35 minute read
Art
art The Play’s the Thing
Curating joy at the annual Kents’ Corner exhibition
STORY & PHOTOS BY PAMELA POLSTON • ppolston@sevendaysvt.com
Writing about the annual Art at the Kent exhibition is both a pleasure and an exercise in frustration: the former because every bit of art on display at the Kents’ Corner State Historic Site in Calais is engaging; the latter because there are far too many pieces to acknowledge in this limited space. But we can’t complain about such a merry convention of creativity. The 2022 iteration, “Interplay,” brilliantly melds a multitude of works by 20 Vermont artists.
Space is something the Kent has in abundance: a warren of small rooms and, up a steep flight of stairs, a capacious former ballroom. The building shows its age gracefully, with layers of faded REVIEW wallpaper, exposed lath, and windows and doors that first opened upon the 19th century. This backdrop is a supporting player in the exhibition’s pageant — a necessarily brief one, since the venue is not winterized. The gentle mashup of old and new calls to mind a line in William Shakespeare’s The Tempest: “What’s past is prologue.”
Cocurators Nel Emlen and Allyson Evans, along with state curator David Schutz, excel at arranging contemporary artwork both inside and outdoors at their beloved historic site, finding purpose for every nook and cranny. But “Interplay,” the 15th exhibition at the Kent, may be their most vivacious assemblage to date.
Even so, the trio took some time to arrive at the show’s title. “We didn’t want to tell people how to feel,” Emlen observed.
The artworks do a good job of that on their own — first and foremost with color. From bold abstractions by Sara Katz to meditative pastel canvases by Cynthia Kirkwood to richly saturated pigment-ink monotypes by Drew Clay, imagery pops in every room. The curators sometimes pair works of similar color value, doubling their visual vitality, and elsewhere create energetic contrasts.
“The Wayward Bench” by George Sawyer; “Mud Season 9 Patch” quilt by Rosalind Daniels
The idea of interplay runs deeper than hue, though, manifesting itself in thematically linked subsets of shape, pattern, materiality or concept. On a mantel in one room, for instance, is a James Secor painting called “The Purposeful Structures Hold Us Apart.” The distorted triangular and rectilinear shapes in the semi-figurative dreamscape seem to commune with Clark Derbes’ jutting carved-wood piece “Fractal Time Traveler,” perched on a pedestal below.
The curatorial choice to scatter each artist’s works among the rooms provides
“Mother and Child” sculpture by Clark Derbes; “Dream 022721.001” by Drew Clay
frequent opportunities to consider their dialogues. Derbes’ painted polygons are simpatico with a number of 2D pieces throughout the Kent. Printmaker Rachel Gross’ masterful geometric compositions on paper or shaped plywood complement other artworks even as they command attention. Gross represents a smaller subset within “Interplay”: relatives. In a second-floor room, her intaglio and woodblock prints face a mixed-media installation by her daughter, Eva Sturm-Gross. The latter, “Eschaton of Leviathan & the Birdshead Messiah,”
From left: “Queen of Light” and “Feathered Friends” by Pamela Smith
Foreground: "Pose" by Gerald K. Stoner; back from left: "Slip Stream" and "Bloom Camp" by Rachel Gross; "Portal" by Mark Ragonese
NEL EMLEN
“Eschaton of Leviathan & the Birdshead Messiah” by Eva Sturm-Gross
“Black Jack” by Sara Katz “Introverre/decolétage” by Josh Bernbaum
From left: “Green and Pink Octahedron” by Cynthia Kirkwood; “Sunshine Stripes” by Jane Davies consists of four floor-to-ceiling paper scrolls with two suspended banners hanging perpendicular to them at either end, forming a semi-enclosure. Printed in black and red with esoteric symbology, including the Ouroboros, the installation is graphically arresting and impeccably crafted.
Seating comprises another subset in this exhibition, and some of it is LOL funny. Timothy Clark’s armless Windsor chair, painted robin’s-egg blue, sits demurely before a fireplace and echoes the color in a trio of Katz paintings on the mantel. By contrast, Clark’s “Big Red Chair,” sited on the lawn, is too big even for Papa Bear.
Not to be outdone, Mark Ragonese presents a very high chair made of twisty driftwood. Back indoors, a long black bench by George Sawyer swoops aggressively skyward at one end, deterring any would-be sitters.
Pamela Smith embodies her own category: folk art flavored with magical realism. Her vivid, beautifully rendered figurative paintings and papier-mâché sculptures are charming and slyly sophisticated, certainly answering the curatorial call for joy.
Josh and Marta Bernbaum contribute the only glass works in the exhibition, in forms that demonstrate the medium’s versatility. Josh’s blown, carved and shaped pieces, such as the curvy “Introverre/decolétage,” are simply exquisite.
In Marta’s “heavy necklace” series, teardrop-shaped “jewels” the size of paperweights are strung together and arrayed on pedestals. Peering into them, a viewer sees slightly distorted photographs that illustrate their titles. “Dissolution of Democracy,” for instance, reveals depressingly on-point images that we really don’t want to see. This necklace, if worn, would be a true albatross.
