The 4th Annual Evanston Plein Air Festival features a festival exhibit on display at The Saw Room Gallery, inside The Alley Gallery in Downtown Evanston. The gallery is owned and operated by Darren Oberto and Ross Martens, two partners of the festival from the beginning. 

The Festival Exhibit features Plein air art on exhibit and for sale, contributed by the community of artists who helped put this festival on the map in Evanston. Also on exhibit will be a timeline showing the “Birth of a Festival”, outlined below, hopefully inspiring other communities to take the leap and host plein air festivals! Opening Reception: Saturday, July 5, 5-8p. RSVP here

Evanston Made hosts year round programs and events that bring visibility and opportunity to artists. Working with plein air painters over the last four years has been rewarding and fun. Join us at this year’s festival, July 16-20, INFO.

 

BIRTH OF A FESTIVAL

Evanston Made is known for making things happen for artists, from exhibits to art careers, to art sales. We often encourage our members to come to us with their art ideas for a conversation on how to bring those ideas to life. When one of our members Mark Cleveland pitched the idea of hosting an art festival, that sounded like a TON of work. Fortunately for us, Mark put in tons of hours recruiting community partners and painters to get the festival on solid legs it first year and 4 years later, we are still benefitting from Mark’s hard work and passion for an accessible and fun plein air festival hosted in Evanston, IL.

Two Emails in one day!

Mark Cleveland pitches Lisa Degliantoni on Thursday, Jan 20, 2022, 12:57 PM, Subject: Rough outline Plein Air Event

  • 3 models  for Plein Air events – open to all like-   Schaumburg, invitational or on the “circuit” where you pay artists. We would have to build thru that progression ,for year one hold the event for one or 2 days day with 30 artist. 
  • Goal year 1 – Engagement- get community out to participate in the event and have up 20 -30 artists painting around town 
  • We offer 2 -3 awards  – best in show (perhaps popular vote maybe on SEM site) , masters award (judged by guest artist) 
  • Biggest challenges : We would need 20-30 volunteers and outdoor (covid safe) venue for viewing work or  storefronts and a common place to have artists check in canvas to be stamped like your buds with the framing shop in the Alley
  • Plein air artists are self sufficient, they just need access to bathrooms

Lisa Degliantoni replies that afternoon, “Downtown Evanston is willing to sponsor, co-host. I’ll pitch Liz w EM tomorrow.” -Lisa, 1/20/22, 5:37p

 

First Meeting Timeline

Plein Air Art Festival, July 14 – 17, 2022

Budget

  • Marketing & Production
  • Prize – $250
  • Judge  – $500
  • Tents – DTE has two 10x10s, chairs, tables
  • Special Event Permit, Petra Belcher

Insurance

  • COI
  • Artists don’t need individual insurance 

Sponsors

  • Evanston Made
  • Downtown Evanston
  • Northwestern U

Form

  • Online Juried Shows front end set up – finalize and approve 
  • Photos of final painting and artist to be promoted 
  • Biggest size is 20”x30”

Locations

  • Artists are free to paint anywhere
  • Paint within in Evanston

Prizes

  • Best in Show – $250
  • People’s Choice/Fest Favorite – local business gift certificate(s) maybe the Graduate or Evanston gift card  – collect names in box, QR code 

Entries

  •  $25 per person (ask for support if you need it)
  • Deadline to sign up April 30
  • Goal is 40/50 people to compete

Check in site

  • Blick – provides a swag bag, Joe Taylor and Mark to talk 

Workshop

  • Afternoon workshop 2-hour class by artist and Festival Judge Don Yang

Judging

  • Two Tents at Fountain Square
  • All work has to be displayed
  • Stamp 5 canvases
  • Enter 1, 2 works for judging, deliver work 12-1p, show stamp to a volunteer and place on an easel (we’ll need 40)
  • Judging is 1-3p by Don and public (must be in person)
  • Awards reception is 3p
  • Second option: Chase, Graduate, Rotary Building 
  • Artists to be present to win
  • Keep art there to display 

Exhibit

  • Showcase the art for sale for a week in Downtown Evanston

 

 

Evanston Plein Air Group Show at Saw Room Gallery, On exhibit: July 1-20, 2025

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 5, 5-8p. RSVP here

Saw Room Gallery address: 1712 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201 – in the Alley Gallery, located in Bookman’s Alley, behind Saville Flowers. Park on Sherman Ave. and walk into the alley. Gallery hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM–5 PM. Closed Sunday! Phone: (847) 475-1535, ​​contact@thealleygallery.com