Centre
3 to 5 p.m. - Art show and sale at Ladner Community Centre
