About MOPO

Join us at the Mendocino Art Center (MAC) for the Mendocino Open Paint Out (MOPO), our annual plein air festival!

Nestled along the stunning Mendocino Coast of northern California, our festival offers a picturesque canvas where the Pacific Ocean meets stunning landscapes. With its rugged coastal views, charming Victorian buildings and pastoral vineyards, Mendocino is not only a place with sublime natural beauty that inspires artists and nature lovers alike, but is also the ancestral lands of the Northern Pomo people.

Their future, along with Mendocino’s landscape, is once again placed in a precarious position. The gradual amplification of climate change and deregulation of environmental policies has brought to the fore the important role communities have to play in preserving the biodiversity and ecologies that still remain. MOPO offers an unique opportunity for artists, visitors and local residents to build community around a shared love for art and nature, and to contemplate the fragility of the remarkable coast that we call home. 

Whether you’re looking to gather with fellow artists, enhance your technique, collect new works or simply celebrate art in one of the most scenic settings on the West Coast, MOPO promises an enriching experience for all.

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Jurors

This year we are thrilled to have Meredith Frederick, Paul Rikard, and Ryan Jenson to be our featured artists and jurors. We are excited for this trio of artists' unique styles and perspectives, and welcome their expertise in deciding who will be crowned best of show. 

Food

Furthermore, we are pleased to announce a culinary collaboration for this event between Linh Vong of Auntie Manna's and Miles McCreary of Goodbones. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided for the opening and closing reception, and ticketed dinners will be offered on a nightly basis. 

About Auntie Manna’s

Auntie Manna’s is a Vietnamese food pop-up that honors the comfort found in family recipes and their adaptability across generations. Run by Chef Linh Amanda Vong and based in the Santa Cruz area, Auntie Manna’s explores the potential of queerness and tradition while cooking through seasons along the coast. 

About Good Bones

Coastal comfort food Good Bones kitchen serves up seasonal comfort food guided by the availability of ingredients from the Mendocino coast.