As some of you know, I’m a former clay artist currently refining my skills as an oil painter.  Last year I had a really good time at the Plein Aire paint out run by the good folks at Blue Dog Gallery.  This year is a very different kind of event and I would encourage all of you aspiring painters and professionals to participate.  Below is a copy of an email I received.  It references a project conceived by Jon Crane regarding the preservation of the Meeker Ranch.  This is where this fall’s paint out is happening:

First of all, I would like to thank you for your interest and support in the Meeker Ranch.  Your emails, calls, and letters let the Forest Service know that the public is truly interested in preserving places like this on public lands.Things are progressing.  Gail and I met with the Forest Service in May.  We came away encouraged, but we know that much must be done to make this a reality.  A nonprofit (501C3) group needs to be formed to partner with the Forest Service.  We are meeting next Thursday evening (July 24th) with a group interested in preserving the Gold Mountain Mine near Hill City in order to form an organization to help preserve these and other places in the Black Hills.  If you are interested in attending this meeting please email me at this address, and I will send directions.In September we are going to have an exciting event at the Meeker Ranch that will be open to the public.  John and Jan Humphrey, who own the Blue Dog Framer and Gallery in Lead have generously volunteered to move their GREAT BLACK HILLS PLEIN AIRE PAINT OUT to the ranch. This is an event where artists from around the region come to the Black Hills each fall to paint on location.  Many of the artists will be at the ranch from the 10th through the 14th of September.  Much of the artwork from the week will be sold at a “Wet Sale” on Sunday.  At least 30% of the proceeds will go toward the project.  We are hoping to have about 40 artists involved this year.  I plan to be one of them. Participation in this event is open to all amateur and professional artists, so If you know of anyone interested, have them call Blue Dog Framers at 605-717-0003. This will be a fun event for artists and the public.

You can call the Blue Dog for details and comment here for ideas as to help the community at large.

Thanks,

Don Jones