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Vermont’s farms and forests have inspired artistic creations for as long as we’ve been observing them. Some of Vermont’s most widely recognized artists specialize in our pastoral and working landscapes. Sabra Field (www.sabrafield.com) may be the best known of this group, and her familiar wood cuts provided the central image of the Vermont Makes it Special campaign run by the Agency of Agriculture (since moved on to the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing).
 The Vermont Makes it Special logo is one example of using art to draw attention to Vermont products. Some companies use artwork to build an entire style around their product. One example of this is the Vermont Mystic Pie company, which decorates its packaging with the work of Stephen Huneck and includes a link to information about the artist on its website (http://www.vermontmysticpie.com/).
Artists’ contributions can also be a fun way to draw attention to agriculture through events. Some  existing events are moving towards highlighting local foods in addition to their other attractions. For example, the Green Mountain Chew Chew Festival features both music and food. It is celebrating its 23rd anniversary with a Buy Local theme, including treats like local strawberries dipped in chocolate and a Maple Sugar Shack, along with a tent of specialty food producers. The Festival runs June 27th – 29th in Burlington (www.greenmountainchewchew.com).
Some organizers use displays of art to draw an audience along a path instead of to a single place. For example, downtown Montpelier recently  unveiled its Sculptcycle project, in which bicycle-inspired sculptures create a circuit for pedestrians to explore. . . and visit downtown merchants along the way (http://www.sculptcycle.org/). The Lake Champlain Islands have linked arts and agriculture on a route throughout Grand Isle County with their Open Farm / Open Studio weekend. The second annual event is happening July 12th & 13th.
The creative potential of combining art and agriculture is limitless. The Vermont Arts Council (www.vermontartscouncil.org) is one resource for exploring ideas further. The statewide organization focuses on making art more accessible to everyone. This year, they have built a program around this goal called “Art Fits”. Art Fits follows on the heels of the successful Palettes Project. Art Fits starts with the simple premise of providing Vermonters with a large, blank puzzle piece, and asking them to make artwork from that common beginning. From this starting point, communities have developed art displays, school projects, silent auctions, festivals and many more celebrations. Arts Council staff are available to help organizations make the connection between arts, community, and economic development through the Art Fits program.
Finally, for a little more inspiration, visit the Images of Vermont gallery that collects winners of a 2003 contest for the best of farm-based artwork in the state: http://www.vermontagriculture.com/Ag%20Art/agartmain.htm
Do you have a community project, event, or local foods story that you would like to see in Agriview’s next Web Extra? E-mail Helen.jordan@state.vt.us |