The sole dark note in this year’s Kent exhibition underscores its mission: to observe how well we can play together. m
INFO
“Interplay,” along with an installation honoring late Burlington artist Maggie Sherman, on view through October 9 at the Kents’ Corner State Historic Site in Calais. Closing celebration: Sunday, October 9, 3 to 5 p.m. kentscorner.org
NEW THIS WEEK
barre/montpelier
CABOT ARTISTS: A curated exhibition showcasing the work of the visual arts community. September 24-October 2. Info, 227-0036. Cabot Art Barn.
middlebury area
f 6X6: A MINI EXHIBITION: An exhibition of 2D artwork with dimensions of six inches square by more than 50 local artists. The theme commemorates the store turning 6 months old. Reception: Thursday, September 22, 5-7 p.m. September 22-October 29. Info, 989-7225. Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury. f ‘THE LIFE OF WATER’: An international juried exhibition of photographs of water in all its forms and sources. Opening reception: Friday, September 30, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. September 28-October 21. Info, photos@photoplacegallery.com. PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury.
brattleboro/okemo valley
f ‘MASKED’: A juried exhibition of visual artworks by 22 artists with disabilities, organized by Inclusive Arts Vermont. Reception: Friday, September 23, 5-7 p.m. September 23-October 15. Info, 404-1597. Main Street Arts in Saxtons River.
outside vermont
f PARK DAE SUNG: “Ink Reimagined,” 23 large-scale ink paintings, some on view for the first time in the U.S., by the renowned Korean artist; curated by Sunglim Kim, Dartmouth College associate professor of art history. Artist talk: Thursday, November 3, 5-6 p.m., for the annual Dr. Allen W. Root Contemporary Distinguished Art Lectureship. September 24-March 19. Info, 603-646-3661. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H.
ART EVENTS
ART CAFÉ WITH MUSIC: Explore this year’s contemporary art exhibition, “Interplay,” with fresh baked goods, tea and live piano music. Kents’ Corner State Historic Site, Calais, Friday, September 23, 10:30 a.m.-noon. Info, 828-0749. ARTISAN MARKET: An outdoor marketplace featuring arts, crafts, specialty foods and other handmade items. Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, Saturday, September 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info, 775-0356.
ARTIST & CURATOR CONVERSATION: BETH
GALSTON AND MARA WILLIAMS: Artist Beth Galston and curator Mara Williams discuss Galston’s immersive, multimedia installation “Unraveling Oculus” at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Register for the Zoom event at brattleboromuseum. org. Thursday, September 22, 7:30 p.m. Free. Info, 257-0124.
ARTIST TALK: KATHY STARK: The Vermont artist talks about her solo exhibition of paintings. The Front, Montpelier, Friday, September 23, 5:30 p.m. Info, info@thefrontvt.com. BIWEEKLY FIGURE DRAWING SOCIAL: Tickets are limited to 20 seats and are first come, first serve. Live model; bring your own beverages and supplies; curated playlist. RSVP at wishbonecollectivevt.com. Wishbone Collective, Winooski, Wednesday, September 21, 6-8 p.m. $15. Info, hello@wishbonecollectivevt.com. BTV MARKET: An expansion of the former BCA Artist Market includes arts, crafts and other wares, as well as food and live music. Burlington City Hall Park, Saturday, September 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, 865-7166.
ART EVENTS « P.53
FRIDAY NIGHT FAMILY NIGHT: Family members of all ages are invited to explore art-making through playful and experimental methods. Radiate Art Space, Richmond, Friday, September 23, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $10; free for 5 and under. Info, radiate.art. space@gmail.com. GALLERY OPENING: Jean Cherouny, an artist, educator and curator, invites fellow artist Chris Selin to show her plein air paintings. Light refreshments available. Jean Cherouny Fine Art and Design, Winooski, Sunday, September 25, 2-5 p.m. Info, 349-9491.
RICHMOND ART CRAWL: Radiate Art Space presents an outdoor community event with more than 40 vendor booths, food trucks and kids’ activities. Parking at Volunteers Green. Richmond Town Hall, Sunday, September 25, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Info, richmondartcrawl@gmail.com.
TALK: ‘ROCKWELL KENT’S GLOBAL INFLUENCES
AND INSPIRATIONS’: Alice Boone, curator of education and public programs, discusses the impact of the artist’s travels on his work, in conjunction with a current exhibition. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, Burlington, Wednesday, September 28, 6 p.m. Free. Info, 656-0750. TERRY J. ALLEN: “Migrants, Labor of Life,” images by the Vermont-based photographer accompanying Milk With Dignity, a fifth anniversary celebration of the agreement between Migrant Justice and Ben & Jerry’s, with live music from Kat Wright, Pia Zapata and Tish Hinojosa. Highland Center for the Arts, Greensboro, Saturday, September 24, 3-6:30 p.m. $20 advance; $25 at the door. Info, 533-2000. ‘WALKING AS LEARNING TO SEE’: A sensory observation workshop with artist Roberley Bell, in conjunction with her outdoor sculptural installation. Preregister; space is limited. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Sunday, September 25, 2 p.m. $10; free for BMAC members. Info, 257-0124.
WEBINAR: CURATORS IN CONVERSATION:
Shelburne Museum curator Katie Kirchhoff and David Brody, professor of design studies at Parsons School of Design, discuss paintings in the current exhibition “Luigi Lucioni: Modern Light.” Preregister for Zoom link. Wednesday, September 21, 6-7 p.m. Free. Info, 985-3346.
ONGOING SHOWS
burlington
‘ANYWHERE FROM ANYWHERE’: A collection of drawings by more than 20 artists. Through December 1. Info, hello@thekarmabirdhouse.com. Karma Bird House Gallery in Burlington. ART HOP JURIED SHOW: Artwork by more than 70 artists submitted for competition in the 30th annual South End Art Hop; juried by David Griffin. Through December 10. Info, 859-9222. The Vaults in Burlington.
