The Glen Arbor Arts Center (GAAC) recently wrapped up its Annual Plein Air Weekend, drawing more than 750 community members, 119 exhibiting artists, and earning approximately $37,000 for participating artists in artwork sales and awards over a three-day celebration of outdoor painting.
The festivities kicked off with the Youth Plein Air Exhibit starting Tuesday, August 3 and ending Thursday, August 6 with an evening awards ceremony for the kids and families as part of the second annual Youth Plein Air Month. Throughout July, GAAC loaned 130 free plein air painting kits complete with easels, canvases, and paints to young local artists. Of those, 43 submitted original works to the Arts Center’s exhibit, with 10 award-winning paintings selected to hang in the Glen Arbor Township Hall alongside adult participants throughout the main Plein Air Weekend sale events.
Thursday night also launched the adult events, as 50 artists set out across the region to paint scenes during the “Sunsetter.” The momentum continued Friday morning with a threehour “Quick Draw” event in historic Glen Haven, featuring 73 artists. On Saturday, 80 artists spanned Glen Arbor and the surrounding area for an all-day “Paint Out.” Friday and Saturday culminated in wetpainting sales at the Glen Arbor Township Hall in the evening, where eager art appreciators lined up well before doors opened to secure original works.
