Plein Air Event Will Distinguish Shorewood as an Arts Community

Shorewood is embarking on a new event that will invite 50 painters from around the Midwest to demonstrate their talents on the streets of Shorewood.

Shorewood will hold its first annual Plein Air art event from Sept. 19 through Sept. 21. "Plein air" means painting outside the studio, meaning artists will be stationed all over the village for two days, offering their artistic impression of the village's urban character and natural environment. The community will be able to interact with the artists and see their artistic process at work during the event. 

The paintings will all be judged, and on the last day, a reception and auction will be held at the Village Center, on the bottom level of Shorewood Public Library at 3920 N. Murray Ave. The artists will benefit from the sale of their paintings, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Shorewood Public Art Committee for future public art installations. The committee has designated 12 sites throughout the village that would be appropriate for public art exhibits.

Formed in 2007, the Public Art Committee's first big project was selecting and coordinating the purchase of Jaume Plensa's "Spillover II," which was installed in September 2010 at Atwater Park. Plein Air Shorewood coincides with the third anniversary of the Plensa sculpture acquisition.  

For more information about Plein Air Shorewood visit www.pleinairshorewood.com.