Natalie's Everyday Heroes: Artists head outdoors for 'Plein Air'
OZAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- This week, we're getting fancy with our everyday heroes and learning a little French.
Have you heard the phrase "Plein Air"?
It means in the open air or outdoors. And for artists, it's painting outside.
More than 150 artists did just that for a week in Ozaukee County, sharing art with the whole community.
The hammering inside the Cedarburg Cultural Center is constant.
"Take my great yellow hammer," a volunteer said, as they tapped in a nail.
Volunteers worked fast to install this art exhibition in just a day.
"So, today's the big drop-off," said Kandy Gibson, past president of the Cedarburg Artists Guild.
Dozens of artists lined up to drop off their work.
It is then measured and tagged for a show that starts later that day.
This is the culmination of six days of creativity, put on by the Cedarburg Artists Guild.
"Generally, we end up with a gallery of over 450 paintings," Gibson said.
It's called "Plein Air." One-hundred sixty-five artists converged on Ozaukee County to paint outdoors the first week in June.
"You're out there with the bugs and the bees," said painter Susan Hale.
Hale has painted in each of the event's 25 years.
"The first year, we probably started with maybe 16-20 artists; now we have 165 artists," she said.
There are watercolors, oils, and pastels. And many familiar sights inspiring the eye.
"The flowers are blooming, as you can see with my paintings. And the buildings in Cedarburg are all so charming," Hale said.
Familiar spots on Washington Avenue can be seen, like the Stilt House and Sal's Pizza showing up on canvas. The red-roofed pagoda showing up time and again.
"It's really neat to see a community come together," said Mark Price.
This is Price's first year. He preferred a natural view.
"One is at the creek in Cedarburg, the other one is at Lion's Den, another one is at Port Washington," Price said of the locations he sketched.
No matter their inspiration, the artists agree Plein Air is a fun way to share their work.
"It's a great way to reach out to the community and also let them understand a little bit more about what goes into making art," Price said.
And maybe take a piece home. Once the paintings are hung and judged, they're up for sale.
"We sell these paintings in just a day-and-a-half," Gibson said.
Making art accessible, sharing creativity and community.
"They're amazed. Oh, you did that right here? Yeah, of course," Price said.
This event also serves as a fundraiser for the Cedarburg Artists Guild to keep the many things they do going.
There are a lot of different awards -- Best of Show, Best of Cedarburg, Paint the Lake. To see the winners and check out the upcoming events, click here.
If you'd like to nominate an Everyday Hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].