Patricia Leahey Meriam

“I want people to share my passion and respect for the outdoor world,” Meriam writes, explaining her reason for painting. “I go out into nature and look for miracles to paint.” Indeed, her 39 works currently on display at the Barre Opera House consist of realistic landscapes, still lifes, and images of farm and wild animals and birds. The Barre-based artist is also passionate about her hometown opera house: A percentage of sales of her paintings will benefit the historic venue’s current capital campaign.