WESTERLO — The Big Eye Gallery is hosting an event on Saturday, May 15, when the public can meet artists who were invited to take a challenge called Paint and Switch.

This painting challenge entailed pairs of artists who each began a work of art, then swapped with their partner who worked on the painting, then swapped back for the beginning artist to finish.

As each artist worked, he or she photographed how the paintings evolved. A video by Pierre Desir shows the transformation of the artworks. The video is available to view at https://vimeo.com/492717331.  

Artists in the exhibit are all from the Albany region: Hope Konecny, Virginia Cantarella, Pierre Desir, Trisha Zigrosser, Meredith Best, Peter Keitel, Mary K. Weeks, Dorothea Osborn, Bari Falese, and Agnes Dolata.

In early 2020, the art exhibit was scheduled to open to the public just as the COVID-19 shutdown hit.

“Now that the weather will permit use of the outdoor space around the gallery, it is finally possible to open the doors and celebrate with the artists during this closing event,” said organizers in a notice announcing the event.

The new sculpture garden at the Big Eye was also postponed during pandemic. The outdoor exhibit, featuring sculptures by Hope Konecny, opens on May 15.

The Paint and Switch event runs on Saturday May 15 , from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Big Eye Gallery located at 270 Route 405, inSouth Westerlo.