brattleboro- An exhibit of works by six artists who draw inspiration from the Vermont agricultural landscape and barnyard animals will be held at The River Garden during Strolling of the Heifers Weekend, featuring Lesley Heathcote, Caryn King, Marjorie Sayer, Janet Picard, Steven Meyer, and Paul Stone.

Oil paintings by Meyer capture the stark beauty and simple architecture of local farms. Done outdoors from life, or in his studio from studies done on location, his style is direct and immediate, communicating the essence of landscape and buildings. The paintings reveal his love for Vermont, and the history of both working and abandoned farms.

Sayer’s rich impasto paintings of weathered and canted barns tell the story of New England, where barns are shelters for animals and keepers of long -oved tools. Her images of faded red, brown, white, and grey windworn barns elicit memories of childhood and tell of the resurgent return to the land. They evoke the feelings of warmth that farms bring to the viewer.

Stone’s oil paintings portray habitable spaces, and landscapes shaped by the purposeful interaction of humans with their environment. His work pays homage to the well-husbanded countryside of Vermont; buildings crafted by hand, meadows kept, forests walked and water moved upon. These paintings reveal the weight of character that human effort has endowed on the landscape and an underlying spirit of place.

Cows in Vermont’s pastoral landscape are the subject of Heathcote’s pastels. They communicate the animals’ strength and character as well as their relationship to the landscape of Vermont, which they have helped to form. Depicting the seasons, from the harshness of winter to the lush green of summer, the paintings convey the resilience and beauty of the animals and the land they are part of.

King’s paintings are narrative portraits of Vermont farm animals. She travels throughout the state to photograph cows, pigs, sheep and goats, capturing a moment in their lives. These photos are used as the starting point for paintings that capture the individual personality of each animal while inviting viewers to look into the animal’s soul.

Oil paintings on canvas by Picard depict her backyard chickens and rooster. She uses rich bold colors and energetic brushstrokes to capture their unique personalities and characteristic gestures. Her expressive paintings evoke the vibrant energy and vitality of farm animals.

Each artist in this exhibit captures a different aspect of farms and the impact they have on everyone. From large vistas of farmland to the variety of animals they are home to, this exhibit pays tribute to the agricultural way of life that is a unique part of Vermont.

Proceeds benefit the Strolling of the Heifers Educational Fund. Art will be on display June 4 from 12:30 to 8:30 pm and June 5 from 9 am to 10 pm. For information call (802) 365-7006.