Glen Arbor Art Association Paint Out draws 70 artists
From staff reports
A beautiful weekend on the Leelanau Peninsula greeted the 70 artists participating in the Glen Arbor Art Association’s (GAAA) fifth annual Plein Air Paint Out, Aug. 2-3. Expanded in 2012 to a two- day event, the Paint Out has become known as one of Michigan’s largest and most successful paint out events — drawing artists and art collectors from throughout the Midwest. The weekend kicked off with a “quick draw” on Friday afternoon with artists setting up their easels in downtown Glen Arbor working to meet the time limit of completing a painting in two hours. The “Quick Sale” in the township hall yielded 20 paintings sold by 38 artists in 50 minutes.
On Saturday the registered artists captured the beauty of Leelanau County, then returned their paintings to be entered into the Wet Painting sale and judged by guest juror Hank Feeley. One hundred paintings competed for $500 in cash awards. First place was awarded to Kathleen Kalinowski from Comstock Park, Mich., for “Beach at Glen Haven”; second place went to Traverse City artist Joan Richmond for “View of Sleeping Bear Point”, and third place went to Midland artist Alan Maciag for “Farm Crib”. Feeley acknowledged the quality of the work submitted in his comments following the awards. “What a gorgeous day it was! A friend of mine once said, ‘It ain’t beautiful unless you want to paint it.’ Well, the Paint Out artists did it. They captured that beauty. All the work was wonderful.”
Saturday’s Wet Painting sale attracted over 300 attendees who vied for the chance to own an original painting, and voted for the Northwoods Filling Station People’s Choice award. This year’s People’s Choice winner was Traverse City artist Sue Bowerman for her painting “Miller Hill Morning”. Forty-nine paintings were sold, with 40 percent of sales supporting the GAAA and 60 percent going to the artists. “This event truly reflects the mission of the art association,” commented director Peg McCarty. “We are both supporting the arts and encouraging artists. Our great volunteers are already making plans for next year.”
