Mountain Maryland Plein Air

Competition and Exhibition

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painting by Thomas Bucci

Celebrating Tradition, Art & Community

With great excitement, we announce the return of the Mountain Maryland Plein Air Competition and Exhibition, June 9-15th, 2025, in downtown Cumberland. This signature event will once again bring a group of talented painters from across the region and country to capture the beauty of our community, from our historic streets to the scenic vistas of Allegany and Garrett counties.

As we enter our 13th year, we’re thrilled to align this celebrated event with Cumberland’s downtown renaissance. The exhibition will be hosted at the Allegany Museum through the partnership of the Allegany Arts Council and the Mountain Maryland Plein Air committee. Additional events will be held at the new Arcadian Gallery and the Gilchrist Gallery and Museum. This collaboration showcases our vibrant downtown arts district at its finest.

The success of our previous twelve years has established Mountain Maryland Plein Air as a hallmark event in the artists’ community. To maintain this standard of excellence and continue attracting top-tier talent, we have committed $13,000 in awards and will host several signature events, including our popular Friday night Collectors’ reception and Saturday Quick Draw.

Juror Stewart White
AWS, PWS, American Impressionist

Stewart White, a watercolorist from Baltimore, Maryland, blends his background in architectural illustration with his artistry to create paintings that balance strong design and a painterly style. A graduate of Pratt Institute and UC Berkeley (BFA), Stewart also served three years in the U.S. Army. His award-winning watercolors, featured in architectural illustrations and painting competitions, have earned widespread recognition. He has exhibited extensively in juried and gallery shows across the U.S., and in 2025 will lead workshops in Sicily, Ireland and France.

Stewart’s accolades include Grand Prizes at the Easton Plein Air Festival (2009) and Plein Air Magazine’s Salon. He served as President of the Mid-Atlantic Plein-Air Painters Association (MAPAPA), is a member of the American Impressionists Society (AIS), a signature member of the National Watercolor Society (NWS) and the American Watercolor Society (AWS), is an Executive Fellow of the ASMA American Society of Marine Artists and was President (2012) of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators (ASAI).

Schedule

Monday

June 9

Invited artists arrive and begin painting in Allegany and Garrett Counties

Wednesday

June 11

Wet Wall Painting Reception

4 – 6pm (free to the public)

Friday

June 13

Collectors Reception and Awards

6-8pm (to purchase tickets call the Allegany Arts Council, 301-777-2787)

Saturday

June 14

Public Exhibition
Quickdraw live outdoor painting event

10am – 12pm; Awards ~12:45 (free to the public)

Sunday

June 15

Stewart White Painting Demonstration
10am – 12pm
(free to the public but you must register by calling the Allegany Arts Council, 301-777-2787)  

Our Sponsors

$2500