Evanston Made is thrilled to welcome Best in Show Judge : Cory Wright, at the 4th Annual Plein Air Festival.

Festival Founder Mark Cleveland recommended Wright for this position after watching her compete in the 3rd Annual Festival. “The Evanston Plein Air Festival is drawing more national caliber artists to our community each year as a testament to the way Evanston Made has curated this event. Floridian, Cory Wright’s exceptional en Plein air work demonstrated her formal training and international experience and she quickly became an artist to watch in last year’s event. Cory engaged community members and fellow artists each day, truly enriching everyone’s experience and it felt like a great fit to invite her to judge this year’s event.” – Mark Cleveland, artist and Festival Founder.

Wright will choose the awards at the Festival Finale for Best of Show, 2nd Place, 3rd Place, Honorable mention 1, Honorable mention 2 and Amateur 1st Place.

 

Cory Wright Biography

Cory Wright grew up in East Tennessee and earned her BFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1998, following nine months of study abroad on the school’s European Honors Program in Rome, Italy.  Since then, in addition to being an art instructor & studio painter, she has had an accomplished career as a muralist, specializing in the tromp l’oeil technique, for over 25 years. In 2011 Wright discovered her passion for painting en plein air with oils during a 10 day workshop in Italy. She soon began participating and winning awards at various Paint Out events throughout the state of Florida, where she has resided since 2004. Cory paints full-time and enjoys teaching workshops. Her paintings are now held in numerous national & international private collections. These days she can most often be found outdoors at her easel capturing the ever-changing effects of light & shadows, and creating larger pieces from her plein air work in her studio.

Website: https://www.corywrightart.com/

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

Festival Schedule of Events: https://evanstonmade.org/evanston-plein-air-festival-2025/

July 1-20, Plein Air Festival Exhibit at Saw Room Gallery. The exhibit includes examples of plein air and studio work from competitors and judges who helped this festival become an annual event in Evanston. Gallery address: 1712 Sherman Ave. Evanston, IL 60201. Gallery hours: Monday – Saturday 10 AM–5 PM.

 

July 16 – 19, Paint Outs. Paint Outs are “quick paint” competitions for competing plein air painters! Watch painters work during the painting time and join us for award ceremonies. Click here for event details.

  • July 16 – NOYES STREET. Awards at 6:30p. Artists turn in by 6p. Studio 215, 927 Noyes St. Click here to RSVP
  • July 17 – DOWNTOWN EVANSTON. Awards at 6:30p. Artists turn in art by 6p. LeTour, 625 Davis St. Click here to RSVP
  • July 18 – MAIN DEMPSTER MILE  Awards at 6:30p. Artists turn in art by 6p. Block party, 514 Main St. Click here to RSVP
  • July 19 – FARMERS MARKET Awards at 12:30p. Artists turn in art by 12p. EM Tent, 1800 Maple Ave. Click here to RSVP

 

Friday, July 18, Plein Air Festival Block Party. Hosted by the Main Dempster Mile, everyone is invited to meet the competing artists, view the Paint Out competition, shop the plein air art market, enjoy live music and delicious drinks and bites! Main Street, between Hinman and Chicago Avenues. 5:30-7:30p. INFO.

 

Sunday, July 20, Plein Air Festival Grand Finale
Join us for an afternoon of art, awards, a plein air cafe and an Outdoor Art Market where artists will sell their work “off the easel”. The space for this year’s Festival Finale has been donated by Rotary International, in Downtown Evanston and features en Plein Air Cafe. Chef Anthony from Rotary’s Cafe International plans to create a festival menu of small bites and wine for festival goers to purchase and enjoy en Plein Air, in the sunken garden in front of Rotary Headquarters on Sherman Ave. Hosted by Evanston Made and Rotary International, this event is FREE to attend.

 

Vote Festival! Enter Rotary International’s lobby to view submitted art and vote Festival Favorite, 12-3p