GORE BAY—For Kendra Jackson, the second annual Manitoulin Plein Air Festival provided her the opportunity to explore a new type of art this summer.
Ms. Jackson, of Sudbury, took first place in the ‘New to Plein Air’ category at the festival awards ceremony, which concluded on August 3 at Studio 6 Gallery in Gore Bay. “I was talking to someone in Gore Bay about art and they said you need to go to the Harbour Centre and meet Helen Siksek (one of the main organizers of event along with Sharon Alkenbrack).”
“After meeting Helen and learning about plein air art I decided I would take part in this festival. I have always wanted to try this type of art. And I love meeting other artists,” said Ms. Jackson who will be taking the four-year fine arts program at the University of Western Ontario in London this fall.
The second annual Manitoulin Plein Air festival took place at Studio 6. The festival celebrates the art of painting outdoors by inviting local artists to paint in the open air across Manitoulin Island. Artists painted Manitoulin landmarks, out in nature, from observation as opposed to reference photos.
Participating artists had a grace period of four weeks to paint, explained Ms. Siksek. They could join weekly organized ‘paint outs’ with other artists or paint on their own and send a picture of themselves on location to the organizers. The group scheduled ‘paint outs’ all over the over the Island once or twice a week and on different days, to provide opportunities for the artists to paint together.
“These ‘paint outs’ were fun because artists could spend time talking together about art or sharing and learning from each other,” continued Ms. Siksek. She pointed out favourite painting locations included McLean’s Mountain Lookout Point in Little Current, the rocky trail in Providence Bay, the boardwalk in Gore Bay and the Swing Bridge in Little Current. The group enjoyed painting and submitted their finished works for the exhibition at the end of the four-week painting period.
“I would like to welcome everyone to the second annual Manitoulin Plein Air Festival,” stated Ms. Siksek, at the award ceremony. “I am so proud of what everyone is doing, we love plein air and doing this work outdoors.”
Twelve artists registered for the event but only eight made it to the final exhibition due to other commitments. The exhibiting artists this year included Sally Assinewai, Kendra Jackson, Cliff Jewell, Susan Lampinen, Sylvie Landry, Helen Siksek, Paulette Stewart and Denise Zappel.
Artists were allowed to submit up to four of their best paintings to the exhibition. Two experienced jurors, Cliff Jewell and Helen Siksek, both plein air painters, selected outstanding paintings for the awards.
Kendra Jackson took first place in the new to plein air division for her painting of the Kagawong trail, with Denise Zappel second for her painting of McLeans Mountain lookout point. Third place went to Sally Assinewai for her painting of flowers at the Centennial Museum in Sheguiandah.
Taking First place in the experienced plein air artist category for her painting of the view from McLean Mountains Skyline trail was Paulette Stewart, followed by Susan Lampinen for her painting of the dock building at the Austin Hunt Marina in Kagawong, and Paulette Stewart, third, for her painting of the abandoned house at Ten Mile Point in Sheguiandah.
Ms. Assinewai received two honourable mentions, for her painting of a building and a painting of Turner Park, both in Little Current.
The Lampinen Fine Art award went to Sylvie Landry for her painting of flowers at the Centennial Museum in Sheguiandah.
Sylvie Landrey won the People’s Choice award for her painting of the Swing Bridge, painted from the trail.
Festival juror Cliff Jewell donated one of his paintings for the draw prize among all visitors at the awards ceremony. The winner of the draw was Leigh Major of Gore Bay.
