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 2023, our artists met at a variety of locations throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. Locations you will find depicted in this exhibit include Dahlia Hill of Midland, Bay City's State Park, Kantzler Arboretum, and Carroll Park, Linwood Marina, and Bayne's Apple Valley of Freeland.

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. This exhibit illustrates the wide variety of approaches artists may take to creating a work of art.