Northport Arts Association holds Gene Rantz Memorial Plein Air Paint Out & Wet Paint Sale

From staff reports

The Northport Arts Association (NAA) will continue its annual Plein Air event originated by Gene Rantz in 2013. Rantz gathered artists to Northport each year through 2021. What started out small has grown each year and now includes 49 artists coming to paint. With permission of Rantz’s family, the event is named “Gene Rantz Memorial Plein Air Paint Out”. Join the NAA on the weekend of July 22 and help honor Rantz’s legacy.

The NAA welcomes returning artists along with new artists to share their work with the many art lovers throughout northern Michigan. These amazing, diverse 49 artists capture the beauty of the village, beaches, marina, orchards, vineyards, landscapes and landmarks. Their interpretation of our special peninsula rewards viewers with artistry that reflects the magic of our area.

The artists paint on July 21 and 22. Each artist has the option to submit three paintings each day as well as a golden hour painting if they signed up to paint into the evening/night. With 49 artists potentially creating as many as seven paintings each, the event this year promises to keep the tradition of sharing our peninsula’s beauty through the eyes of each artist.

Last year, the artwork quality was fantastic, the gallery was filled with viewers enjoying displays, socializing and meeting these artists and making new friends. The opening reception on July 22 from 6-9 pm will feature fresh, hot-off-the-easel paintings of various media and styles. Come support the arts and find your next one-of-a-kind piece of art.

Tickets are available online by visiting NorthportArtsAssociation.org. Online tickets are $20 (plus processing fees). Tickets are also available for purchase for $15 at the VAB, Tues.-Sat. from noon-4 pm through July 20. Tickets are $20 at the door the evening of the event. Artists painting throughout the area will have a limited number of $5 off coupons to be used when purchasing tickets during the evening of the event. Feel free to ask artists for a ticket.

After the Wet Paint Sale on July 22, our online gallery exhibit runs from July 23-August 6, 12-4 pm Tuesday-Sunday. People are encouraged to come to the reception for the best chance to see all of the one of a kind art created by the artists.

The NAA is thankful for the support of local food sponsors as well as Blick Art Materials for sponsoring six honorable mention awards.

For more information, visit NorthportArtsAssociation.org.