‘Mississippi Riverscapes’ Plein Air competition awards ceremony is July 12
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE
Managing Editor, Illinois Business Journal
[email protected]
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rivers Project, in partnership with Alton’s Jacoby Arts Center, recently announced the awards ceremony and grand opening dates for its inaugural Plein Air art competition, “Mississippi Riverscapes.”
Awards for the contest will be presented during an afternoon ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on July 12, 2025, at the National Great Rivers Museum (2 Locks and Dam Way, East Alton). The ceremony is open to the public and will allow for an advanced “sneak peek” of the exhibit before its official opening on July 14.
All submitted paintings completed during the contest period will be available for public viewing in the “Mississippi Riverscapes” exhibit at the National Great Rivers Museum beginning on July 14. The exhibit will run through Sept. 14, 2025.
The competition, which concluded on June 22, was a contest comprised of open-air painting and drawing artistry at Rivers Project recreation areas throughout the month of June and was open to all amateur and professional artists ages 16 and up.
Plein Air, a French term meaning “in open air,” is a method of painting in which the artist paints entirely outdoors, capturing the essence and lighting of the real-life scene in front of them. It first gained popularity in the 19th century when paints became available in tube form, which allowed artists to more easily work outdoors. It emphasizes capturing the immediate experience of the scene, including the changing light and atmosphere. A defining feature of Plein Air art is that it’s done outside rather than in a studio or developed from sketches or photographs.
In creating a Plein Air piece, the artist responds directly to the environment: Weather, time of day, changing light. It often features loose brushstrokes that are more spontaneous than intentional. Plein Air painting often conjures up images from the Impressionist movement art period that emphasize the capture of the surrounding environmental light and color’s effects on the canvas. In the mid- to late 19th century, French Impressionists including Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro popularized Plein Air painting. Today it continues to be a popular art form, practiced by artists all over the world.
Artwork entered in the contest has been juried by the Jacoby Arts Center Exhibition Committee and guest judges including prominent artists, art educators, and gallery owners using the following criteria: Visual impact, craftsmanship, composition, color, creativity, and adherence to contest regulations.
The first-place winner will receive gift certificates for an “artist retreat” in Elsah, Ill., with the runner-up receiving a check for $100 from Meeting of the Rivers Foundation and the honorable mention receiving a “swag bag” of regional items from Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau.
“We are excited to finally open this exhibit to the public,” said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Natural Resources Specialist and Contest Coordinator Elise Ratcliff. “This collaboration with Jacoby has allowed us to bring awareness to our region’s public lands by showcasing their natural beauty through the lens of local artists. The pieces are absolutely incredible, and we can’t wait to kick off this unique exhibit at the awards ceremony next weekend.”
For additional information, contact Ratcliff at (618) 462-6979 or by email at [email protected].
