Art News

Plein Air Painting in the “Gateway to the Driftless Region”

Plein air news from Minnesota: See who took home prizes at this year’s Red Wing Arts Plein Air Festival. Is anyone you know included?

From the organizers:

Imagine painters situated along the Seine in Paris and transport them to the banks and bluffs of the beautiful Mississippi and you’ll get Red Wing Arts Plein Air, southern Minnesota’s only outdoor painting festival. The 16th anniversary 2022 Red Wing Arts Plein Air features 34 acclaimed artists who had 12 days between June 11-23 to complete up to three paintings, which were judged by nationally recognized plein air artist Bob Upton for $5,000 in cash prizes.

“Plein Air takes art out of the gallery and onto sidewalks, parks, bluff, and riverbanks for passersby to admire,” said Emily Guida Foos, Executive Director, Red Wing Arts. “Our Plein Air Event is about this unique area that is the gateway to the Driftless Region. The Red Wing community continues to embrace this event and enjoys watching the artists paint the scenes in front of them and purchase these paintings from the culminating exhibit.”

Artists paint in and around Red Wing, on the shores of the Mississippi/Lake Pepin (Minnesota or Wisconsin sides) with the many stunning views either of the bluffs or from the bluffs, as well as the historic downtown, parks and Victorian homes. Red Wing Plein Air activities offer a rare opportunity for locals and visitors to view artists “in action” and to purchase original scenic artwork of the area.

The Red Wing Arts Plein Air exhibit includes nearly 120 works that are judged, hung and available for purchase in the Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery from June 25-August 7.

And the Winners Are …

plein air events - Red Wing — Dan Guida Best of Show: “Lake View Farm” by Richard Abraham, oil on canvas panel, 11 x 14 in.

Red Wing Plein Air - Second Place: "Morning Over Red Wing" by Christopher Copeland, oil, 11 x 14 in. — Second Place: “Morning Over Red Wing” by Christopher Copeland, oil, 11 x 14 in.

Red Wing Plein Air - Third Place: "Shadows of Maiden Rock" by Dan Wiemer, watercolor and acrylic, 19 x 23 in. — Third Place: “Shadows of Maiden Rock” by Dan Wiemer, watercolor and acrylic, 19 x 23 in.

Red Wing Plein Air — Best Sense of Place, Sponsored by Outdoor Painters of Minnesota (OPM): “Sumner Street and Manypenny Ave” by Michelle Wegler, pastel, 10 x 13 in.

Best Sense of Red Wing, Sponsored by Red Wing Shoes: "Morning for Industry" by Diane Foster, oil, 16 x 20 in. — Best Sense of Red Wing, Sponsored by Red Wing Shoes: “Morning for Industry” by Diane Foster, oil, 16 x 20 in.

Best Watercolor, "Dog Day" by James Turner, watercolor, 12 x 18 in. — Best Watercolor, “Dog Day” by James Turner, watercolor, 12 x 18 in.

Best Oil: "Sumac at Frontenac" by Kelly Schamberger, oil on panel, 8 x 10 in. — Best Oil: “Sumac at Frontenac” by Kelly Schamberger, oil on panel, 8 x 10 in.

Best Pastel: "In To Hay Creek" by Lisa Stauffer, pastel and watercolor, 16 x 12 in. — Best Pastel: “In To Hay Creek” by Lisa Stauffer, pastel and watercolor, 16 x 12 in.

Red Wing Plein Air Festival — Best Collection: Hannah C. Heyer, “Taking it Slow,” oil on linen, 14 x 11 in.; “Rattlesnake Bluff Through the Trees,” oil on linen, 11 x 14 in.; “Strawberry Moon Sundae,” oil on linen, 9 x 12 in.

Best Nocturne: "Levee Road, Red Wing" by Todd Schabel, oil, 12 x 18 in. — Best Nocturne: “Levee Road, Red Wing” by Todd Schabel, oil, 12 x 18 in.

Remember: The exhibit includes nearly 120 works that are available for purchase in the Red Wing Arts Depot Gallery from June 25-August 7, 2022: redwingarts.org

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