‘BLACK FREEDOM, BLACK MADONNA & THE BLACK
CHILD OF HOPE’: “Black Freedom, Black Madonna, and the Black Child of Hope,” designed by Raphaella Brice and created by Brice and Josie Bunnell, a mural installed for Burlington’s 2022 Juneteenth celebration, featuring a Haitian-inspired image of liberation. Through June 18. Info, 865-7166. Fletcher Free Library in Burlington. ‘CALL AND RESPONSE’: Artworks by 16 members of the Howard Arts Collective, each inspired by a piece in the museum’s collections. ‘DARK GODDESS: AN EXPLORATION OF THE SACRED FEMININE’: Largescale black-and-white photographs by Shanta Lee, based on the inquiry, “Who or what is the Goddess when she is allowed to misbehave?” ROCKWELL KENT: Prints by the iconic American artist (18821971) from the Ralph C. Nemec collection. Through December 9. Info, 656-0750. Fleming Museum of Art, University of Vermont, in Burlington. ‘CONNECTIONS’: Howard Center Arts Collective presents an art installation of painted mailboxes and mosaics, inviting viewers to reflect on the benefits of oldfashioned mail delivery and to consider whether mailboxes have become relics of the past. Through July 31. Info, artscollective@ howardcenter.org. Howard Center in Burlington. KELLY O’NEAL: Painterly photographs focused on the beauty of place. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through October 31. Info, 865-7296. Mascoma Bank in Burlington.
‘MORE THAN AN OBJECT: THE CONTEMPORARY
STILL LIFE’: A group exhibition that presents multiple innovative variations on an age-old format in mediums including painting, photography, animation and sculpture. Through October 8. LOUISE ARNOLD: Landscape paintings. Lorraine B. Good Room. Through October 7. SKY HOPINKA: “Fainting Spells,” two experimental films that explore themes of culture and homeland as the artist reflects on the complexity of his Indigenous identity. Through October 8. Info, 865-7166. BCA Center in Burlington. ‘MORE THAN A MARKET’: An exhibit celebrating local, immigrant-owned markets in Burlington, South Burlington and Winooski, featuring an installation that re-creates the feel of a busy market, as well as wall panels with archival and contemporary photographs. Third floor. Through December 23. Info, 989-4723, cbarrett@historicnewengland.org. O.N.E. Community Center in Burlington. ‘PORTRAITS OF PRIDE’: An exhibition of photographs by M. Sharkey of individuals who were part of the 1983 Pride March; presented by the Pride Center of Vermont and the Vermont Folklife Center. Through September 30. Info, 865-7296. Burlington City Hall.
‘VOICES OF ST. JOSEPH’S ORPHANAGE’:
Photographs and stories of abuse and recovery from the Catholic-run Burlington orphanage, which was home to more than 13,000 children from 1854 to 1974. Presented by the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Restorative Inquiry and the Vermont Folklife Center. Through December 16. Info, 656-2138. Billings Library, University of Vermont, in Burlington. WYLIE GARCIA: “Tending Constellations,” a solo exhibition of recent paintings that emerged from the emotional spaces between grief and joy, uncertainty and hope. Through October 8. Info, 324-0014. Soapbox Arts in Burlington.
Julian Adon Alexander
Drawings and paintings by a young artist from New York City inject a slice of urban life at Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction. Julian Adon Alexander, who earned his BFA at the School of Visual Arts, favors depictions of quotidian — and nocturnal — scenes around his Queens neighborhood. His subjects are “places and people that one might walk by on the way to a destination and otherwise not pay attention to,” explains a gallery statement.
Alexander is not the first or only artist to enshrine on paper his close observations of “the unremarkable.” But his style is certainly his own. Densely toned drawings in graphite center Black faces and dark objects against equally dark skies. The result is murky, mysterious compositions that require close looking — like trying to find one’s way in a moonless night. Yet details emerge with startling clarity, such as wheel rims on a car, the graceful arch of a metal light post, the mortar in a brick wall.
A curious character recurs in some of Alexander’s drawings: a blobby, presumably human figure swaddled from head to toe in black. Only large, catlike eyes peer out from the masked face, usually watching another person in the composition. Is he stalker or protector? Whatever this figure may signify to Alexander, its bogeyman quality is universally relatable. The artist’s paintings use more color, contrast and negative space, and the cover illustrations shown on his website emphasize his gift for portraiture. Alexander’s exhibition, “Effigies,” is on view at Kishka through October 2. A closing reception is noon to 3 p.m. Pictured: “Late at Night.”
chittenden county
‘ABENAKI CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VERMONT
COMMUNITY’: A series of murals designed by Scott Silverstein in consultation with Abenaki artists Lisa Ainsworth Plourde and Vera Longtoe Sheehan and members of Richmond Racial Equity; the 10 panels celebrate the Abenaki origins of practices still important to Vermont culture. Through May 31. Info, radiate.art. space@gmail.com. Richmond Town Hall.
ART & DESIGN FACULTY
EXHIBITION: Artworks by Mallory Breiner, Brian Collier, Jordan Douglas, Peter Gallo, Gordon Glover, Becca Gurney and Will Mentor. Through September 23. Info, bcollier@smcvt.edu. McCarthy Art Gallery, Saint Michael’s College, in Colchester.
ART AT THE AIRPORT: Caleb Kenna, aerial photographs of Vermont (Skyway); and Kathleen Fleming, acrylic paintings inspired by landscapes (Gates 1-8), curated by Burlington City Arts. Through September 30. ROB HITZIG & BEAR CIERI: Abstract geometric paintings on birch panels (Skyway), and photographs from the artist’s Quarry Survey (Gates 1-8). Through December 6. Info, 865-7296. Burlington International Airport in South Burlington. BRIAN DROURR & STEPHANIE BUSH: Nature photographs and paintings of cows, respectively. Curated by Burlington City Arts. Through October 18. Info, 865-7296. Pierson Library in Shelburne.
‘EYESIGHT & INSIGHT: LENS ON
AMERICAN ART’: An exhibition of artworks that illuminates creative responses to perceptions of vision; four sections explore themes ranging from 18th-century optical technologies to the social and historical connotations of eyeglasses in portraiture from the 19th century to the present. Through
VISUAL ART IN SEVEN DAYS: GET YOUR ART SHOW LISTED HERE!
