Community Corner

Big Paint Produces Dozens of Works of Art at Lost Acres Vineyard

About 50 artists from far and wide came to the Granby vineyard to paint picturesque landscapes and create other works of art as part of the Granby Land Trust and Granby Artists Association's event.

A sunny Sunday at Lost Acres Vineyard provided about 50 artists from across Connecticut the opportunity to use the landscape as inspiration for works of art as part of the Granby Land Trust and Granby Artist Association's Big Paint event.

Many of the works created Sunday will be entered into the seventh annual land trust juried art show, which carries the theme of "Places of Inspiration: Celebrating the Farmington Valley's Natural Beauty." Besides the artists, about 120 attendees were on hand to speak with creators about their work, sample the wares of both Lost Acres Orchard and Lost Acres Vineyard and take a walking tour of the property.

“It’s a great day out today,” said Elinor Sachs, a Bloomfield artist who has participated at two other land trust events, while working on a canvas near the entrance.

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The event served as a fundraiser for the land trust, and the hosts, Lost Acres Vineyard owners and local residents Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott, donated 10 percent of the profit made from all vineyard sales Sunday to the land trust. Orluk said the land trust was very appreciative of the generosity of the vineyard’s owners.

The plein air (outdoor) painting event, which partnered with the statewide Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society this year, acts as a lead in to the art show, according to Granby Land Trust President Rick Orluk.

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“[The land trust show] is a really, really well thought of art show in southern New England,” he said. “It’s a great way for us to highlight the natural beauty of the Farmington Valley and specifically Granby.”

About 150 pieces are submitted each year and more than $5,000 in awards are given. Orluk said it has grown year in and year out. The show has gotten submissions from artists in New York, Massachusetts and other states, according to Granby Artists Association member Kristen Cormier.

“I’ll probably go again,” said Barbara Ohlheiser of Windsor, working with oil paints. “They always pick such interesting places. We’re so lucky.”

The Granby Land Trust Annual Juried Art Show will be available for public viewing from Nov. 1 through Dec. 1 at Lost Acres Vineyard. Awards will be presented at the opening reception, held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 1 at the Vineyard, 80 Lost Acres Road, North Granby.


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