Ellen Vatne

You can’t talk about Plein Air Easton, without starting all the way at the beginning. 

As a “come here” to Easton, Ellen was looking for ways to use her love for education, community, and the arts, and she found the Avalon. As the first Executive Director of the Avalon, Ellen’s experience as a special education teacher helped to rebuild an organization from the ground up.  She created magic and energy in an organization that 30 years later continues to attract artists, performers, volunteers, and patrons all benefiting and enriching the community we live in. 

It was this passion that led to the Avalon’s involvement in Plein Air Easton.  Ellen remembers Nancy Tankersley approaching members of the community about this concept of having a plein air festival.  With a lot of talk, Al Bond, then Economic Development Director, brought the ‘” stakeholders” to the table to decide if the concept was viable. After much discussion, and some strong encouragement from Ellen’s late husband, Timothy Dill Plein Air Easton was born.  Timothy had two stipulations, he would donate $10,000 seed money to get event started, but $5,000 must be used for the 1st prize money for the artists.  He knew that to attract the artists, prize money was needed, and if the artists came, the community, patrons and volunteers would follow.   The second stipulation was that the Avalon had to lead the event.  Despite Ellen “not even knowing what plein air was” the first year was a success. So much so that the artists wondered how long the Avalon had been doing the event. 

Despite retiring from her executive director role 15 years ago, Ellen remains committed to Plein Air Easton. Each year she donates the money for the Grand Prize award in memory of Timothy, she volunteers her time and talent and has filled her home with paintings from the artist who she has warmly and graciously welcomed to our community. 

It is so hard to think of one, because every Plein Air Easton is full of memories – “the whole thing is my favorite!”  I have had the pleasure of meeting so many talented artists, and through their experiences see the community we live in and often take for granted through different eyes.  The weather is always a memory – hot or rainy, Small Painting Sunday dedicated to the memory of a dear friend and, how the event pivoted and navigated through the pandemic.  And something that is very personal to me, “watching our community develop deep connections to come together through the good times and challenges to celebrate art.”