For the eighth year, artists gathered at Saranac Lake, New York — some coming from as far as California and Florida — to enjoy the Adirondack Mountain views and compete in the Adirondack Plein Air Festival. John McDonald was charged with choosing award winners.
From the 64 artists participating, McDonald tapped George Van Hook’s painting “Lakeside” for First Place. Van Hook earned $1,000 courtesy of Saranac Lake ArtWorks, an ad in PleinAir magazine, an assortment of panels donated by Ampersand Gessobords, and other merchandise with a total value of $2,000.
Alison Menke won Second Place with “A Misty Walk.” Menke also won the Quick Draw competition.
“Lakeside,” by George Van Hook, 2016, oil on panel, 12 x 16 in. First Place
In the new Nocturne competition, Kari Ganoung Ruiz won First Place. (She also earned Second Place in the Quick Draw.)
Several other awards were given. Murray Taylor won the Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce Cover Art award, Cynthia Rosen got the Best Lake Placid Painting award, Eberhard Froehlich took the Best Paul Smith’s College VIC painting award, Sarah Yeoman won the BookStore Plus award, Kari Ganoung Ruiz earned the Saranac Lake Village Trustees award, Marilyn Fairman won the Rice Furniture award, Adriana Meiss got the Community Bank award, Gretchen Kelly won the Left Bank Cafe/French Canvas award, and Ria Hyer won the Adirondack Motel award.
More than $31,000 in sales was recorded at the event. “The festival opened with moody gray skies and rain, but ended with blue skies and great results for all,” says Sandra Hildreth, the organizer of the event.
