Photo by Mary Comiskey, The Northfield News A large crowd turned out for the reception opening the Gray Building Artist Studio's open house weekend. Five local artists showed their work which was also available for sale. Refreshments were served with apparent enjoyment as witnessed by David LaFelice, front left, as he laughs with Dr. Ray Kunkel in animated conversation with Dave's wife, Tracy. About 200 turned out for the Gray Building Artists Studio preview party and reception at the end of May.

During the same weekend, the student art show at the Paine House was also in full swing.

Then, last week, the summer art show at the Sullivan Museum opened and will stay open to the public through until August 28.

Later this summer, the Northfield Historical Society will open its summer show which will be a retrospective celebrating the Northfield veterans who served in Viet Nam. That show will be open until Veterans Day this fall.

The reception at the Gray Building was in anticipation of the Open Studio Weekend sponsored by the Vermont Crafts Council.

More than 270 studios and art shows were open around the state last weekend.

It was the weekend when local artists invite the public to visit them in their studios.

The Vermont Crafts Council published a guide that allowed an adventurous person to visit 273 artists in 238 locations across the entire state.

The Gray Building Artists Studio is the old 2nd grade classroom that has been converted into a working studio.

Phyllis Higgins, Annie Gould, Phyllis Greenway, Kathrena Ravenhorst-Adams and Tamara Wight share the working space.

The painters work in watercolors, pastels, oils, and mixed media while one artist, Tamara Wight, specializes in traditional and sculptural basketry.

Their work was available for viewing and sale and a number of people took them up on the invitation last weekend to visit.

For those who visited the Greenway Studio on South Main Street, they got the additional treat of a garden tour around the outside of the Greenway house.