Watch artists as they complete a "plein air" painting in just 90 minutes - from start to finish in the annual Birney Quick Paint event - as part of the 2026 Plein Air Grand Marais.
The event is named after influential artist and educator Birney Quick, who is credited with co-founding a summer program called the Grand Marais Outdoor School of Painting, later renamed the Grand Marais Art Colony. At the time, Quick was on the faculty of the Minneapolis School of Art.
Plein Air Grand Marais (PAGM) began in 2008, bringing outdoor painters to the North Shore of Lake Superior for a week of painting, learning, competition, and camaraderie. Since 2018, the event has been organized by the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota and hosted by the Cook County Historical Society's Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery.
Other Plein Air Grand Marais Events:
Open Class Awards Reception: Wednesday, September 16 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Grand Marais Campground Rec Hall | Celebrate Open Class artists, meet the painters, view fresh local creations, and applaud award winners.
Off-The-Easel Painting Sale: Thursday, September 17 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Harbor Park | Watch artists along the shore and purchase newly completed plein air paintings fresh off the easel.
Exhibit Opening & Awards Reception: Friday, September 18 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery | Celebrate 240+ fresh festival paintings with light refreshments and the official awards ceremony.
Gallery Exhibit: September 19 – November 1 | Wednesday – Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery | Explore the full collection of North Shore landscapes on display through late autumn.
To learn more, visit: outdoorpaintersofminnesota.org/plein-air-grand-marais
To see the most up-to-date JHP gallery hours, visit: cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery