The Granby Artists Association is calling all Granby creatives join the group. Now in its 19th year, the GAA is looking forward to a busy 2020. It has expanded leadership and is busy organizing annual events that showcase the variety of work created by talented Granby visual artists. The group encourages anyone interested in visual arts to get involved and become a member, whether as an exhibiting artist or as a patron.
The association will be led this year by co-presidents Avis Cherichetti and Wendy Van Welie with Annukka Ritalahti, vice president, Gary Ebersole, treasurer, and Stu Browning, secretary. The following members are elected directors: Laura Eden, Pam Jones, Linda Yurasevecz, Doug Williams, Barbara Schmitt and Katherine Tolve. Thank you to past president, Debby Reelitz, for all her hard work and the other officers and directors who have given their time to support this association.
The association presents several annual events including art shows and demonstrations, all free of charge. This year’s first event is the Simsbury Library Art Show, May 2 to May 29.
Other fall and winter events start with the Granby Artists Member Show in early October at Lost Acres Vineyard in North Granby. This show is open to all members of GAA, not just exhibiting artists. Also in October, is the popular GAA Open Studio weekend, the annual celebration of Granby art. Spend the weekend of Oct. 17–18 touring Granby art studios, watching demonstrations, and meeting your neighbor artists.
The Granby Land Trust (GLT) Show, also at Lost Acres Vineyard, is on display Oct. 29 through Nov. 29. This juried show is a partnership of the GLT and GAA. It is an annual celebration of art, nature, community and talent. All works are available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the GLT to support its mission to preserve Granby’s natural beauty.
The final event is the Holiday Gift Show at Holcomb Farm on Dec. 5 and 6. Come and shop for unique handmade holiday gifts made by Granby artists.
One aspect of GAA’s mission is to promote art education within the community. The GAA established the GMHS Art Scholarship Fund in 2013. It is funded directly from donations received for this purpose throughout the year. Please consider contributing to the scholarship fund presented annually to a graduating GMHS senior who will be studying the visual arts at the college level. To apply for the scholarship, eligible students should submit a letter of intent to Tracy Marlor at tracy.marlor@cox.net by May 18.
Granby Artists Association welcomes all Granby residents to become a Friend of Granby Artists. There are individual, family and high school memberships. Membership benefits include invitations to participate in the quarterly creativity-boosting events and the annual Open Show, plus members receive informative members-only newsletters. Thanks to our business sponsors, we are also able to keep offering our annual events. Please visit granbyartists.org for more information about Granby artists and their work, as well as about memberships, events, sponsors, and the scholarship fund.