Tupper Lake Plein Air Festival starts today
Dan McClelland
The Tupper Lake Plein Air Festival will welcome regional artists beginning today and through Oct. 4 to paint the beautiful vistas our area has to offer. There will be an art show and sale on Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tupper Arts Center on Park Street. More than a dozen artists have already signed up, with more slots available.
The 2020 festival is an outdoor event that shares the beauty and spirit of this historic lumberjack town, amidst the majestic Adirondack Mountains in full fall foliage, with artists from across the Northeast Region.
Artists will have the opportunity to capture inspiring vistas and landmarks that have long defined this iconic Adirondack town. Some of the many scenic opportunities awaiting artistic interpretation include the winding Raquette River, with the Ox Bow and its many marshes, Bog River Falls at the headwaters of beautiful Tupper Lake, the mountains, lakes, and ponds surrounding the town, and local landmarks.
Tupper Lake offers a variety of architectural structures, new and old, along with revitalized streets and storefronts that invite artistic interpretation. The gazebo at the municipal park, the bandshell at Flander’s Park, Beth Joseph Synagogue, the Oval Wood Dish factory buildings are all landmarks that add special touches that help define the history and spirit of the town.
Tupper Lake is home to some of the most scenic views in the Adirondacks. From the top of Raymond Hill on Route 3 entering Tupper Lake from the west, to the panoramic display of the Seward range behind L. P. Quinn Elementary School, to the spectacular views of Mt. Morris, home of Big Tupper Ski Area, from several locations along Raquette Pond, artists are rewarded with an array of Adirondack vistas. like the Beth Joseph Synagogue, the Wild Center, and the Oval Wood Dish factory.
Adk Action and Tupper Arts are the co-sponsors of this event.
COVID-19 Precautions
Tupper Arts will not be able to offer housing for artists in private residences. No large gatherings or receptions are planned for this event to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The show and sale will be held in the spacious Tupper Arts gallery, with ample room for enjoying the art while practicing social distancing. Masks are required of all who enter the building, and visitors are encouraged to make use of available hand sanitizer.
Eligibility
This event is open to all plein air artists in the region who are not coming from areas that have quarantine restrictions upon entering the state. Painting can begin as soon as canvasses are stamped. To prevent spread of disease, hand sanitizer will be available upon entering the building, and face masks are required of anyone entering the building. Social distancing will be practiced to insure the safety of everyone in the building. Information about the region will be provided to artists who are not familiar with the area, but there will not be tours of the area.
Adk Action and Tupper Arts staff and volunteers will be on-site to man the show and sale. Artists are invited to speak with patrons or spend the day painting whatever they chose and enjoying the beautiful community of Tupper Lake.
Artist will have the option for leaving art at the center. Artists are welcome to leave their unsold pieces with Tupper Arts to sell in their gift shop throughout the year, or for however long they want to leave the art at the center.