MONTPELIER-- The groundbreaking art exhibition, Art of Action: Shaping Vermont's Future Through Art, continues to travel to communities across the state, inspiring conversations and collaborations around the issues affecting the future of Vermont.

November marks the first month that all 105 pieces of artwork created for the project will be on display. The 52-piece "Artists Choice Tour" will be in Montpelier from Nov. 1-15. The "Curator's Choice Tour" will be divided between two locations. Twenty-seven works are currently at the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland while the remaining 26 will be in the Drury Gallery at Marlboro College from Nov. 4-Dec. 1.

Panels, speakers, poetry

Montpelier's exhibit is presented by the Vermont Arts Council in partnership with Montpelier Alive!, T.W. Wood Gallery & Art Center and Vermont College of Fine Arts. It will be on display at 50 Main St. (the former location of Capitol Video) and will be open Monday-Friday from 12-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. Use of the space has been donated by the building owner, Jeff Jacobs.

A panel discussion with the artists will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. Paul Costello of Vermont Council on Rural Development and Alex Aldrich, executive director of the Vermont Arts Council, will lead a discussion about significance of the Art of Action. Artists commissioned for the project will talk about the issues that inspired their process and artwork. This

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session is free and open to the public.

In other Art of Action events, the Chaffee Art Center in Rutland will host a closing reception on Friday, Nov. 13. It will take place in conjunction with the Rutland Art Hop and will include a special Poetry Slam competition. In Marlboro, artist David Brewster will be the guest speaker at the Drury Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

For a list of Art of Action tour dates and upcoming events, visit www.artofaction.org.

The ten commissioned artists are Susan Abbott, Gail Boyajian, David Brewster, Annemie Curlin, Phil Godenschwager, Curtis Hale, Val Hird, Kathleen Kolb, Janet McKenzie and John Miller. Each artist has tackled a different social, cultural or political issue identified through the CFV's findings. In total, the artists have created 105 pieces of work for this project.

In addition to inspiring dialogue and citizen action around the issues, the project has a broader aim: to expand the national market for Vermont's creative and entrepreneurial artists. The project will culminate with a gala art auction in Burlington on July 17, 2010.