The year 2020 has proven to be a challenging year to organize events where people gather in groups. But outdoor painting is a perfect pandemic avoidance activity, even if some painters are more home-bound than others.
This year, participating artists could paint plein air anywhere, June 1 to September 18, 2020, with Competition Week activities held in Grand Marais from September 11-18, 2020. All activities were outdoors: mini-workshops, artists’ socials, daily paint-outs, and a public art engagement activity at local sponsor Joy & Company using Berton Boxes for people of all ages to try plein air painting.
A Quick Paint was held around Artists’ Point on September 17, 2020. An online exhibit was published on a new web site by our community host, the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery (JHP) at pleinairgrandmarais.org. All paintings except those in the Quick Paint were juried online. A limited exhibit of paintings by painters in the Competition Class were displayed at the Johnson Heritage Post from September 19 – October 10, 2020.
Here are the 2020 awards for Plein Air Grand Marais:
Open Class
Juror: Neil Sherman, Grand Marais, Minnesota
Quick Paint
Best in Show: David Becker won two $50 gift certificates from Joy & Company in Grand Marais.
Online Competition
First Place: Jo Nelson, Field Creek, won $250 plus a $50 gift card and Sienna panel holder from Wet Paint and an invitation to the Competition Class in 2021 Plein Air Grand Marais
Second Place: David Becker, Hjordis Reflection, won $100 plus a $50 gift card from Wet Paint.
Competition Class
Juror: Kathie Wheeler, OPA, AIS, AWA
Quick Paint
Best in Show: Bob Upton, New Wave Ugo, won a plein air Sea to Summit mini-pochade from Wet Paint.
Online Competition
Best Body of Work: Carl Bretzke won an invitation to mount a solo exhibit April 29-May 22, 2022 at the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery (Winner is eligible for one additional award).
First Place: Scott Lloyd Anderson, Sam’s Dune Buggy, won $1000.
Second Place: Carl Bretzke, Artist’s Point Rock Study, won $500.
Third Place: Kami Mendlik, Water Meets Rock, won $300.
Fourth Place: Christopher Copeland, Lifting Fog, won $250.
Nocturne (Night Paint): Dan Mackerman, Artist Point Nocturnal, won $500 for best outdoor painting after dark.
Painting in Place: Lisa Stauffer, Lilies on a Silvery Day, won $300 for best painting from home during the pandemic.
Beauty of Watercolor: James Turner, Hannah’s Demo, won $250 for best painting that demonstrates the unique beauty and qualities of watercolor painting.
Beauty of Oil: Krystal Brown, Seeking Solace, won $250 for best painting that demonstrates the unique beauty and qualities of oil painting.
Beauty of Pastel: Michelle Wegler, Glory, won $250 for best painting that demonstrates the unique beauty and qualities of pastel painting.
Gunflint Trail: Hannah Heyer, Standing in the Wind, won $250 for best painting of site accessible from the Gunflint Trail, including the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Best Historic Site: Patricia Duncan, The Scott Family Fish House, won best painting of an historic site in Cook County, Minnesota, selected and awarded by the Cook County Historical Society. The award was an invitation to be the July 2021 Artist of the Month exhibit at the Johnson Heritage Post: 6-12 paintings displayed in the front entrance area of the Johnson Heritage Post.
Honorable Mentions, Juror’s discretion:
Bob Upton, Color at the Point, won fine art panels from Wet Paint.
Larry Seiler, That Elusive Light, won fine art panels from Wet Paint.
Neil Sherman, Artist Point, won fine art panels from Wet Paint.
Paula Gustafson, Andi’s Outlook, won fine art panels from Wet Paint.
Art supplies awarded were donated by Wet Paint.
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