Hockaday Museum hosts annual Plein Air Glacier Paint Out
Artist Mark Ogle works on a plein air painting of the Porter/Blasdel Barn along North Somers Road on Thursday, June 18. Ogle, the owner of Mark Ogle Studio in Kalispell, is one of 52 artists creating works for the Hockaday Museum of Art's Plein Air Glacier 2020: Paint Out. The resulting artwork will be sold during an online auction from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 27. A selection of works will be on view at the museum and a preview is available on the Hockaday's website at hockadaymuseum.org. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Selected artists will travel to Northwest Montana to paint outdoors in the fresh air – en plein air – this month of the fall edition of the Hockaday Museum of Art’s Plein Air Glacier: Paint Out.
The 16th annual event offers the change to observe artists while they work, an exhibition and sale. The combined painting experience has painters from Montana and around the country painting in Glacier Park and nearby Swan and Flathead valleys.
Thirty-four artists were selected by a panel of jurors to participate in both the outdoor paint out, fundraiser sale, and exhibition. The selected artists will travel to Northwest Montana to paint outdoors in the fresh air Aug. 26-31 with an opening fundraiser sale event Sept. 2 and an ongoing exhibit and sale through Oct. 7 at the museum.
Plein Air Glacier 2023 features 34 participating juried artists from Montana and across the country: Rob Akey, Karrie Baldwin, Richie Carter, Mary Corp, Therese Ely, Linda Franson, Laura Gable, Günther Haidenthaller, Susan Hall, Gail Hansen, Leslie Ann Hauer, DG House, Aaron Johnson, Ella Kuzyk, Louise Lacey-Rokosh, Natalie Luehr-Fisher, David Mihalic, Wanda Mumm, Sheri Nagy, Karl Oehrtman, Mark Ogle, Susan Oursland, Charlotte Quist, Alyssa Shaw, Robert Spannring, Leah Spence, Lindsay Jane Ternes, Melanie Thompson, Lyudmila Tomova, Ron Ukrainetz, Andy White, Theresa Williams, Elo Wobig, Kenneth Yarus and Min Zhong.
Plein Air Glacier has become a favorite of art lovers seeking original works of Montana landscapes and scenery. These all-new paintings created on location during this event by the selected artists range in size and medium from watercolor to oils. For the online auction, which starts after the in-person sale, works are offered at a minimum bid or a “buy it now” price through Oct. 15. Proceeds from this fundraiser event benefit the museum’s educational programs and exhibitions and the museum’s mission to enrich the cultural life of the Flathead community and preserve the artistic legacy of Montana and Glacier National Park, as well as help support artists.
Painting outdoors is a centuries-old tradition for adventurous souls who brave encounters with Montana’s rugged natural landscapes, wildlife, and unpredictable changing weather conditions in exchange for the opportunity and challenge to paint from real life.
The museum has also collaborated with Glacier National Park Conservancy and Glacier to offer programming coinciding with Plein Air Glacier including: Two hikes to paint out sites with Montana artists Ron Ukrainetz and Gail Hansen led by Glacier Park Conservancy educators; and a Plein Air Primer Workshop with past Plein Air Glacier Idaho-based artist Bonnie Griffith.
The exhibit will kick off with a limited opening event fundraiser Sept. 2 from 4-7 p.m. at the museum with food, drinks, live music and the plein air paintings sale of more than 80 all new paintings created during the event.
For more information about the event, programs, and fundraiser art sale, please visit: hockadaymuseum.com/plein-air-glacier.
Schedule of Plein Air Glacier events:
• Aug. 18-19: Plein Air Primer Workshop with artist Bonnie Griffith, $225 for two-day session. Members receive a 10% discount. Email information@hockadaymuseum.com to register.
• August 26-31: Plein Air Paint Out in Glacier National Park, Swan Valley, Flathead Valley. Visit www.hockadaymuseum.com/plein-air-glacier for a list of outdoor locations the public can view artists painting for free.
• August 29, 30, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. Glacier National Park Hikes with Glacier Conservancy. Participants will hike in to see Plein Air Glacier artists Ron Ukrainetz (Aug. 29) and Gail Hansen (Aug. 30) painting on location. Hikes are easy to moderate 3.5 miles on the west side of the park. Free to participate but space is limited. Email education@hockadaymuseum.com or call 406-755-6268 to register.
• Sept. 2, 4-7 p.m.: Plein Air Glacier Fundraiser Exhibition Opening, and Sale with artists, members and guests. Featuring live music, bites, drinks and more. Members $5, $10 for non-members, at the door.
• Sept. 4-Oct. 7, 2023: Sale Exhibition of works created during Plein Air Glacier on view to the public in the Crown of the Continent Gallery and online at: https://hockadaymuseum.com/plein-air-glacier/
General admission for the museum is free for members, $5 for non-members and $4 for Seniors or Students. Youth under 18 are free in 2023 thanks to a grant from Applied Materials Foundation, and active military and veterans are free through Labor Day.