‘IN PLAIN SIGHT: REDISCOVERING CHARLES SUMNER BUNN’S DECOYS’:
An online exhibition of shorebird decoys carved by the member of the Shinnecock-Montauk Tribes, based on extensive research and resolving historic controversy. Through October 5.
‘OUR COLLECTION: ELECTRA HAVEMEYER
WEBB, EDITH HALPERT AND FOLK ART’: A virtual exhibition that celebrates the friendship between the museum founder and her longtime art dealer, featuring archival photographs and ephemera, a voice recording from Halpert, and quotations pulled from the women’s extensive correspondences. Through February 9. LUIGI LUCIONI: “Modern Light,” more than 50 landscape paintings, still-life works, portraiture and etchings by the prolific artist (1900-88) and a comprehensive examination of his career. Through October 16. MARIA SHELL: “Off the Grid,” 14 contemporary quilts that push the boundaries of the traditional gridded format by the Alaska-based quilter. Through October 16. NANCY WINSHIP MILLIKEN: “Varied and Alive,” four monumental outdoor sculptures set in a pollinator meadow that embody the museum’s commitment to environmental stewardship and feature natural materials intrinsic to the region. Through October 16. Info, 985-3346. Shelburne Museum. ‘FINE FEATHERS’: Works by more than 60 artists and poets inspired by birds and feather colors, shapes, patterns and functions. Through October 31. Info, 434-2167. Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington. f JESSICA SCRIVER: “Growth Patterns,” new paintings in mixed media that explore shape, pattern, texture and color. Reception: Friday, September 30, 5-7 p.m. Through October 29. Info, 985-3848. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery in Shelburne. LINDA BLACKERBY: Vibrant abstract paintings by the Vermont artist. Through October 2. Info, contact@artsswonderful.com. Shelburne Vineyard. MARY LOU MARCUSSEN: “Camp, Champ, Champlain,” acrylic paintings by the Williston artist that celebrate camp life in all seasons. Through September 25. Info, 899-3211. Emile A. Gruppe Gallery in Jericho. SOUTH BURLINGTON SHOWCASE: An exhibition of more than 60 paintings, photographs and mixed-media works by local artists Gin Ferrara, Jeffrey Pascoe and Michael Strauss. Through December 13. Info, gallery@southburlingtonvt.gov. South Burlington Public Art Gallery.
barre/montpelier
ALISA DWORSKY: “The Folded Line,” large-format, multidimensional drawings that engage with the question of what it means to make a line. Through September 29. Info, 279-5558. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery in Montpelier. AMY HOOK-THERRIEN: Watercolor paintings by the Vermont artist. A portion of sales benefits the nature center. Through September 30. Info, 2296206. North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier. BOW THAYER: Vibrant paintings by the Vermont musician and visual artist. Through October 11. Info, 225-6232. Filling Station in Middlesex. ELLIOT BURG: “Tunbridge Fair,” an exhibit of black-and-white photographs by the Middlesex photographer. Through September 30. Info, 2724920. Capitol Region Visitors Center in Montpelier. f EVE JACOBS-CARNAHAN: “Knit Democracy Together,” a five-foot-long sculpture of the Vermont Statehouse constructed from the knitted works of more than 50 crafters. Also on view are the artist’s mixed-media allegorical sculptures of knitted chickens encountering voting challenges. Art Walk reception: Friday, October 7, 4:30-7 p.m. Through October 31. Info, 279-5558. Vermont Statehouse, Card Room in Montpelier. f ‘INTERPLAY’: Works in a variety of mediums by 20 Vermont artists fill the historic house and grounds in this annual exhibition and illuminate time, memory and personal story; also, a recognition of staff artists at the Vermont Studio Center and an installation honoring late Burlington artist Maggie Sherman. Closing celebration: Sunday, October 9, 3-5 p.m. Through October 9. Info, david.schutz@vermont.gov. Kents’ Corner State Historic Site in Calais. JEANNE AMATO: Vibrant woodblock prints of Vermont and the natural world beyond. Through September 27. Info, 479-0896. Espresso Bueno in Barre. JEROME LIPANI: “Visual Fugue,” analytical abstractions and assemblages of found materials, conceived as scores for music and dance improvisation. Through September 30. Info, jeromelipani@ gmail.com. Plainfield Co-op. JILL MADDEN: Oil paintings on linen and gouache paintings on watercolor paper that explore the unique wilderness areas of the Green Mountains. Through September 30. Info, 223-2328. Vermont Natural Resources Council in Montpelier. KATHY STARK: “New Work 2019-2022,” paintings constructed of repeating marks that might evoke fields of crops, flocks of birds, schools of fish or families of color. Through October 2. Info, 552-0877. The Front in Montpelier. ‘ROCK SOLID XXII’: The annual celebration of stone includes sculptures, assemblages and other works in the main gallery and plaza. RAY BROWN: “Transformative Moves,” a lifetime retrospective of the paintings, drawings, prints and more by the late local artist. Curated by NNEMoCA on the second and third floors and in the Quick Change Gallery, as well as annex locations at AR Market and Morse Block. Through October 29. Info, 479-7069. Studio Place Arts in Barre. REGIS CUMMINGS: “Retrospect,” paintings in response to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, by the Montpelier artist. Through October 28. Info, 279-5558. Vermont Statehouse Cafeteria in Montpelier. ‘THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR EYES’: Watercolors and drawings by 19th-century Norwich alumni William Brenton Boggs and Truman Seymour depicting scenes in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Africa. Through December 16. Info, 485-2886. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, in Northfield.
