Plein Air Grand Marais is a community-supported, artist-organized event. We offer cash and in-kind awards for the Competition Class, Open Class and Quick Paint. Prizes are subject to change. Check back for updates as sponsors and prizes may be added, and contact organizer Allison Eklund about sponsoring a prize.
Juror David Gilsvik of Two Harbors, Minnesota will select Competition Class winners before the final reception at JHP on Friday, September 17, 2021. Competition Artists and ticketed VIP sponsors may attend the Painting Preview for early opportunity to buy paintings starting at 4:00pm. The reception opens to the public at 5:00pm, and awards are announced and live-streamed on Facebook at 6:30pm.
Best Body of Work: $1,000 + opportunity for solo show at Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery
Paintings of Exceptional Merit (POEMs): Five $500 awards of excellence for top paintings in any medium, including Night Paint (at juror's discretion)
Special Category Awards: $250
Beauty of Watermedia
Beauty of Pastel
Beauty of Oil
Best Sense of Place
Sponsored Award: $250
Best Historic Site (selected by Cook County Historical Society)
Registered artists vote using paper ballots on a Best Body of Work award at the final reception. Note: the Juror may not give more than one award per artist. The award for Best Historic Site is independently awarded by a committee from CCHS, and the Artists' Choice is awarded by vote of all registered participants at the final reception.
Open Class
Juror Sandi Pillsbury of Castle Danger, Minnesota will select First Place and Second Place paintings at the Open Class reception at Voyageur Brewing Co. starting at 5:00pm on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
First Place: $150 + invitation to Competition Class in 2022 PAGM
Second Place: $100
Quick Paint
Thursday, September 16 – 3:30-5:00pm
Artist Check-in at East Bay picnic table starting at 2:45pm
Awards selected and announced at the rocks on East Bay starting at 5:30pm
The Quick Paint is a timed 90-minute spectator sport that involves artists and visitors alike in the drama and pressure of painting scenes around Artists Point amid constantly changing light and weather conditions. (Check out this 2013award-winning documentary short about the Quick Paint at Plein Air Grand Marais, which continues to inspire appreciation of timed plein air competitions.)
Competition Class: First Place $200, Second Place $150 Open Class: First Place $100 in gift certificates from Joy & Co., a local art supply store in Grand Marais
