Photo: In Situ photograph of Plein Air work by Lisa Stauffer. From the Johnson Heritage Post

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - September 21, 2023


Outdoor painters have been hanging out around Grand Marais this week to celebrate and participate in Plein Air Grand Marais, now in its 21st year (Plein Air means relating to painting in outdoor daylight or relating to a branch of impressionism that attempts to represent outdoor light and air, according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary). 

Co-hosted by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and Historic Cook County's Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery since 2018, the week brings a number of chances for spectators to see these artists at work. 

One largely popular event is the Birney Quick Paint, which is happening at Artist Point in Grand Marais on Thursday, September 21 at 3:30pm. This event is named in honor of Birney Quick, who played a large role in bringing fine arts to Grand Marais by starting what is now known as the Grand Marais Art Colony.

The event was also featured in an award-winning documentary which you can find here. 

As part of this event, competing artists will have just 90 minutes to complete an entire painting from start to finish. At 5:00pm, the paintings will be displayed and voted on by a jury. The winner will take home a prize. 

Other events include a public award and gallery opening reception on Friday, September 22, from 5:00 pm - 7:00pm at the Johnson Heritage Post (115 W. Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, 55604). 

The Plein Air Grand Marais gallery exhibit will be open through October 15. 


To learn more, visit: https://www.outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org/plein-air-grand-marais.html