2025
Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Individual Grantee
Willow Gentile, Rochester
Gentile will embark on a journey to create ten plein air pop-up style paintings at ten small town or rural communities in Minnesota. She will provide a community easel available for anyone to try their hand at plein air paint and take their creation home.
2024
MNSAB Creative Individual Art grantee!
I am Plein air painting historic mn public libraries!
Painting amongst
the blue bells!
Engagement
Minnesota State Arts Board Grant 2022.
My proposal, to create 6 large paintings plein air at random locations to gently disrupt peoples everyday routine with art.
I documented the candid interactions and conversations while painting the 6 live paintings (plein air).
Please take a moment to play the audio and video clip to have a taste of the wonderful experience of plein air painting!
The clip is of the final painting the Lake City, MN in the MNSAB: Creative Individuals grant.
2023
Southeastern MN Arts Counsel Grantee
My proposal, to create 3 plein air paintings of historic MN Public Libraries.
I brought plein air painting to 3 towns in Minnesota: Rushford, Chatfield and Winona.
The reaction was overwhelmingly positive! People asked questions about plein air painting. I was able to demystify the creative process and debunk common misconceptions about being an artist.