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Full Info and Itinerary

Join us for the eighth Fresh Coast Plein Air Painting Festival and Competition, an annual summer event hosted by the Lake Superior Art Association and held throughout historic and picturesque Marquette, Michigan with its magnificent shoreline. This event will be held on Friday & Saturday, June 27-28, 2025.

This year’s festival includes a “Sales and Social Day” on Sunday, June 29, to give our community and visitors the opportunity to meet the artists, view their artwork, purchase paintings, and enjoy some light refreshments and social relaxation.

The festival is part of the “Grand Finale” of the City of Marquette Art Week, a week-long celebration of Marquette’s creative community held during the last full week of June, featuring a wide range of community art projects, installations, performances, and more. Learn more about Art Week at https://www.mqtcompass.com/artweek/.

This year’s judging, reception, presentation of awards, artwork display and sale, and our new “Sales and Social Day” will be held at Marquette’s comfortable and charming Presque Isle Pavilion, located on Lake Superior in Marquette’s Presque Isle Park.

The 2025 Plein Air Painting Festival combines evening and daytime segments to allow artists to paint both times for one registration fee. Artists may enter two paintings into the competition, painted Friday evening and/or Saturday.
Friday evening, June 27: Dusk to Dark painting session. Artists who choose to participate in Dusk to Dark must register and get their canvases stamped that evening at The Presque Isle Pavilion. Once completed, pieces must be turned in that evening by 10:00pm. Paintings will be safely stored inside the Presque Isle Pavilion.

Saturday, June 28: All-Day painting session. Artists participating in the daytime competition may get their canvases stamped on Friday evening or Saturday morning, then submit work by 4:30pm for jurying, display, and sales at Marquette’s Presque Isle Pavilion.

Saturday June 28: Judging, public reception, and sale. Approximately $4,000 in prizes will be awarded at the Saturday evening reception 6:00pm – 8:30pm at the Presque Isle Pavilion. Prizes include 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for both competition levels, people’s choice award, and door prizes. Artists are encouraged to price their entries if they are interested in selling, as there will be an abundance of attendees at this event.

Painters must be 17 years old to enter the competition. Artists may paint anywhere within the Historic City of Marquette and along the Lake Superior Shoreline. All paintings must be stamped upon registration and created outdoors and on-site. The key is to capture the effects of light on people, places, and things inspired by the Marquette landscape, businesses, or residents, giving artists a chance to share their visions of what they see and experience.

Artists may pre-register by June 20 to save on entry fees using the mail-in registration form or online form . Artists may also register in person the day of the event at the Presque Isle Pavilion. ***Pre-registration ends June 20.

There are two entry levels, (1) Professional and advanced painters, and (2) Novice, intermediate, emerging, and/or recreational painters. It is up to the artist to place themselves in the appropriate category and pay the appropriate fees. Artists who have won a 1^st place monetary award in the novice division are expected to enter the advanced artist level the following year. Entry fees are as follows, to be paid upon check-in at the event when you bring your canvases to get stamped, through the mail, or online. Cash, checks, and online payments are all accepted – please make sure your registration is included.

The one-time fee includes both Friday and Saturday sessions.
Level 1: professional/advanced $30 pre-register / $35 day-of event     

Level 2: novice, intermediate, emerging, recreational $20 pre-register / $25 day-of

Sunday, June 29: “Sales and Social Day” Open to the Public. New this year, our “Sales and Social Day” takes place at Marquette’s Presque Isle Pavilion from 9:30am-12:30pm. Artists may bring in any paintings they have painted throughout the weekend in Marquette, (including those not entered in the competition). Paintings must be priced to sell. The Lake Superior Art Association does not take any commission but would be thankful for any donations to help fund next year’s event.

Artwork will be judged this year by Pasqua Warstler from Escanaba, Michigan. A seasoned professional and award-winning artist, Pasqua has recently retired after many years as Gallery and Executive Director of the Bonifas Art Center in Escanaba. Her professional experiences include curating exhibits, judging competitions, and providing learning opportunities to explore the arts.

For more information about the Fresh Coast Plein Air Painting Festival, please contact Marlene at marlenesew@gmail.com (847)791-8403, or Lake Superior Art Association at lsaainfo4u@gmail.com .

 
Itinerary
 
All check-in and canvas stamping will take place at Marquette’s Presque Isle Pavilion.
 
Friday “Dusk to Dark”
4:30pm – 7:00pm     Registration, check in, canvas stamp
5:00pm – 10:00pm   Painting Time (Paintings must be turned in by 10:00pm)
 
Saturday “All-Day Painting”
7:00am – 9:00am    Registration, check in, canvas stamp
7:00am – 4:30pm    Painting Time (throughout Marquette and the Lake Superior shoreline)
3:00pm – 4:30pm    Artwork drop off at Presque Isle Pavilion (Pavilion will be closed from 9:30 – 2:30)
4:30pm – 6:00pm    Judging inside Pavilion (*Judges and volunteers only)
6:00pm – 7:00pm    Peoples’ Choice Voting & Public Reception
The public may enter the Pavilion to vote and enjoy light refreshments
7:00pm – 8:30pm    Awards Ceremony, Artist Raffle Prizes, Public Reception, Art Sales   

Winners presented with awards. Those unable to attend will be sent checks.
Artists interested in having their art sold at reception should have it priced.   
 
Sunday 9:30am – 12:30pm “Sales and Social” at Presque Isle Pavilion.
An opportunity for the public and artists to socialize, view, and purchase paintings! Artists who have participated in the Plein Air event can bring any paintings created in Marquette throughout the weekend to sell, including paintings not entered in the competition. No commission will be taken but the Lake Superior Art Association is thankful for any donations towards next year’s event.