stowe/smuggs
‘LAND & LIGHT & WATER & AIR’: An annual exhibition featuring more than 95 works by local and regional artists who paint the Vermont countryside. Through October 30. ‘LET US INTRODUCE YOU’: Paintings by five artists who have not previously exhibited in the gallery: Robin Reynolds, Ellen Hopkins Fountain, Kate Follett, Ella Delyanis and Caroline Loftus. Through October 30. 2022 LEGACY COLLECTION: An exhibit of works by 16 distinguished New England landscape artists plus a selection of works by Alden Bryan and Mary Bryan. Through December 24. Info, 644-5100. Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville. ALTERNATIVE TAKES GALLERY: An exhibition by Misoo Bang, Richard Britell and Mary Reilly featuring three different perspectives on the world, from the architecture of Western civilization to the natural world, to the individuals navigating both, accomplished with paint, collage and graphite. Through October 31. Info, 760-4634. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe Mountain Resort. ‘THE ART OF THE GRAPHIC’: Eight displays of snowboards that let viewers see the design process from initial conception to final product; featuring artists Scott Lenhardt, Mark Gonzalez, Mikey Welsh, Mishel Schwartz and more. Through October 31. Info, 253-9911. Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe. ‘EXPOSED’: The annual outdoor sculpture show featuring works by nine Vermont artists sited on the Current lawn and downtown. Through October 22. Info, 253-8358. Various Stowe locations. f ‘GRACE: 45 YEARS OF CREATIVITY’: An exhibition of works by participants in the Hardwickbased Grassroots Arts and Community Effort, which
AUTUMN AT EDGEWATER EDGEWATER
Rotating Exhibitions & New Fall Hours
FALL HOURS: Monday - Saturday 10AM – 5PM Sundays 11AM – 4PM or by appointment
Now with exhibitions and artist events at The Pitcher Inn, Warren, Vermont
One Mill St and 6 Merchant’s Row, Middlebury Vermont 802-458-0098 & 802-989-7419
STOWE/SMUGGS AREA « P.55
facilitates art making with seniors and people with disabilities. Reception and gallery talk: Thursday, September 22, 3 p.m. Through October 21. Info, 635-1469. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery, Northern Vermont University, in Johnson. ‘WHEN THE WELL IS DRY: An exhibition featuring 11 artists who explore the interconnection of environment, climate change, culture and community. In partnership with Visura. Through December 10. Info, 253-8358. The Current in Stowe. ‘YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE IT TO SEE IT!’: Abstract sculptures by Melinda McDaniel and digital paintings by Fernando Orellana, curated by Kara Jefts. Through September 21. Info, 635-2727. Red Mill Gallery, Vermont Studio Center, in Johnson.
mad river valley/waterbury
‘EARTH & FIRE’: A group exhibition of artworks in glass and ceramic by local artists. Through October 14. Info, 224-6878. Mad River Valley Arts Gallery in Waitsfield.
GREEN MOUNTAIN PHOTO SHOW: An annual unjuried exhibition open to professional and amateur photographers in a variety of styles, formats and subject matter. Through October 9. Info, info@ madrivervalleyarts.org. Red Barn Galleries at Lareau Farm in Waitsfield. f KATE SMITH & ELIZABETH NELSON: Abstract paintings drawn from memories of special places. Meet the artists: Friday, September 23, 6-8 p.m. Through October 9. Info, 244-7801. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery in Waterbury. ‘REACT! AN ECOART CALL TO ACTION’: Works that address social and ecological issues in collage, book art, sculpture, fiber, clay and found-object assemblage by Pamela Wilson, Jennifer Volansky, Dorsey Hogg, Kevin Donegan and Anne Cummings. Through October 15. Info, info.acrossroads@gmail.com. Grange Hall Cultural Center in Waterbury Center. ‘TO MARKET’: Large-scale black-and-white paintings by Shelley Reed and elaborate cut-paper installations by Randal Thurston. By appointment. Through October 9. Info, 777-2713. The Bundy Modern in Waitsfield.
middlebury area
2022 PICNIC BASKET RAFFLE:
An annual fundraiser for the museum featuring baskets handpainted by Nancie Dunn, Gary Starr, Gayl Braisted, Warren Kimble, Danielle Rougeau and Fran Bull. Bidding is at henrysheldonmuseum.org. Through October 10. CAMPUS THEATER MOVIE POSTERS: A virtual exhibit of posters and other ephemera from Middlebury’s former movie theater, which opened in 1936. It was later converted to the current Marquis Theater. Through January 7. ‘ADDISON COUNTY COLLECTS’: An eclectic exhibition of objects and personal stories from 36 area collectors, celebrating the local and global community. Through January 7. ‘ADDISON COUNTY KIDS COLLECT’: A continually growing exhibition of photos of Addison County children with their personal collections. Through January 7. ‘ARTISTS IN THE ARCHIVES: COMMUNITY, HISTORY & COLLAGE’: Collage prints by 23 artists from seven countries that reflect upon the idea of community in the 21st-century world. Curated by Kolaj Institute director Ric Kasini Kadour. Through January 7. ‘THE ELEPHANT IN THE ARCHIVES’: An experimental exhibit reexamining the museum’s Stewart-Swift Research Center archival collections with a critical eye toward silences, erasures and contemporary relevance. Through January 7. CHUCK HERRMANN: “Sculptures of Perseverance,” eight poignant works by the Shoreham wood carver created in response to the ongoing Ukrainian tragedy. Through January 7. Info, 388-2117. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History in Middlebury. BETSY SILVERMAN & RACHEL WILCOX: “About Town,” paintings of the urban landscape. Through September 30. Info, 458-0098. Edgewater Gallery at the Falls in Middlebury. ‘COLOR’: Photographs in vivid color juried by Jeff Curto, in the gallery and online. Through September 23. Info, photos@photoplacegallery.com. PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury. ‘DISSENT! ABOLITION & ADVOCACY IN PRINT’: An exhibition of 19th-century print materials used as a platform to expose the horrors of enslavement and spread calls for emancipation in the United States. Through October 23. Info, 877-3406. Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh. ‘THE ORWELL ARTISTS’: Works by 11 artists including pottery, collage, painting and more. Through October 15. Info, 989-7225. Sparrow Art Supply in Middlebury. RORY JACKSON: “Be Still,” paintings of landscapes and skies by the local artist. Through September 27. Info, 989-7419. Edgewater Gallery on the Green in Middlebury. SAMUEL WYATT: “Writing on the Wall Project,” new paintings that explore the light, shadow, textures and graffiti in urban settings. Through September 30. Info, 382-9222. Jackson Gallery, Town Hall Theater, in Middlebury.
