The historic Ximenez-Fatio House Museum will host  Anastasia Plein Air artists. The outdoor painters will enjoy the day at the House to celebrate arts and culture in St. Augustine. Artists will also be painting along the renowned Aviles Street, the oldest street in the United States with some of the finest art and galleries in northeast Florida. The local galleries, shops, and museums along the street will host artists and their work.

According to Julia Vaill Gatlin, Ximenez-Fatio House Museum’s Executive Director, the property will be open to the artists at the historic site for public outreach and promoting the nation’s national heritage through historic preservation, patriotic service and educational projects.

Specifically, Plein Air art is a French expression which means painting “in the open air”. The artists follow a long tradition which began in the mid-19th century while working in natural light. Many vignettes of the House Museum are popular with visiting artists. The historic scenery supports their work with structures and grounds built in 1798 by Andres Ximenez, a Spanish storekeeper. For example, the original portion of the Ximenez-Fatio House includes a coquina house and the detached kitchen which became a tavern, private residence and later a fine boarding house for military officers, sea captains, dignitaries and families from the north and south.

The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 am to 4:00 pm and tours of the buildings and rooms are available from 11 am until 3:00 pm, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. The property is available for group functions including weddings and events. During tours, regular admission is free for St. Johns County residents; adults $10; children, students, seniors and military $8, and the family rate is $20. Private group rates are $6.50 per person.