Portrait of a Place: A Plein Air Event
Welcome artists and art lovers alike to the first annual Portrait of a Place: Plein Air Event. July 19-20 historic Homer will be littered with artists diligently working to capture this idyllic village via paint, pen, and pastel. Before you make your journey to our bucolic county, we'd love to share all the wonderful things to see, taste and do between masterful swipes of the brush.
The plein air event begins Friday morning. Registered artists will check with their host, Center of the Arts of Homer, between 8-10:30am, where they will receive their welcome bag, a map of Homer, review the rules of participation, and get their canvas officially stamped. This stamp is required to submit your work for judging and prizes.
After you are checked in, Homer is your oyster. The open creation period is from 8am-4pm, on both Friday and Saturday. After a day of working on your masterpiece, the Center for the Arts is hosting a Happy Hour Get-Together at Homer Hops, Friday July 19, begining at 5pm.
Saturday, July 20 opens with check-in at 8am at the Center for the Arts. Holiday in Homer will be in full swing by 9am, and parking might be tricky. We suggest that if you are planning on painting the festival you consider parking at one of the lots (Homer High School Back Lot, Homer Elks Lodge, Heyer Physical Therapy or at the Future Site of the Homer Linear Park on Rt. 11) and enjoy the complimentary shuttle to downtown.
At 4pm all finished pieces must be submitted to the Center for the Arts in order to be judged. If you miss the 4 pm deadline, you may still display your work and have it marked for sale, but it will not be judged or qualify for prizes. From 4:30 -5:30pm enjoy an Artist meet and greet/cocktail hour at the Center. At 6-8pm, there will be featured artist presentations followed by a reception, sale, and awards.
To register for the Portrait of a Place Plein Air Event click here.
WHERE TO CREATE
The village of Homer is brimming with so many scenic spots, from 100-year-old bridges spanning a meandering river to a charming historic downtown and endless vistas encapsulating rolling hills and church steeples.
However, a village this old can't escape a little quirky history. It's wild tales are filled with suspicion, excitement, heartbreak and redemption, and each spot along its trail presents a unique place to paint. Welcome to Cortland Curiosities: A Strange & Forgotten History Trail. While the Curiosity Trail reaches from corner to corner of our quirky, country, county- two trails in particular exist in the heart of Homer.
The Harum Hoax weaves you through the history of the Cardiff Giant. You'll gaze upon historic homes, wander through peaceful cemeteries, and stand at the feet of a sleeping giant. It’s been said there is a sucker born every minute. We’ll leave you to decide just who the sucker was in this giant-sized tale.
If this giant tale wasn't enough, we present the larger-than-life Sig Sautell Spectacle. Homer is home to one of history’s most influential circuses, this story is more than just cotton candy and contortionists; it’s littered with murder and mayhem, all tangled up in an enduring love story. This trail will take you to the foot of the Historic Circus House, built to resemble a circus tent, then to an old-fashioned candy shop and into the very heart of Homer's historic town hall.
Saturday, July 20 marks the return of 43rd Annual Holiday in Homer. From 9am-4pm more than 80 artist will take over the historic village green. Holiday in Homer kicks off with a breakfast at the Methodist Church and winds down with music by Doc and Real Country in the late afternoon. In between, you can plan to find horse-drawn wagon rides, live family-friendly entertainment, raffles, fun games, oodles of delicious food, and more shopping than you can shake a stick at!
Cortland County is home to oodles of delicious eateries, charming Airbnbs, cozy hotels, and fun-filled resorts- and Experience Cortland knows all the best spots! Click here to find your home away from home.
If you're looking to kick back in the evening, you can catch a performance at Cortland Repertory Theater or live tunes at one of our fantastic craft breweries or distilleries. Both downtown Homer and Cortland have an array of restaurants bound to satisfy the pickiest of pallets. For a full list of local eateries click here.
The 1890 House Museum and CNY Living History Center are perfect for a quite stroll, and each less than 15 minutes away. If embracing the outdoors is more your style, head over to Lime Hollow Nature Center for year-round outdoor activities and education. For a list of events happening during your stay, visit our events page. Happy painting!
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