CORNWALL — In an effort to vitalize the community through the arts, the Economic Development Commission of Cornwall awarded seven microgrants to area creators on March 22.
All seven winners of the $500 microgrants were selected at random and were made eligible by proving full-time residency in Cornwall and demonstrating an established artistic practice. Each artist has committed to sharing the creations that are produced as a result of these grants with the community.
The recipients were David Colbert (sculptor), Kathleen Hulser (writer/historian), Richard Griggs (sculptor), Robert Adzema (sculptor/painter), Don Bracken (painter), Leslie Elias (playwright/storyteller), and Nicholas Jacobs (photographer).
Robert Adzema is a long-time watercolor painter and geometric sundials sculptor. He said he plans to use the grant money to purchase supplies to continue his passion for plein air watercolor painting.
To give back to the community, Adzema is considering holding a painting event.
“Maybe what I will do is try to organize a plein air watercolor event,” said Adzema. “I would pick a date or a weekend and invite people in town to come out and paint and maybe have a small show after at the Parish House or the library.”
Fellow microgrant winner and sculptor Richard Griggs’ work is currently on display at David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village. The group show SHAPE + COLOR + MOVEMENT will be up through March 31.
All seven microgrants were administered through the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council (NCAC). Katherine Pelletier, development and outreach coordinator at NCAC, said, “it’s so nice to see a town and community who value artists and their creative contributions.”
— Riley Klein
