Everyone wins in 2012 plein air competition

More than 30 artists from the region painted in the open air at locations throughout the city during Red Wing Plein Air Art and Music Festival June 25-30.

Well-known plein air artist Kami Polzin of Stillwater, Minn., served as judge.

“The quality of artwork here meets or exceeds that at the nationally recognized Door County (Wis.) Plein Air Festival,” she said.

That level of competition resulted in the additional Judge’s Award to recognize the artists she thought were deserving of an award but the contest didn’t have the category to present it.

After several hours of intense review, Polzin awarded the following prizes:

Best of Collection - Richard Abraham, “Abandoned Tracks,” “Maiden Rock Bay” and “Bluff Farm”;

Depot Award - Robert Hodges-Bonawitz, “Gray Day”;

Best Downtown Award - Andy Evansen, “Concert in the Park”;

Artists’ Choice - Richard Abraham, “Abandoned Tracks”;

Quick Paint selected by People’s Choice - Paul Bergquist, “Shuh’s Stand”;

Honorable Mention - Shirley Hove, “Apple Appeal,” Lisa Stauffer, “With Age,” Beauty O’Briens “Barn,” Ivan Zassavitski “Old Milk House”;

Judge’s Award – Michele Combs, Deborah Conlon, Derek Davis, Kari Hogden, Cheryl LeClair-Sommer, Mike Rada, Fred Somers, Jim Turner and Dan Wiemer.

Full details on this and other art events can be found at www.redwingartsassociation.org or by calling 651-388-7569.

Tags: arts and entertainment, red wing, arts, entertainment