BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

MORRISTOWN – If you’re in the market for a painting of a Morristown area landscape, then be sure to attend this year’s Bell Gale Chevigny Plein Air Festival Aug. 4-7.

Sponsored by the Morristown Public Library, the four-day event attracts nearly 30 artists from throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“The library has missed the artists and the joy they bring to Morristown. They are fun and interesting to be around,” said Bridget Whalen-Nevin, library director. “We have missed the opportunity to provide the community with such a popular art education program.”

The artists will arrive on Thursday, Aug. 4 and at sunrise on Friday, Aug. 5, they will scatter within a 15-mile radius of Morristown to search for a desired landscape to paint.

From 1 to 2 p.m. Thursday, Sam Miller, author of Memoir, Reasons Why I Left the Amish Community, will be at the Morristown Library for a free discussion and book signing.

On Saturday, Aug. 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., artists will be painting within the hamlet. Also on Saturday, a book sale will be held from 9 a.m. to noon. Artist Madeline Brown will be on site to draw free children’s portraits. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 15 artists including potters, basket weavers, jewelers, carvers and textile artists will make up a Pop Up Art Market at Mare’s Wares, 3938 State Highway 37. Food may be purchased from a Tex-Mex food truck.

The public is encouraged to approach the artists in order to get a closer look at their work.

The Plein Air Festival concludes Sunday, Aug. 7, with a silent auction and reception from noon to 3 p.m. at Bella-Brooke Vineyard and Winery, 2989 CR 6, Hammond. There is a $1 cover charge and the vineyard's gourmet hot dog truck will be available for lunch.

Here, each artist will submit three paintings for judging of awards and the silent auction and the chance to purchase some of their best artwork. First, second, third, honorable mention, Bounty of the County, People’s Choice and Artists’ Choice awards will be announced around 2 p.m.

“If the library website visits are any indication, we expect a record-breaking number of guests at Sunday’s Show and Sale,” stated Whalen-Nevin. “And why not? This will be a very impressive collection of landscapes.”

“Sunday’s Show and Sale will be breathtaking. Over 90 paintings of our landscapes, painted en plein air over the course of the weekend will be on display in one air conditioned room at a beautiful vineyard. It’s eye candy, and I urge all NCN [NorthCountryNow] readers to come and have a look.”

Local artists include Joshua Carter of Morristown and Catherine Lapointe Vollmer of Potsdam.

Whalen-Nevin also alluded to economic and spiritual sides to the festival.

There are many reasons to visit the show. Visiting a gallery supports small businesses. Nothing boosts creativity more than being surrounded by creative people in an art show. It’s fun. It’s engaging. It’s meditative,” she remarked. “The visiting artists are always impressed with our friendly and hospitable ways. Let us all come out and meet them and congratulate them on their works.”

Participant and vendor positions are full, she noted. Anyone interested in making a donation to the Morristown Public Library can do so through a PayPal button on the website www.morristownpubliclibrary.org