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The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Launch Event

  • Minnesota Marine Art Museum 800 Riverview Drive Winona United States (map)

Thursday, October 2, 2025 |  6:30p - 8pm

Minnesota Marine Art Museum

Join us for the kickoff of MMAM’s Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience: Boats, Bridges, and Backwaters at the Launch event! This evening will welcome plein air artists, students, teachers, and the public, with a social and a short presentation (20–30 minutes) by teaching artists Joshua Cunningham and Kar-Keat Chong. The artists will share their experiences and early works created during a day spent exploring Winona’s backwaters with local river guides.

Students will check in for their weekend workshops, and demonstrating artists will share their meetup locations. While the launch program is free with registration, standard admission applies for gallery access. Presenting artists receive complimentary admission.

Plein Air Experience Events

Featured
The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Boats, Bridges, and Backwaters
Oct 2
The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Boats, Bridges, and Backwaters
The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Launch Event
Oct 2
The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Launch Event

Join us for the kickoff of MMAM’s Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience: Boats, Bridges, and Backwaters at the Launch event! This evening will welcome plein air artists, students, teachers, and the public, with a social and a short presentation by teaching artists Joshua Cunningham and Kar-Keat Chong.

→ learn more.

Workshop: Painting the Day - Plein Air Oil Painting with Joshua Cunningham
Oct 3
Workshop: Painting the Day - Plein Air Oil Painting with Joshua Cunningham

Join plein air painter, Joshua Cunningham, for a special 2-day oil plein air painting workshop. Each day will be unique and subject to the time, place, and weather. In this workshop, participants will examine how some foundational principles of the prismatic palette can deepen the understanding of how light and air reveal the world, helping us see and share in the gift of each day.

→ Learn more + register.

[SOLD OUT] Workshop: Master the Basics - Ink and Watercolor Sketching with Kar-Keat Chong
Oct 3
[SOLD OUT] Workshop: Master the Basics - Ink and Watercolor Sketching with Kar-Keat Chong

Join Kar-Keat Chong, artist, architect, educator and worldly Urban Sketcher for his workshop “Master the Basics: Ink and Watercolor Sketching with Kar-Keat Chong.” Designed to develop confidence and understand the dynamics of sketching on location. Come away with the skills and passion for life-long learning as you embark on your artistic expression through sketching.

→ Learn more + register.

The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Artist Demonstrations
Oct 3
The Upper Mississippi Plein Air Experience 2025: Artist Demonstrations

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.

Plein Air Demonstration: Bob Upton
Oct 3
Plein Air Demonstration: Bob Upton

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.

Plein Air Demonstration: Hannah Heyer
Oct 3
Plein Air Demonstration: Hannah Heyer

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.

Plein Air Experience: Drink + Draw Meetup at Peter's Biergarten
Oct 3
Plein Air Experience: Drink + Draw Meetup at Peter's Biergarten

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.

Plein Air Demonstration: James Richards
Oct 4
Plein Air Demonstration: James Richards

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.

Plein Air Demonstration: Pam Luer
Oct 4
Plein Air Demonstration: Pam Luer

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.

Plein Air Demonstration: Jim Clark
Oct 4
Plein Air Demonstration: Jim Clark

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.

2025 For the Love of Water Gala
Oct 4
2025 For the Love of Water Gala

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.

Off the Easel: Artwork Share-In and Social
Oct 5
Off the Easel: Artwork Share-In and Social

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.

Upper Mississippi River Plein Air: Boats, Bridges and Backwaters Closes
Nov 28
Upper Mississippi River Plein Air: Boats, Bridges and Backwaters Closes

This installation features selected works from the Upper Mississippi River Plein Air artists. Teaching artists, Joshua Cunningham and Kar-Keat Chong present a small body of their work in MMAM’s new Waterbar Cafe + Provisions and the Plein Air teaching artists work is on display in the museum’s Oberton Education Room. 

→ learn more.

Support comes from

 
Earlier Event: October 2
Free Student Thursday
Later Event: October 3
Workshop: Painting the Day - Plein Air Oil Painting with Joshua Cunningham