De Smet hosts virtual plein air painting event

Harvey Dunn plein air event goes virtual

It takes more than a global pandemic to slow down De Smet’s Harvey Dunn Society. The group’s popular summer plein air painting event will be held online August 7-9 with a theme of Paintings on the Prairie 2020.

“We have the opportunity to be plein air event pioneers as we conduct one of the first virtual plein air events in South Dakota,” said Rita Anderson of the De Smet Development Corporation. “The only bad news is that we won’t be able to be together physically. We are planning to use available web sites, social media and apps like Zoom and Facebook Live to see each other at workshops and social hours.”

As in previous years, all artists, experienced or beginners at painting outdoors, are encouraged to join in the event, preserving the Harvey Dunn painting heritage with their own paintings of prairie landscapes and landmarks. The virtual plein art event is a way for artists to paint outdoors at locations safe and convenient to them instead of everyone having to come to De Smet. Artists will share images of themselves and their work in online galleries and be virtually connected with the other artists. The event will wrap up with a virtual Zoom meeting for all participants, giving everyone a chance to contribute to the conversation and to present their work and for sponsors to present awards and make announcements.

“We hope artists all across South Dakota will help us spread the word,” Anderson said. “As always, there are no registration fees—and this year, people will not need to take off work or make room reservations. This year’s event will certainly be new and fun—and we’ll all learn together!”

For more information, contact Anderson at rita@desmetsouthdakota.org or visit www.desmetsd.com.