MIDDLEBURY — It’s picnic season in Vermont, and Middlebury’s Sheldon Museum of Vermont History is raffling seven picnic baskets painted by local artists. The museum’s annual Picnic Basket Raffle fundraiser traditionally takes place at its popular Independence Day Pops Concert. Sadly, this year’s concert was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions — but the raffle goes on. Raffle tickets are $10 for 1 ticket, $20 for 3 tickets and $40 for 7 tickets.
Here are the accomplished artists who painted the baskets: 
Gayl Braisted (Cornwall) works primarily in watercolor. She has exhibited her work in a variety of shows in Vermont, including Middlebury College’s Bicentennial Art Show and the annual holiday show at the Town Hall Theater in Middlebury. 
Lillian Kennedy (Vergennes) paints the gorgeous landscapes of the Champlain Valley. She has shown her work internationally and has had numerous one-person shows. 
Warren Kimble (Brandon) is “America’s Best-Known Living Folk Artist.” His classic folk art features Vermont’s rural landscapes, its animals and buildings. 
Kathy Mitchell (Panton), inspired by the beauty of the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain, loves to paint portraits, animals and nature. She also makes one-of-a kind jewelry. 
Danielle Rougeau (Orwell), a lifelong outdoorswoman and primitive biathlete, has an MFA in Printmaking and has enjoyed teaching classes in drawing and printmaking in the area. She’s Middlebury College’s archivist and coaches its Log Rolling Club. 
Sonny Torrey (Vergennes) is a retired carpenter and life-long resident of Vergennes.
Ashley Wolff (Leicester) is a renowned children’s book author and illustrator of over 40 titles. Her colorful illustrations include children, animals and nature. 
The Sheldon’s Pops Concert has been the museum’s main fundraiser for the past 27 years. Museum patrons’ participation in the Picnic Basket Raffle is of great help to the Sheldon in the absence of the concert. The raffle goal is $4,000. Once that goal is reached, the winners of the baskets will be drawn. Each raffle ticket gives you a winning chance. The winner of each basket is randomly drawn — which one you win is luck of the draw. A live raffle drawing via Zoom will take place mid-summer.
You may purchase tickets online at henrysheldonmuseum.org, send a check payable to Henry Sheldon Museum, One Park Street, Middlebury, VT 05753, or call the Sheldon at 802-388-2117. All raffle proceeds benefit the museum’s ongoing operations.