Last year when I was in Vermont, Plein Air NEK, the group I started in 2014 to find plein air painters up here, worked with the Orleans County Conservation District (OCCD) to put together an exhibit on Conserved Farms titled “Farming: The Art of Stewardship“. I arranged with the help of the OCCD to paint with my group at four different farms that practice conservation on the farms. What a great opportunity and lots of fun.

The exhibit had the opening at the East Side restaurant in Newport, VT, and later traveled to North County High School and finally, just recently, to Greater Barton Arts Center in Barton, VT.

This week there was an opening of the exhibit hosted at Great Barton Arts. A selection of the paintings completed for the exhibit are on display as well as lots of educational information about the farms and the conservation practices. The reception was well attended and PA-NEK is honored to be the first exhibit that GBA is hosting. Unfortunately, it is displayed sandwiched between a old recycled exhibit from 1983 of photography about one room school houses. While more could have been presented in the opening remarks about the conservation on Vermont farms and the art of plein air painting, the reception was more of an excuse to promote GBA and their hopes and dreams.

This summer PA-NEK is working again with the Conservation District as well as Old Stone House, Lavender Essentials and Wonder Arts so stay tuned for some amazing plein air art coming.