FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

The Hudson Valley Farming landscape's beauty is a natural draw to many painters, and having the ability to participate in a cause helping to sustain agriculture in our region was the additional inspiration that attracted over 30 local and regional artists to ply their trade in the “Stewards of the Land & Canvas” plein air paint out. Meet Me in Marlborough/Marlborough Agricultural Alliance, a group of farm and winery owners, and local businesses, came together in 2003 in a collaborative effort to help sustain farming in the Hudson Valley. With the ongoing pressure of world trade and Mother

Nature, the farms are disappearing along with bounty that they provided us with. MMiM wanted to offer everyone the opportunity to acquire a piece of agriculture that would live on into the future.

A plein-air paint out was conducted over many months from May’s fragrant fruit blossoms to October’s fall harvest. Over 100 paintings were exhibited in the November 2007 Art Show Benefit. This was the first edition of a specialized artwork exhibit to bring focus on the importance of agriculture by documenting farming scenes in the Hudson Valley, and it will be traveling the area so that in can be enjoyed many people. MMiM is thrilled to have it displayed at our neighboring village of Highland, where there are people who are equally concerned and eager to support the effort to help slow down the quickly vanishing agricultural landscape. Sheila Mannese, MMiM Executive Director and Founding Member, said "MMiM defines farming as tradition, our heritage and passion that ultimately helps feed our region and beyond. It is an art form that should not be lost, but will hopefully live on as a masterpiece by a stroke of brush." It is fitting that this show is now going to be exhibited at Vintage Village, because like the other members of MMiM, the Vintage Village management has a deep concern about preserving the beauty of the Hudson Valley. In 2003, they turned an abandoned lumberyard that had become an eyesore into one of the Valley's top tourist destinations. A Victorian courtyard complete with stonework, gardens, and fountains now stands where a lumber warehouse burned down many years ago. Surrounding the courtyard are several antique shops, historical exhibits, flea market areas, and there still is room for more
attractions.

A sawmill that was built in 1889 had its waterwheel restored in 2005, and visitors to he sawmill, turned antique center, browse through the booths of a dozen antique dealers while the Twaalfskill Creek flows right through the building below them. The Artists Loft occupies the second floor of the sawmill building. It is managed by Lloyd Town Historian Ethan P. Jackman, who together with his wife Naomi Jackman, formerly operated the Lyric Gallery in downtown Highland for 10 years before relocating their art endeavors to Vintage Village.

Meet Me in Marlborough is presenting an exhibit of artwork in the Artists Loft at Vintage Village Vintage Village is located on route 44/55 in Highland, half a mile off Route 9W, and just five minutes from the Mid-Hudson Bridge. Exhibit hours will be Thursdays through Mondays from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00. Look for the MMiM signs. P.M. For further information, call (845) 691-6000. The 2007 Art show benefit exhibit can be viewed online at www.meetmeinmarlborough.com, this includes some of the artwork that will be shown at Vintage Village.

A selection of the “Stewards of the Land & Canvas” artwork by
Laura Pascale-Gauss (Marlboro), Daisy Deputhod (Hopewell Jct.),Don Rothman (Poughkeepsie), Karl J. Volk (Poughkeepsie), Phyllis Tarlow (Hartsdale), Mary Whitehill (Newburgh), Ellen Esposito ( Marlboro), Mary Lyons (Milton) and along with some of the other creative works.