Big Paint Event Lets Granby Residents see Local Artists at Work Sunday

The Granby Land Trust and the Granby Artists Association are teaming up for The Big Paint, an en plein air (outdoor) painting, socializing and learning event, at Lost Acres Vineyard on Sunday.

About 40 artists are expected to be at the event, according to Granby Land Trust President Rick Orluk, so visitors will have the chance to see a variety of styles, approaches, media and creative concepts as well as talk with the artists about their work.

Attendees can also enjoy an opening lunch at Lost Acres Orchard, just up the road, as well as Lost Acres Vineyard’s own locally made wine and walk amongst the bucolic grounds, which are sure to serve as an inspiration for the artists.

“It is truly one of Granby’s beautiful places,” Orluk wrote in a press release.

Besides hosting the event, vineyard owners and local residents Michelle Niedermeyer and Kevin Riggott are donating 10 percent of the profit made by from vineyard sales Sunday to the land trust. The land trust has a farm preservation easement of more than 30 acres at the Vineyard.

“Granby is fortunate to have a thriving agricultural enterprise working the land,” Orluk said.

The local organizations are working with the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society as part of the Big Paint.

“We are very fortunate to partner with both the Connecticut Plein Air Painters Society and the Granby Artists Association on this year’s paint out,” Orluk said. “We expect to have our largest group of working artists ever, so we have appropriately deemed this year’s event ‘the Big Pain.’ Lost Acres Vineyard is a growing agriculture enterprise and is a picturesque property.”

The art created at the Big Paint will be considered for the land trust’s seventh annual judged art show, held in concert with the Granby Artists Association and is a kick-off of sorts for the event. Winners will receive awards valued at a total of more than $4,000.

The show runs through the month of November at the Lost Acres Vineyard before local artist and judge John Lo Presti decides the winners. This year’s theme is “places of inspiration: celebrating the Farmington Valley's natural beauty.” Public attendance, both during the show and at the judging, is encouraged.

“[The art show] will feature original works: painted, drawn, photographed or 3D, inspired by a Farmington Valley scene that captures the essence of our region’s natural heritage,” Orluk wrote.

Look for more information about the show on The Granbys Patch before it begins on Nov. 1.

The Big Paint takes place at Lost Acres Vineyard, 80 Lost Acres Road, Granby, from noon to 3 p.m. The rain date is the following Sunday, Sept. 23.

For more detailed information about the Big Paint, to RSVP to the event, or order an event lunch made by Lost Acres Orchard, please call Rick Orluk at 860-653-7095.

Artists who are interested in learning more about or participating in Sunday’s paint-out and/or the juried art show in November can visit the Granby Land Trust website or contact Laura Eden at laura@lauraeden.com or 860-653-6274.