All photos by Laura Durenberger-Grunow

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - September 22, 2023


On Thursday, September 21, the Outdoor Painters of America and Historic Cook County's Johnson Heritage Post hosted the Birney Quick Paint event as part of Plein Air Grand Marais. 

72 painters were registered for the popular event (which takes place at Artist Point in Grand Marais), in which artists have 90 minutes to complete an entire piece. 

After the 90 minutes was complete, artists presented their pieces along the rocks for judging. Nationally renowned Plein Air Grand Marais Juror Kim Casebeer walked amongst all the pieces to make her decisions. 

Winners:
Grand Prize: James Turner, watercolor 
Exception merit: Kathie Wheeler, oil
Exception merit: David R. Becker, watercolor
Exception merit: Kami Mendlik, oil

A gallery exhibit featuring artwork from the Plein Air events will take place at Johnson Heritage Post. The exhibit opens September 22, 2023, and will run through October 15. 

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

The 21st Plein Air event has been taking place all week in Grand Marais 

72 painters registered for the ever-popular Birney Quick Paint, named after Birney Quick, founder of what is now the Grand Marais Art Colony

Artists had 90 minutes to paint a complete piece, start to finish 

72 painters registered for the ever-popular Birney Quick Paint, named after Birney Quick, founder of what is now the Grand Marais Art Colony 

72 painters registered for the ever-popular Birney Quick Paint, named after Birney Quick, founder of what is now the Grand Marais Art Colony 

72 painters registered for the ever-popular Birney Quick Paint, named after Birney Quick, founder of what is now the Grand Marais Art Colony 

72 painters registered for the ever-popular Birney Quick Paint, named after Birney Quick, founder of what is now the Grand Marais Art Colony 

 72 painters registered for the ever-popular Birney Quick Paint, named after Birney Quick, founder of what is now the Grand Marais Art Colony

Spectators, family and friends of the artists, and visitors wait for the competition to be over for judging 

Spectators, family and friends of the artists, and visitors wait for the competition to be over for judging  

The artists placed their finished pieces along the rocks for judging after 90 minutes of painting 

Three Merit Awards and one Grand Prize was awarded 

Plein Air Grand Marais Juror Kim Casebeer carefully reviewed all the art pieces in order to choose the winners