Plein Air Painting at the Keeseville Community Arts Festival
The 2024 Show & Sale will once again take place in the historic Old Stone Mill located at 126 Ausable Street in downtown Keeseville (behind the Horsenails Building). Artists are invited to hang their own artwork on panels in the event space. A walkthrough of this historic space will be available during canvas stamping hours.
Awards
First prize: $500. Second prize: $250. Third prize: $125.
Special Awards:
Uplifting Community – $250 Prize
This prize is completely optional to participate in, but will help AdkAction reach its goals of providing artwork that feels accessible to all members of the community. Artwork for this prize category will need to be priced at or below $250. If an artist elects to participate in the “Uplifting Community” aspect of the festival, the painting will not count against the maximum number of paintings that artist may enter in the show, and will not be judged except against other “Uplifting Community” prize submissions. This piece does not need to be framed and can be painted on whatever canvas the artist chooses.
Nourishing Our Neighbors – $250 Prize
The Most Unique Farm or Farmacy Scene
This prize is completely optional to participate in. Keeseville is surrounded by wonderful farms and businesses that provide healthy, local food to people in the community. We want to make sure we pay special tribute to them this year as we prepare our own ‘Nourishing Our Neighbors’ fundraising campaign to help fund our food security work.
The painting must feature a local food-producing farm or the “Farmacy” on Front Street. The “uniqueness” can be in the painting’s style or subject matter.
People’s Choice Award – $500 Prize
Individuals in attendance will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite artist, based on the artist body of work in the show. The People’s Choice Award Prize will be awarded to the artist receiving the most votes.
Plein Air Schedule
Tuesday, July 16, 2024: Orientation and Free Painting
8:00 am – 12:00 pm Artist Orientation and canvas stamping at the Stone Mill, 118 Ausable Street in downtown Keeseville. Please bring all canvases to the Stone Mill to be stamped. If you arrive after 12:00 Noon and no one is at the Stone Mill, please call (518) 856-3233 to make arrangements with AdkAction to have your canvases stamped.
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Community Caravan: Any artists wanting to participate should meet in the parking lot between the hardware store and Mountain Valley Federal Credit Union on front Street in Keeseville at 3:15. Artist will be asked to consolidate into a smaller number of vehicles in that parking lot and follow Brittany Christenson who will be leading the tour.
The tour will include a stop at the trail head for Pinnacle Mountain, which is a short hike with great views, stops at local farms, two vineyards, a farm brewery, the waterfront, and the breathtaking Ausable Chasm. The tour will conclude at the Stone Mill at 4:30 PM, just in time for the artist reception.
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm Artist Meet & Greet: join AdkAction and the Keeseville Community Arts Festival Planning Committee for a welcome wine and cheese reception at the Stone Mill. Hosts of artists are also invited to attend.
Wednesday, July 17 – Friday July 19, 2024: Paint Keeseville and Surrounding Areas
Artists are encouraged to paint the breathtaking AuSable Chasm or the calmer waters of the AuSable river that run through the town. Scenes from Lake Champlain and Augur Lake are also encouraged.
Keeseville is home to several magnificent small farms. Artists are encouraged to paint the pastures, animals, and equipment that make these places so alive.
Artists are encouraged to paint the beautiful historic architecture in Keeseville. Focus on the unique stone buildings, one of the three historic bridges, or one of the incredible homes downtown.
11:00 am to 3:00 pm: Framed paintings due at the Stone Mill. Artists will be hanging their own work, which must be hung by 3:00 pm.
3:30 pm: Jurying.
5:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Special Preview Party Reception and awards announcements at the Stone Mill. Artists and those hosting artists are welcome to attend this reception for free.
Saturday, July 20, 2023: Show and Sale
9:00 am – 4:00 pm: Art Show and Sale at the Stone Mill. AdkAction staff will oversee the show, so artists can spend the day enjoying the community and painting, but are of course welcome to spend time at the gallery.
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Plein Air Brunch at the Stone Mill – baked goods, local yogurt, fruit, mimosas and the opportunity to buy art. Artists and their hosts are welcome to attend this brunch for free.
4:00 pm Artists pick up any unsold works.
Suggested Painting Locations within 20 Miles
Local Dining Options
AuSable Brewing Company (DINNER)
Food trucks serve dinner Thursday – Saturday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Brewery open Thursday and Friday 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm, Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
765 Mace Chasm Rd, Keeseville, NY 12944
518-900-2739
Clover Mead Farm Store at North Country Creamery
Coffee, beverages, cheese and light fare in a self-serve farm store with picnic table seating. Grab & Go Cooler stocked with wraps, sandwiches, salads from North Country Co-Op
933 Mace Chasm Rd, Keeseville, NY 12944
Taco Temptation (LUNCH AND DINNER)
Open Thursday – Tuesday, 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
1711 Front St, Keeseville, NY 12944
(518) 834-5544
GiGi’s on the River (LUNCH AND DINNER)
Wednesday – Saturday, 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm
1878 Route 9, Keeseville, NY 12944
518-834-0232
Guiseppe’s Pizza Shop (LUNCH AND DINNER)
Monday – Saturday 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
243 Route 9N, Keeseville, NY 12944
(518) 834-5050
Harmony Clubhouse Bar & Grill (LUNCH AND DINNER)
Open every day from 11:30 am – 9:00 pm
95 North Street, Port Kent, NY 12975
518-834-9785
Livingoods (DINNER)
Tuesday – Thursday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Friday 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
697 Bear Swamp Rd, Peru, NY 12972
(518) 643-2020
Pleasant Corner (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND DINNER)
Open every day from 6:00 am – 8:30 pm
262 NY-9N, Keeseville, NY 12944
518-834-7127
BATHROOMS AVAILABLE FOR ARTISTS
Clover Mead Farm Store at North Country Creamery
933 Mace Chasm Rd, Keeseville, NY 12944
Stewart’s Shops
1774 Main St, Keeseville, NY 12944
Stone Mill (portable toilets)
118 Ausable Street, Keeseville, NY 12944
AdkAction Office
1745 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Keeseville NY 12944
9:00 – 3:00 weekdays