In July, the Glen Arbor Arts Center (GAAC) launched its first annual Youth Plein Air Month, a month-long celebration of creativity designed to introduce children ages 6–12 to the art of painting outdoors. Nearly 150 free plein air art kits were checked out by young artists, encouraging them to explore the joy of creating in nature. The month concluded with a gallery exhibition and community awards ceremony on July 31, showcasing 58 original works of art.
The legacy of plein air painting continues each summer in Leelanau County with the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s annual Plein Air Weekend. Scores of artists set up easels across orchards, along shorelines, and on the lively streets of downtown Glen Arbor—racing to capture the shifting light and spirit of this magical corner of northern Michigan. “It brings me immense joy to see so many artists setting up their easels all over town,” said Glen Arborite Kate McCarty. “You’ll see someone painting in the middle of a field, along the Crystal River, or right across from Art’s Tavern, capturing the energy of that busy little corner. I really admire their passion and curiosity. It’s inspiring to watch them interpret this landscape in real time.” Though best known as a premier destination for outdoor recreation, Glen Arbor has long been a haven for the arts. With its galleries, working artists, and deeply engaged community, Glen Arbor offers far more than bike trails and kayaking adventures. It is the very kind of place where a flourishing arts culture makes something like a recurring plein air event not just possible, but inevitable.
The Northport Arts Association (NAA) is honored to continue its annual Plein Air event originated by Gene Rantz in 2013. Gene’s original “Paint Out & Wet Paint Sale” started out small and has grown each year to where it now hosts up to 50 artists to paint throughout the tip of Leelanau Peninsula. With the permission of Gene’s family, the event is named in honor of Gene. Join the NAA on July 19 from 6-9 pm at the opening reception.
The Glen Arbor Arts Center is celebrating Youth Plein Air Month this July with a month-long initiative to inspire young artists and honor Glen Arbor’s rich history of plein air painting. Free Youth Plein Air Art Kits are available all month long at the Glen Arbor Arts Center. Each kit includes everything a young artist needs to head outside and start painting. Over 30 kits have already been checked out by young artists eager to explore plein air painting. Kits are free and available all month at the Glen Arbor Arts Center. Learn more at GlenArborArt.org or 231-334-6112.
Throughout July, the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s new Youth Plein Air Month will invite children ages 6–12 to step outside, paint in the open air, and capture the signature landscapes and buildings of Leelanau County. “Youth Plein Air Month is intended to nurture confidence and creativity by taking art making outside the classroom,” said Scott Bouma, executive director of GAAC.
Leelanau County offers an idyllic setting that continues the venerated tradition of plein air painting. With its stunning vistas of rolling hills, cerulean waters, and dense woodlands, the area provides endless inspiration for artists. The Glen Arbor Arts Center annually hosts the Plein Air Weekend where myriad artists converge on the town to participate in a two-day painting event. It serves as a platform for creative practitioners to showcase their mastery of light, shadow, and perspective. This event is a summer pinnacle and, essentially, the foremost artistic gathering in Glen Arbor. Then there is Crystal Rivers Outfitters (CRO)—a seemingly unlikely venue for plein air art. Situated in the heart of Glen Arbor, it is most often associated with outdoor sports and recreational activities: kayaking on the Crystal River, biking on the Heritage Trail, and snowshoeing out in the Port Oneida Historic District. To further enhance CRO’s repertoire, owners Katy and Matt Wiesen, enlisted plein air artist Stephanie Schlatter for an annual summer art pop-up on its grounds. This one-day event was established in 2019. “I thought it would be fun to spend a week painting their many properties or areas [that] their businesses serve, like the Sleeping Bear Dunes, the Crystal River, the Heritage Trail, and such. And then showcase the art in a wet paint sale—in the spirit of artist residences,” Schlatter explained. Schlatter will arrive at the patio of M22 Wine Bar on Aug. 8 from 3:30–5 p.m. where she will share her wondrous work and her ethereal, creative energy.
More than 75 talented artists from across Michigan and throughout the Midwest will converge on Glen Arbor on August 2-3 for the annual Plein Air Weekend hosted by The Glen Arbor Arts Center. The event includes two outdoor painting competitions and exhibitions of original work at the Glen Arbor Town Hall on Friday and Saturday evenings. The weekend begins with the popular Quick Draw on August 2. This year’s theme is “Country Roads, Take Me Home” and artists will have a 3-hour window of time to paint in the Glen Arbor area.
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.
Michelle Jahraus and her dog arrived at Good Harbor beach before dawn. She made it a point to get there early enough to choose the perfect spot to set up her easel and paint supplies in time to capture the sunrise over Lake Michigan. Jahraus, a Maple City resident, had just begun to block in the scene when she felt a powerful whoosh of air accompanied by the sound of beating wings. She looked up to see a bald eagle flying away from a perch right above her head. It is moments like this that draw artists to the act of en plein air, a French expression meaning “in the open air” and the practice of painting outdoors, on location.
The Leelanau Community Cultural Center is thrilled to announce the VIRTUAL Leland Air Exhibition. “Leland Air: a plein air event” is celebrating its eighth year, albeit with a new twist due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Paintings in the show will be created en plein air on Friday, May 22. Since this is a virtual paint-out, artists may still be at their stay-at-home locations anywhere in the country.