MPAC is a collaboration of Outdoor Painters of Minnesota, Red Wing Arts, and Art of the Lakes Association to mount an annual exhibit in different Minnesota venues to showcase paintings created in the organizations' annual plein air events in Grand Marais, Red Wing, and Battle Lake. MPAC seeks to raise awareness of our plein air events and appreciation of our State's dedicated plein air painters through their depiction of landscapes in the North Shore, Driftless Area, and Prairie Lakes regions.
2024 MPAC Bell Museum Exhibit
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MPAC's second annual exhibit will be held from January 26 to May 26, 2024 at the Bell Museum on the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul campus. The UMN's natural history museum is well known to plein air painters for its famous collection of dioramas painted by the artist Francis Lee Jaques. The exhibit will last several months and incorporate audience engagement activities including artist-guided tours, a Quick Paint event, Berton Box painting activities, and a public reception.
Painters participating in 2022 or 2023 Plein Air Grand Marais, Winter Plein Air Retreat, Red Wing Plein Air, or Prairie Lakes Plein Air are eligible to apply to display a painting created in the qualifying event. An application link will be published here. |
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2023 Inaugural MPAC Exhibit at Villa Maria in Frontenac
MPAC's first exhibit was held at Villa Maria, a Gilded Age former Catholic school being renovated as a hotel and event destination. The event included a paint-out in April and reception with live music in May.
Public Reception on May 13, 2023 in the Great Hall at Villa Maria
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Tadas Kosciuska painting at the April 15, 2023 paint-out on the hill at Villa Maria near Frontenac State Park
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Painting by Hannah Heyer from the April 15, 2023 paint-out
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BYNRIE Irish mandolin ensemble performing at Villa Maria reception
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April 15, 2023 paint-out
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Heidi Bacon at April 15, 2023 paint-out
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For Artists: How to Participate
Painters participating in OPM's Plein Air Grand Marais and Winter Plein Air Retreat, Red Wing Plein Air, and Prairie Lakes Plein Air are eligible to apply to display their paintings from the events in MPAC's annual traveling exhibit. Application information will be provided to participants. Exhibit locations will be different each year, and requirements such as jurying or size limits will be subject to arrangements unique to each venue. Questions may be directed to any of the organizers: Greg Finnegan or Allison Eklund at OPM; Shanna Cramer at Art of the Lakes Gallery; and Heather Lawrenz at Red Wing Arts.