2025 | October - December
Exhibitions + Programming

MMAM’s Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience: Boats, Bridges, and Backwaters will include artist demonstrations in plein air around the Winona area. Participating artists include Kar-Keat Chong, Joshua Cunningham, Bob Upton, Hannah C. Heyer, Pam Luer, James Richards, and Jim Clark. Stay tuned for locations and times!

→ learn more.

Friday, October 3 | 12:30 - 2:30p
Historic Wagon Bridge, Latsch Island, Winona, MN

Plein air artist, Bob Upton, will be doing a live demonstration of his painting at the Historic Wagon Bridge on Latsch Island. This demonstration is outdoors, free, and open to the public to watch or to paint along. 

→ learn more.

Friday, October 3 | 3-5p
Lake Park, Winona, MN

Plein air artist, Hannah Heyer, will be doing a live demonstration of her work at Winona’s Lake Park. Participants should plan to meet at the parking lot of the Winona Visitor’s Center at 3p. This demonstration is outdoors, free, and open to the public to watch or to paint along. 

→ learn more.

Friday, October 3 | 5 - 7p
Peter’s Biergarten, Winona, MN

Celebrate the energy of the Plein Air Experience with one of our favorite traditions! Join artists, participants, and workshop students for a relaxed evening of art, conversation, and community. Bring your sketchbook, grab a pint, and enjoy the creative energy that makes Plein Air Weekend so special. All are welcome!

→ learn more.

Saturday, October 4 | 9 - 11a
Prairie Island Road N, Winona, MN

Winona’s own Urban Sketcher, Jim Richards, will be doing a live demonstration of his work down the road from the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. Participants may park at MMAM and walk the ¾ mile down Riverview Drive, or park along Prairie Island Road N. The demo will be at the intersection of the two roads. This demonstration is outdoors, free, and open to the public to watch or to paint along. 

→ learn more.

Saturday, October 4 | 12 - 2p
MMAM Gardens, Winona, MN

Plein air artist, Pam Luer, will be doing a live demonstration of her work in the gardens of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum. This demonstration is outdoors, free, and open to the public to watch or to paint along. 

→ learn more.

Saturday, October 4 | 2:30 - 4:30p
Mertes Slough Landing, Fountain City, WI

Minnesota artist, Jim Clark will be doing a live demonstration of his work at Mertes Slough Landing, just over the bridge to Wisconsin. This demonstration is outdoors, free, and open to the public to watch or to paint along. 

→ learn more.

Returning for a fourth consecutive year, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum’s For The Love of Water Gala & Art Auction has evolved into the signature fall art event in Southeastern Minnesota. Our purpose is simple, to gather friends, family, fans and partners to celebrate and support the Minnesota Marine Art Museum and its mission - creating meaningful art experiences inspired by water.  

This year, our Gala returns to the shoreline of the Upper Mississippi River on the stunning six-acre riverside site of the Minnesota Marine Art Museum.

→ tickets.

Join us for a celebratory close to an inspiring weekend of on-location art making! Artists, students, instructors, and art patrons are warmly invited to gather one final time to share the remarkable work created over the weekend.

→ learn more.