Exhibitions

The Beartooth Plein Air Society (BPAS) was a group of artists originally known as the “Painted Ladies” who encouraged people to try to paint plein air. The term "plein air" is a French expression that means "in the open air." Following this idea, the Beartooth Plein Air artists would head out of their studios into nature and paint on location. Eventually, under the direction of two BPAS members, Dorci Newman Tremblay and Elizabeth LaRowe, the summer long plein air outings evolved into one week of concentrated painting known as the annual Plein Air Blitz.

In July, following social distancing guidelines and the wearing of masks, a group of artists met daily for the 2020 Plein Air Blitz. Painting locations included areas around Greenough Lake, the West Fork and along the Meeteetse trail. A special visit to a private ranch was also part of the plein air outings this year. Work from the artists who attended the Plein Air Blitz are in this exhibition and include Linda Franson, Dolly Frerichs, Carol Hartman, David Kewitt, Elizabeth LaRowe, Helen Mackay, Dorci Newman-Tremblay, Janice Polzin, Stephanie Rose, Shirley Shirley, and James Vincent. The painting above is by Shirley Shirley of Billings.