Plein Air Festival coming to Tupper next week

by Dan McClelland

Tupper Arts on Park Street will present its first ever Plein Air Festival, which is expected to bring the attention of talented artists around the region to the beauty of Tupper Lake.

The festival, which will also include a special preview party and an art show and sale, runs from October 8 to 13.

The event will be co-hosted by ADK Action, which reached out to local arts organizers to bring what is hoped will be a new tradition to Tupper Lake. The area group has helped put the new event together with the Tupper Arts volunteers.

ADK Action actively supports the hugely successful Saranac Lake Plein Air and two years ago initiated Keeseville Plein Air, which has played a key role in the revitalization of the community. It is a not for profit, non-partisan federally tax exempt organization that creates projects that address unmet needs, promotes vibrant communities and help preserve the character of the Adirondacks.

Artists coming here next week will have the opportunity to capture inspiring vistas and landmarks that have long defined our iconic town. Some of the many scenic places the artists will visit include the serpentive bends of the Raquette River, the Oxbow and its many marshes, Bog River Falls, the community's many mountains, ponds and lakes as well as statuesque landmarks like the historic Beth Joseph Synagogue, the Wild Center, the Tupper Lake Golf Course and its stunning vistas and the former Oval Wood Dish factory.

From October 8 to 11 artists will tour the community and erect their canvasses at various vistas which make this community unique. Residents will see these artists all over town and along state highways, putting artistic images on canvas.

On Friday, October 11 there will be a special preview party at the Tupper Arts Center from 6p.m. to 9p.m. where the public will get a first look at what all these artists have produced that week. There'll be an opportunity to buy some of these new and original pieces. Wine and cheese will be served. Well known Adirondack artist Gary Casagrain, who has a gallery on Park St. here, will jury the paintings and a $1,000 in prize money donated by ADK Action will be awarded to the best artists.

There will be a small donation taken at the door that evening to cover costs.

On Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13 Tupper Arts Center will host a show and sale of all the artistic pieces created at the festival. Paintings and other art work will be for sale. The show is free and open to the public. On that Saturday the arts center will be open from 10a.m. to 6p.m. and the next day from 10:30 a.m. to 3p.m.