Event Link: https://www.artofthelakes.org/prairie-lakes-plein-air-2025.html

FEE: Go to link for various fees

The Prairie Lakes Plein Air art series is a festival of art education, exhibition, and competition open to professional and non-professional artists of all skill levels. Enjoy your summer painting in the idyllic setting of Otter Tail County, situated in West-Central Minnesota lakes country. Delve into the pristine landscape of gently rolling hills and fertile farmland amongst clear blue lakes and streams for an inspirational painting experience. Attend Plein Air demos & workshops (artists to be announced soon). 

Artists and collectors will enjoy many activities including the Opening Reception, Plein Air Competition, Workshops & Demonstrations, and Quick Paint competition. The concluding Collectors' Preview and Award Ceremony will showcase a variety of Plein Air motifs and styles of artwork.

Schedule of Events
Opening Day for Artists June 21, 2025 10 am - 12 pm
Artists meet at the Creative Arts Center, 112 Main St W, Battle Lake, MN​

• Pick up your welcome packets. 

• Mark Windahl will present on plein air concepts and history. 

• Shanna Cramer will cover some of what to expect with PLPA 25.

• Bring your questions! 

We'll paint out following the presentations. Bring your supplies and paint along! 

Plein Air Competition June 21- August 28, 2025
Throughout the summer, artists will be painting Plein Air in and around our Battle Lake community and Otter Tail County. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe as the artists seek to represent the shifting light, extraordinary colors and textures of our varied rural landscape. We ask that participants and observers do not block entrances/traffic ways to businesses. Free to the public; artists must register.

ARTIST REGISTRATION

Demonstrations/Workshops
To explore a variety of en Plein Air styles and techniques, artists and community members will have the opportunity to attend a range of art classes and artist talks with our featured artists.

CLASSES

Classes and Workshops will be announced soon

​Weekend Festivities August 29 & 30, 2025
Our Prairie Lakes Plein Air art series will be capped off with a full weekend of enjoyable events all happening in or near Battle Lake.

Collector's Preview Reception and Award Ceremony 
​Friday evening, 6-8 pm, August 29, 2025 TICKETED
The Collector's Preview and Award Ceremony will be an art-lovers' social event and a rare opportunity to view artworks from prominent plein air painters from around the Midwest. This exhibition of works by the competition participants will be held in the Art of the Lakes Gallery in Battle Lake. Grand Prize winners will be announced in a special award ceremony by oil and pastel painter and this year's judge, Cheryl LeClair-Sommer. Come and be inspired! 
Tickets purchased in advance: $8 AOTL members, $10 non-members 
Tickets purchased at the door: $20

TICKETS

Tickets will be available soon

Quick Paint Saturday, 9:30 - 11:30 am, August 30, 2025
Participating artists will be found painting throughout Battle Lake within earshot of the CAC. Vote for your favorite from 12pm to 2:45 pm. People's Choice and Artists' Choice awards are announced at 3 pm. 

Plein Air Demonstration with Cheryl LeClair-Sommer
Saturday, 1 - 3 pm, August 30, 2025
To inspire those who want to know more about Plein Air painting, join judge Cheryl LeClair-Sommer in or near the CAC as she provides a demonstration and shares tips and answers your questions. 

Quick Paint Awards Saturday, 3 pm, August 30, 2025
Our Prairie Lakes en Plein Air festival concludes at the CAC where Quick Paint Awards will be presented and competition paintings will be on display. 

Competition Exhibition August 30 - September 27, 2025
The Art of the Lakes Gallery will be open for the general public to view paintings from this event and make purchases.

Competition Judge
Cheryl LeClair-Sommer

Competition Class
$1000 - Best in Show
$500 - 2nd Place Award
$250 - 3rd Place Award
$150 - People's Choice Award
$50 - 3 Honorable Mentions

Quick Paint (Must be painted at the August 30 event)
$75 - People's Choice
$75 - Artists' Choice

Open Class
​Recognition Award and Judge's Feedback

About Our Judge
Cheryl LeClair-Sommer is a Minnesota based representational painter working mainly in oils, featuring works that highlight the natural world. Her main focus, painting landscapes directly outside, originates from her spiritual connection to the land and reverence for nature's raw beauty. Studio paintings feature the natural world as observed through the human imprint. 

Event Link: https://www.reddoorgallerywahpeton.com/call-for-worksartists.html

Fee: Free

Dates of Exhibition: September 30 – October 25, 2025

Deadline for Submissions: September 19, 2025

Deadline for Arrival of Art: September 27, 2025

Artists’ Reception: TBD, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

We invite artists to submit works with light horror or fantasy themes. The horror is not grotesque, but

subtle—a lingering unease, a flicker in the corner of the eye, a sense that something is just slightly off.

Forms of work include but are not limited to painting, drawing, sculptural work, photography, printmaking, mixed media, wood carvings, jewelry, and textiles.

This is an open call for all artists who: Currently reside in North Dakota, Minnesota, or South Dakota, or those who call Wahpeton ND or Breckenridge MN their hometown or have a local connection.

• Artists must submit an Artist’s Biography along with works if this is an artist’s first time exhibiting.

• All works must include the following information: Title, Year Completed, Brief Description, Media Used, Dimensions, and Price.

• The maximum each artist can bring is 3 – 5 pieces of artwork or 10 feet of wall space worth of artwork.

• All works must be for sale, and priced with the understanding that the Red Door Art Gallery does take a 30% commission on all works. The commission must be included in your price. Include a detailed and clear inventory of all works for our records.

• The Gallery does reserve the right to exclude any artwork that does not meet the standards set by the

Gallery’s Collections and Exhibitions Committee.

• All works that go on a wall must have a hanger on the back. All work must be equipped with a saw tooth hanger or wire.

• All artists exhibiting in this show must be members of the Red Door Art Gallery. Feel free to contact RDAG if you are unsure of your membership status.

• RDAG requests all artwork be able to stay in gallery throughout the entirety of the exhibit, except for in the event of a sale.

• RDAG reserves the curatorial discretion for all placement, lighting, display, and all other aspects of the exhibition of works

• Preference will be given to works that have not been previously exhibited at Red Door Art Gallery.

• Artist consignment agreement must be signed and/or previously on file before art can be accepted or

exhibited.

To Submit:

Please send images and descriptions of work to: director@reddoorgallerywahpeton.com

Images submitted to Red Door Art Gallery may be considered to be used in promotion of the exhibit. Artists are responsible for the delivery and/or shipping costs to and from the Red Door. If work is shipped, a reusable container must be used. RDAG is not responsible for damage during the shipment for any reason. Return shipment will be sent C.O.D. to the artist. No post office boxes will be accepted for return shipments.

For more information contact the Gallery at (701) 591-1010 or email at director@reddoorgallerywahpeton.com

EVENT LINK: https://www.evansvilleartcenter.org/events/al-stelton-exhibit

FEE: Free

"American Light is the title of the exhibit featuring paintings by visual artist, Al Stelton, on display in the EAC Gallery for the month of August.

Al is a self-taught artist accomplished in several mediums and currently working in oil paint. His artistic abilities surfaced during his formative years drawing, doodling, and later painting on a variety of surfaces. His artwork grew into a passion that continues today. From researching his subject matter, attention to every detail, from the composition, to rendering painting in full detail, Al strives to produce a high-quality painting. Subject matter is no problem for Al, who has tackled subjects from portraits to wildlife to western fare.

This exhibition runs from August 1 through August 30 during regular Gallery hours on Friday and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.