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Celebrating the 2025 Keeseville Community Arts Festival Plein Air Winners

The Keeseville Community Arts Festival once again brought vibrancy, creativity, and community connection to life through its beloved Plein Air Show and Sale. With more than 40 artists painting throughout the Ausable Valley during festival week, the final exhibition at the historic Stone Mill showcased an incredible variety of artistic perspectives on the region’s landscapes, architecture, and small-town spirit.

This year’s top honors went to Jim Laurino for View from Port Kent, earning 1st Prize and a $1,000 award.

Second Prize ($500) was awarded to Lisa BurgerLentz for Farm Daze, and Katie Langford received Third Prize ($250) for Idol.

 

Special Awards Celebrate Spirit and Accessibility

The Ausable Chasm Award, sponsored by Ausable Chasm and selected by guest judge Susan Prescott Buck of the Ausable Chasm Board of Directors, was awarded to Patricia Bellerose for The Good View, Ausable Chasm.

The Uplifting Community Award, designed to encourage accessibility through affordable artwork, went to Noah Bonesteel for Pray View Road.

Bonesteel also received the People’s Choice Award, selected by attendees of the show.

The Artists’ Choice Award, voted on by participating artists, was awarded to Kari Ganoung Ruiz for her entire body of work entered in the show.

Honorable Mentions

Judges recognized Dennon Walantus, Catherine Lapointe-Volmer, and Steve Duprey with honorable mentions.

A Festival That Builds Community Through Art

AdkAction thanks all participating artists, community members, and judges—including Kailey Maher, Tonya Cribb, and Sarah Brown—for making this year’s festival and plein air competition such a success. Together, we’re using art to celebrate place, uplift each other, and revitalize Keeseville as a creative, welcoming hub for artists and residents alike.

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