Past Exhibits

Plein Air Showcase

Throughout the spring, summer, and fall, artists of Studio 23/The Arts Center love to get a healthy dose of fresh air and sunshine – and to bring their art materials along. The practice of plein air painting (translated from French as “in the open air”) is simply the act of painting outdoors, based on observations of the world around you. It is also a great reason to gather with friends and share a day of creativity.

In 2022, our artists met at a variety of location throughout Bay City and Midland. Locations you will find depicted in this exhibit include Bay City State Park, Dahlia Hill in Midland, Saginaw Bay Yacht Club, and the Jefferson Project in downtown Bay City, currently under renovation. Artists were also invited to several private properties to paint, including farms growing crops for Michigan Sugar throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region as a part of our Summer Solstice Paint-Out event.

Although artists may be working in the same location, differences in styles, media, and how an artist chooses to frame a scene can result in a series of images drastically different from one another, each telling its own unique story. With over a dozen artists featured, this exhibit illustrates the wide variety of approaches artists may take to creating a work of art.

For information on joining plein air painting events this spring, follow Studio 23 on Facebook and Instagram. You can also become a member of Studio 23 and join the Studio 23 Artist Collective, a networking group for artists of all levels, and receive email updates about upcoming events. For membership information, visit Studio23BayCity.org/membership.