Jackson Hole, Wyoming – April 5, 2012 – Some 40 artists will be creating live at the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Plein Air Festival on June 16 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Part of the grand opening week festivities around the museum’s new sculpture trail, the event will have the artists competing for a crowd-voted Best in Show award as they race to complete their masterpieces in a mere four hours.  In addition to watching artists work, the fun for families event features a BBQ cook-off with visitors tasting and voting for the cash prize-winning best, live music, a chance for kids to get in on the creative action with an animal Pictionary game, and a BBQ cook-off with visitors tasting and voting.  The chef with the most votes for best barbecue will win a cash prize.

Participating artists agree to arrive at the festival with an artwork no more than 25 percent completed and the pressure is on as they must finish by 2 p.m.  The Plein Air Festival’s fresh artworks will be sold by “intent to purchase” with potential buyers putting their name in a box next to the artist whose piece they’d like to own for a set price. The lucky purchaser for each piece will then be drawn at random

Tickets for the BBQ cook-off tasting/voting will be $10 for 10 tastes, $25 for unlimited tastes.  The museum’s Rising Sage Café will also offer hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks for sale.

A member of the Museums West consortium and accredited by the American Association of Museums, the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States provides an exciting calendar of exhibitions from its permanent collection and changing exhibitions from around the globe.  A complete schedule of museum exhibitions and events is available online at www.wildlifeart.org.  The museum is also active on Facebook at wildlifeartjh and on Twitter at @wildlifeartjh.

Media Contacts: Darla Worden, WordenGroup Strategic Public Relations, 307.734.5335,darla@wordenpr.com; Ponteir Sackrey, National Museum of Wildlife Art, 307.732.5444,psackrey@wildlifeart.org.