CALL TO ARTISTS
2022 PHOTOGRAPHY SHOOT-OUT: The theme for this year’s competition is “Reflections.” First-place winner gets a solo show at Axel’s in 2023. Two entries per photographer. Rules and details at axelsgallery.com/news. Axel’s Frame Shop & Gallery, Waterbury. Through October 8. $20. Info, 244-7801.
2022 SUNDOG POETRY BOOK AWARD:
The Sundog Poetry Book Award is open to submissions from all Vermont-based poets who have not published a first or second book. Final judge Shanta Lee Gander will select the winning manuscript and write an introduction for the book. The winning poet will receive a cash prize of $500, 50 copies of the book and assistance with promotion. Details and application at sundogpoetry.org. Through September 30. $20. BCA ELEVATION GRANT: Burlington City Arts announces a one-year pilot funding opportunity designed to support regional artists and artist groups with grants between $500 and $5,000. The goal is to help address the basic challenges of art making at any stage of the creative process. Find details and application at burlingtoncityarts.org. Deadline: November 15. Info, cstorrs@burlingtoncityarts.org. BTV WINTER MARKET: Burlington City Arts is taking applications for a rotating group of 20 local artists, makers and food vendors who will set up booths in City Hall Park Friday through Sunday, November 19 to December 23. Deadline: October 3, 9 a.m. CALL FOR EXHIBITORS: Enter your group show, traveling exhibit or new body of work for the 2022-23 season in our community gallery. We seek thought-provoking exhibits that examine the human experience. CAL is an interdisciplinary art center that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion in all forms. Submit artwork at cal-vt.org. Deadline: December 31. Center for Arts and Learning, Montpelier. Info, 595-5252. ‘CELEBRATE’: Studio Place Arts members can sign up to participate in a gift and art show (November 9 to December 29) that includes ceramics, wearables and fiber, cards, bin art, ornaments, paintings and other 2D work, jewelry and glassware. Deadline: October 8. Info at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre, Through October 8. $20-35. Info, 479-7069.
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY CRAFT SHOW AND
ANTIQUE EXPO: Artisans, artists and specialty food makers are welcome to apply for this exhibition held during the Champlain Valley Expo, October 21 to 23. Details and application at castleberryfairs.com. Through October 1. Info, terry@castleberryfairs.com. COZY NOOK CRAFT FAIR: Seeking crafters of handmade items and makers of specialty foods (not baked goods) for November 5 event. Details at essexfreefriends@gmail.com. Deadline: October 10. Essex Memorial Hall. $35-45 per table. Info, essexfreefriends@gmail.com. CREATIVE AGING GRANTS: The Vermont Arts Council is offering grants up to $4,000 for organizations to provide skill-based arts instruction and social engagement led by experienced teaching artists for older adults aged 60-plus. Info and application at vermontartscouncil.org. Through November 1. CREATIVE FUTURES GRANTS: With $9 million in funding from Vermont’s last legislative session, the Vermont Arts Council is offering up to $200,000 grants to creative sector nonprofits and for-profit entities, including sole proprietors, that have sustained substantial losses from the pandemic. Find details, application and info about applicant workshops at vermontartscouncil.org. First deadline: November 1. Info, ccrawley@vermontartscouncil.org. ‘TIME OF CHANGE’: All artists and makers in all mediums are invited to create work focusing on the entry into the transitional month of November. Work will be displayed at the gallery. For details and to request an entry form, email melmelts@yahoo.com. Deadline: October 27. The Satellite Gallery, Lyndonville. $20. WELCOME BLANKET PROJECT: The public is invited to submit handmade blankets and welcome notes to gift to refugees and new Americans. Both will be displayed in an upcoming exhibition before distribution. Welcome Blanket was created by Jayna Zweiman, cofounder of the Pussyhat Project. Instructions and drop-off locations at themillmuseum.org. Heritage Winooski Mill Museum. Through November 30. Info, info@themillmuseum.org. ‘WHIR, CLANK, BEEP’: An upcoming show is about machines: simple levers and pulleys, farm equipment, robots, computers and AI. Kinetic sculpture, working machines, 2D and 3D depictions of real and invented machines, and sculptures made from machine parts are all welcome. Deadline: December 10. Info at studioplacearts.com. Studio Place Arts, Barre. $10; free for SPA members. Info, 479-7069.
rutland/killington
ALTHEA BILODEAU LAMB & JUDITH REILLY:
“Common Threads,” fabric and fiber art. Through November 6. Info, 247-4956. Brandon Artists Guild. ARTISTS FROM THE GABLES: An exhibition of works in a variety of mediums by Bob Lloyd, Hellen Dillon, Lowell Klock and Bill Ramage. Through October 1. Info, bramage93@gmail.com. The Gables at East Mountain in Rutland. BILL RAMAGE: “A Lamentation for a Lost Lexicon, Phase Two,” variations on Jasper Johns’ “Three Flags” paintings by the Rutland artist. Through October 8. Info, bramage93@gmail.com. B&G Gallery in Rutland. f ‘NEW DATA/NEW DADA’: An open-call exhibition of 40 collage and 3D assemblages that explore, echo, translate or reinvent Dada, by artists from the U.S. and Canada. f ‘THE STORY’: An open-call exhibition of contemporary photographs whose visual narratives evoke a response in the viewer, by artists from Vermont, New York, California and Texas. Reception: Saturday, September 24, 5-7 p.m. Through November 20. Info, 325-2603. Stone Valley Arts at Fox Hill in Poultney. SCULPTFEST22: An annual outdoor exhibition of sculptural installations in a variety of mediums. Through October 23. Info, 438-2097. The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland.
