Plein Air Grand Marais, a Minnesota event that just wrapped up its awards presentation in the picturesque area along the North Shore of Lake Superior, is one of the premier plein air opportunities in the Midwest, continually drawing the region’s best artistic talent. Who captured glory in 2017?
Kami Mendlik had the honorable task of choosing award winners during the 2017 Plein Air Grand Marais event along the chilly North Shore of Lake Superior last week. Hosted between September 8 and 14, this year’s event saw 60 artists from across the Midwest paint the beautiful, rugged 3,340 square miles of Cook County. More than 200 paintings were completed and are currently being exhibited at the Johnson Heritage Post and Grand Marais Art Colony.
Watercolorist and Saint Cloud, Minnesota, native Dan Mondloch was the big winner in 2017, taking both the Best in Show and People’s Choice awards for his painting “End of the Season”. Larry Seiler’s “Temperance off the Grade” took home Second Place while Carl Bretzke was the Third Place winner for “Herring Dock”. Honorable mentions were awarded to Bob Bonawitz for “Morning on the Fresh Water Sea” and James Turner for “Rosefalls BWCA”.
Artists also received awards for a Night Paint Out with Kathie Wheeler earning the top spot for “Reflecting on the Day”. Larry Seiler’s “Campsite 17” took an honorable mention. In the Quick Paint category, James Turner took First Place for “Hidden Jem” and Paula Gustafson’s “Orange Inlet” received Honorable Mention. Sponsored by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, Mike Rada’s “It’s Just Lunch” earned First Prize for Sense of Place and Angie Malin won the Open Class category for “1390 Water Access”. Artist Sue Wipf received a Honorable Mention for her painting “My Soul’s Delight”.
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