Local artist, Nelia Harper announces the receipt of a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council to create ‘plein air’ paint-outs in and around Grand Rapids for area artists to gather and paint their versions of our local landscape. Pronounced “plain air” or “plen air”, it’s French for “in the open.” Artists throughout history have gone outdoors to paint to better understand the landscape, this practice continues to grow worldwide, and is now available for local artists.
Harper began painting the landscape outdoors over ten years ago while living in Colorado. Every week, she joined other artists at local natural areas, parks and on public lands to paint. “Each artist would create their own vision of the landscape,” says Harper. “We had watercolor artists, oil painters, pastel artists and people of all ages. They brought their experience and perspective to each place. Even though we were painting in the same location, no two paintings were alike. When I returned to Minnesota, I wanted to explore outdoor painting here. Last summer, we did a test run with six paint-outs around Grand Rapids. We had a really good response. This year, we have expanded to painting every week from May through October.”
Although most artists will work in oil, acrylic, watercolor or pastel, these no cost, casual gatherings of artists include any medium that can easily be taken outdoors. “Whether you want to sketch, work on a nature journal, create a study for the studio, or just practice drawing and painting from life, these paint-outs are a great way to explore the outdoors and spend time with other artists,” says Harper.
Artists will meet on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon at various locations in and around Grand Rapids. In collaboration with MacRostie Arts Center and Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, the schedule is posted on their websites. Although there is no cost to participate, artists are encouraged to register in the event that there are last minute location changes due to weather.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s is an organization who’s mission is to facilitate and encourage local arts development. This mission statement grows from a conviction that the arts improve the quality of life in the region.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council serves individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, informal arts groups, community education organizations, and non-arts nonpr326-ofit organizations in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties as well as the Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Bois Forte, and Leech Lake nation within Itasca county.
As one of the 11 regional arts councils in Minnesota, ARAC’s funding is derived from appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund and Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (Legacy Amendment) as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
For more information or to join one of the paint-outs artists may register at MacRostieArtCenter.org or call 218-326-2697.
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