champlain islands/northwest
DAVID STROMEYER: The artist’s outdoor venue featuring 70 large-scale contemporary sculptures. Through October 10. Info, 512-333-2119. Cold Hollow Sculpture Park in Enosburg Falls. JANET VAN FLEET & DIANE GAYER: “We the People,” Van Fleet’s large figures made with found and repurposed materials; and Gayer’s “Do Trees Have Standing?,” photographs that document the first days of building Burlington’s Champlain Parkway through the Englesby Brook and ravine. Through September 26. Info, 355-2150. GreenTARA Space in North Hero.
upper valley
‘BEYOND WORDS’: A group exhibition of book-inspired art by invited artists in the Connecticut River Valley region. Through November 30. Info, 295-4567. Long River Gallery in White River Junction. JENNIFER MAHARRY: Fine art wildlife photography by the Woodstock, N.Y., artist in celebration of VINS’ 50-year anniversary. Through November 30. Info, 359-5000. Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee. f JULIAN ADON ALEXANDER: “Effigies,” graphite drawings and acrylic paintings by the New York City-based artist. Artist talk and closing reception: Sunday, October 2, noon-3 p.m. Through October 2. Info, 347-264-4808. Kishka Gallery & Library in White River Junction.
‘MENDING THE SPACES BETWEEN: REFLECTIONS
AND CONTEMPLATIONS’: Prompted by a vandalized Bible, 22 artists and poets respond to questions about how we can mend our world, find ways to listen and work together. Through November 30. Info, 649-0124. Norwich Historical Society and Community Center. f ‘MULTIPLE AVENUES: ARTISTS EXPLORE PRINTMAKING’: A faculty exhibition featuring a variety of works by Michael Smoot, Susan Smereka, Jes Raymond, Lynn Newcomb, Mary Mead, Patty Hudak, Rachel Gross and Janet Cathey. Reception: Friday, October 7, 5-7 p.m. Through October 31. Info, tworiversprintmakingstudio@gmail.com. Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction. ‘TRIO: PUTTING IT TOGETHER’: Artworks in paint, collage and found objects by Sloane Dawson, Margaret Kannenstine and Amy Schachter. Through September 24. Info, 457-3500. ArtisTree Gallery in South Pomfret.
northeast kingdom
‘1,111 COPPER NAILS’: A 36-year retrospective of the Bread and Puppet calendar. Through December 31. Info, breadandpuppetcuratrix@gmail.com. Hardwick Inn. f ANN YOUNG: “In a Dangerous Time,” paintings that focus on people in troubling times and abstracted images of magnified natural objects. Included are three commissioned paintings concerning the West Saharan human rights activist Sultana Khayya. Reception: Friday, September 30, 4-6 p.m. Through October 30. Info, 748-2600. Catamount Arts Center in St. Johnsbury. ‘CASPIAN ARTS AT MAC! WELCOME!’: Works in a variety of mediums by members of the Greensborobased artist organization. Through October 29. Info, 334-1966. MAC Center for the Arts Gallery in Newport. ‘COMING CLEAN’: An exhibition that considers bathing practices throughout time and across cultures, including religious immersion and ritual purification, bathing as health cure, methods of washing in extreme environments, and much more. All kinds of bathing and scrubbing implements are on display. Through April 30. Info, 626-4409. The Museum of Everyday Life in Glover. ELLY BARKSDALE & MARTHA ELMES: “Women— Strength in Numbers,” works by the local artist that draw attention to women power. Through September 30. Info, melmelts@yahoo.com. The Satellite Gallery in Lyndonville.
JUDITH JACOBS: “Transience,” photographs of time. Through September 27. Info, 525-3366. The Parker Pie Company in West Glover. RACHEL LAUNDON: “Metamorphosis,” a solo exhibition of creations using found materials. Through October 8. Info, 748-0158. Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild Backroom Gallery in St. Johnsbury.
brattleboro/okemo valley
ALISSA BUFFUM: The mixed-media painter and sculptor is the first recipient of the gallery’s Working Artist Program, which provides studio and exhibition space. Visitors are welcome to experience her art-making process during gallery hours. Through November 28. Info, 289-0104. Canal Street Art Gallery in Bellows Falls. BARBARA CAMPMAN: “In Passage,” painting, assemblage and mixed media by the Vermont artist. Through November 6. Info, 387-0102. Next Stage Arts Project in Putney. ‘FELT EXPERIENCE’: Works by five artists who use the medium of felt in diverse and novel ways: Marjolein Dallinga, Ruth Jeyaveeran, Melissa Joseph, Liam Lee and Stephanie Metz; curated by Sarah Freeman and Katherine Gass Stowe. Through October 10. ‘NEBIZUN: WATER IS LIFE’: Artwork by Abenaki artists of the Champlain Valley and Connecticut River Valley, including protest art created in support of the Native American Water Protectors; curated by Vera Longtoe Sheehan. Through October 10. BETH GALSTON: “Unraveling Oculus,” an immersive sculptural installation using natural elements and video recorded in a silo. Through October 10. FRANK JACKSON: “There/ There,” abstract landscape fresco paintings that address questions of place, memory and experience. Through October 10. MIE YIM: “Fluid Boundaries,” vivid paintings of unsettling hybrid creatures by the New York City-based artist; curated by Sarah Freeman. Through October 10. OASA DUVERNEY: “Black Power Wave,” a window installation of drawings by the Brooklyn artist, inspired by images of Chinese Fu dogs, the cross and the Yoruba deity Èsù. Through May 6. ROBERLEY BELL: “The Landscape Stares Back,” outdoor sculpture on the museum lawn. Through October 10. Info, 257-0124. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. ‘EGGSHELLS & CHEEKBONES’: A family of artists — painters Alison Crossley and Felix Roberts and land artist Tristan Roberts — exhibit their works together for the first time. Through September 30. Info, 704-441-5338. 118 Elliot in Brattleboro. KRISTOFFER ORUM: “Mundane Monsters,” a multimedia exhibit by the Danish artist that offers humorous, inventive takes on the modern relationship of nature and culture. Through October 7. Info, jamie.mohr78@gmail.com. Epsilon Spires in Brattleboro. LEON GOLUB: Nearly 70 expressive figurative paintings that explore man’s relationship with the dynamics of power, spanning the American artist’s career from 1947 to 2002. LOIS DODD: A survey of some 50 paintings by the American artist from the late 1950s through last year that depict places she lives and works, from rural Maine to New York City. Through November 27. Info, vermont@hallartfoundation.org. Hall Art Foundation in Reading.
