You'll have a chance to see artists in action when River Towns Plein Air (RTPA) is held throughout the Columbia and Marietta areas. Sixty artists will compete for $5,000 in cash awards during the juried exhibition that concludes the event, and artists will paint en plein air - outdoors - leading up to the show.

RTPA is organized by Marietta Art Alive! The nonprofit is dedicated to cultivating art, heritage and recreation in the lower Susquehanna River Valley. The activities will begin on Wednesday, April 12, when artists will paint outdoors in locations along the Lancaster and York sides of the Susquehanna River. Artists come from across Pennsylvania and as far away as Connecticut and New York, said Marita Hines, owner of MH Art Gallery and co-founder of Marietta Art Alive! Each artist will choose a location, paint his or her pieces between April 12 and Wednesday, April 19, and then display the resulting artwork from Friday, April 21, through Sunday, April 23, at Studio 264, located behind the Marietta Community House, 264 W. Market St. Gary Tucker will be the juror for the exhibition, which is open to the public and free to attend. People will also have the opportunity to purchase the artwork.

On Saturday, April 15, RTPA will feature a Quick Draw event from 10 a.m. to noon. Open to artists of all ages, this competition will challenge community members to choose a location from a map and paint for two hours before framing their art and setting the finished product up on an easel in the block of the Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St. Matt Allyn Chapman, co-owner of Curio, will be the juror for the Quick Draw. "Children are invited to participate this year, and we'll be giving them free art supplies while they last," Hines commented. Children's artwork will be unframed, and children do not need to register for the Quick Draw. Participants age 18 and older may register at the Columbia Market House on the morning of the event or at http://www.mariettaartalive.com/qd. The rain date for the Quick Draw will be Sunday, April 16.

Proceeds from RTPA will be used to fund more art events in the community, Hines said. "The plein air event brings in hundreds of new and returning visitors to the river towns," she noted. "The quality of the artwork at the show continues to get better each year, draw in more patrons and art lovers." This year, in addition to the plein air event, Marietta Art Alive! was able to fund two themed juried art shows - "Song for Autumn" and "Spaces Within."

RTPA also provides an opportunity for collaboration with other local organizations, Hines remarked. "Create Columbia organized the Quick Draw for us this year," she stated. "All proceeds from that event go to their nonprofit organization. Over time, it is our desire to get more organizations and businesses in the river towns involved in this event."

The exhibition and sale will run from 5 to 9 p.m. on April 21; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 22; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 23. For more information, visit http://www.mariettaartalive.com.