manchester/bennington
‘MANY AMERICAS: ART MEETS HISTORY’: More than a dozen artworks and installations that use divergent histories as a point of departure to address present-day issues. Curated by Ric Kasini Kadour. Through November 27. Info, 362-1405. Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester. ‘PARKS & RECREATION’: An exhibition of paintings past and present that explores the history and artistic depictions of Vermont’s state parks and other formally designated natural areas. Contemporary works on loan from the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville. Through November 6. ‘PERSPECTIVES: THE STORY OF BENNINGTON THROUGH MAPS’: A collection that shows the changing roles of maps, from those made by European colonists showcasing American conquests to later versions that celebrate civic progress and historic events. Through December 31. NORTH BENNINGTON OUTDOOR SCULPTURE SHOW: The 25th annual outdoor sculpture show at locations around town, as well as more works by regional artists inside the museum. Through November 12. Info, 447-1571. Bennington Museum. SOLO EXHIBITIONS: Ten artists exhibit their work in a variety of mediums: Barbara Ackerman, Justin Kenney, Arnela Mahmutović, Evan McGlinn, Julie Merwin, Heather Palecek, Robert Ressler, Ron Vallario, Katrin Waite and Ann Young. Through November 6. Info, 362-1405. Yester House Galleries, Southern Vermont Arts Center, in Manchester.
randolph/royalton
‘THE ART OF HALVES HALF KNOTS’: A group exhibition of textile arts in quilting, felting, sewing, crocheting, knitting, embroidery and mixed media. Through October 22. Info, 775-0356. ‘WHOSE NEW WORLD?’: An exhibition of works in a variety of mediums by nine regional artists who explore social justice issues. Through September 24. Info, 728-9878. Chandler Center for the Arts in Randolph. JOHN DOUGLAS: “Anywhere but Here,” a solo exhibition of photographs by the Vershire artist. Through September 30. Info, 889-9404. Tunbridge Public Library. PEGGY WATSON & ROARKE SHARLOW: Mixedmedia paintings and painterly digital photographs, respectively. Through September 25. Info, artetcvt@ gmail.com. ART, etc. in Randolph.
outside vermont
DEAR SIMON PHOTOGRAPHY: “Book of Eve,” studies in human form, shadow and light. Through September 30. Info, 518-563-1604. Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh, N.Y.
‘DIANE ARBUS: PHOTOGRAPHS, 1956-1971’:
Nearly 100 black-and-white prints shot by the late American photographer primarily around New York City. Through January 29. ‘VIEWS OF WITHIN: PICTURING THE SPACES WE INHABIT’: More than 60 paintings, photographs, prints, installations and textile works from the museum’s collection that present one or more evocations of interior space. Through June 30. NICOLAS PARTY: “L’heure mauve” (“Mauve Twilight”), a dreamlike exhibition of paintings, sculptures and installation in the Swiss-born artist’s signature saturated colors. Online reservations required. Through October 16. SABRINA RATTÉ: “Contre-espace,” digital artwork by the Montréal artist that creates an interaction between architecture and landscape, projected onto the façade of the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion from dusk to 11 p.m. Through November 27. SHARY BOYLE: “Outside the Palace of Me,” a multisensory exhibition that explores how identity and personality are constructed in the age of social media. Through January 15. Info, 514-285-2000. Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. ‘FIREFLIES AND FREEZE TAG’: A curated group exhibition of 26 New Hampshire and Vermont artists whose artwork reflects on the joys of summer. Through September 24. MARGARET JACOBS, NANCY SEPE & LI SHEN: Solo exhibitions in multiple materials and disciplines; the three artists share an interest in storytelling through objects considered culturally or socially significant. Through September 30. VICTORIA SHALVAH HERZBERG: “Native Plants and Invited Immigrants,” figurative works in mixed media by the Vermontbased artist. Through October 20. Info, 603-4483117. AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, N.H. f ‘MADAYIN: EIGHT DECADES OF ABORIGINAL
AUSTRALIAN BARK PAINTING FROM YIRRKALA’:
The first major exhibition of Aboriginal Australian bark paintings to tour the U.S., a contemporary interpretation of an ancient tradition of Indigenous knowledge expression. Public celebratory events: Thursday, September 22, through Saturday, September 24. Through December 4. Info, 603-646-2821. Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, in Hanover, N.H. m museum.middlebury.edu
NO OCEAN BETWEEN US
September 15–December 11
All image rights reserved. For full image credits and to learn more about No Ocean Between Us please visit bit.ly/NoOcean.
No Ocean Between Us: Art of Asian Diasporas in Latin America & The Caribbean, 1945–Present was developed and organized for tour by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC in collaboration with AMA | Art Museum of the Americas of the Organization of American States, Washington, DC.
