ARTVIEW A Journal of The Southern Vermont Arts Center summer
2013
Kate Gridley Summer Member’s Exhibition Portraits from the Permanent Collection Conversation with the Director Summer Calendar Member’s Survey
ARTVIEW A Journal of the Southern Vermont Arts Center Summer 2013 The mission of the Southern Vermont Arts Center is to make both the visual and performing arts an integral part of the life of our community and region.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
John LaVecchia, President Robert McCafferty, 1st Vice President David Nichols, 2nd Vice President Kathryn Leech, Treasurer Penny Viscusi, Secretary Richard Freeman Katherine Hoopes Georgine MacGarvey Holman Larry Kukacka Judi Talcott McCormick David Meiselman Barbara Melhado Carol Patterson Stan Stroup Buddy Teich Jennifer Weinstein
Annual Members’ show returns to its traditional season Summer Exhibition The Yester House Galleries July 6 – August 18 SVAC will be a mecca for art buyers as hundreds of pieces of work fill the galleries of Yester House. Summer in Vermont means ice cream and country fairs, as well as art lovers scouring galleries for the perfect piece to grace their homes. With the onset of summer and a strengthening economy, the Arts Center is prepared to greet art buyers at the 83rd annual summer exhibition of the Southern Vermont Artists. Beginning with an opening reception on July 6th, the ten galleries of the elegant 19th-century Yester House will be filled with original oil paintings, sculpture, watercolors, pastels, photographs, prints and a range of mixed media pieces by the region’s finest artists. The Arts Center has returned this important exhibition to the summer season to honor the heritage of the Arts Center’s beginnings in 1922, when five Dorset artists formed an alliance to make art an integral part of the life of our community and region. We invite all to come join us. Opening reception at the Yester House: July 6 from 2 pm to 4 pm.
A R T S C E N T E R S TA F F
Seline Skoug Interim Executive Director, ext * 20 Chester Kasnowski Galleries and Exhibitions, ext * 26 Helen Young Galleries and Reception, ext * 25 Jennifer Grigsby Programs, Volunteers, Private Events, ext * 22 Barbara Lundy Development and Communications, ext * 14 Deedee Goebel Business and Accounting, ext * 35 Joel Pacher Facilities and Grounds, ext * 17 Southern Vermont Arts Center West Road, Manchester Vermont 05254 802.362.1405 | SVAC.ORG Hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 10 am–5 pm Sunday: 12 pm–5 pm Artview is generously sponsored by SPC Marcom Studio, North Springfield, Vermont Printed on Mohawk Via Satin, Radiant White
Robert O’Brien / White Peony
Gazing at history in their faces Portraits Through Time Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum Through October 21 Portraits from the Permanent Collection provide a glimpse at the Center’s community of inspired and committed artists. This season, the Wilson’s Hunter Gallery presents a remarkably intimate exhibition of portraits. Artfully assembled by Barbara Melhado and Georgine MacGarvey, the show gives us a look at changing fashion and artistic styles over the years. But it is much more. On display are many of America’s foremost portrait artists who
Lorenzo Hatch / Mother (detail)
Lorenzo happened upon her the next morning. She was sitting quietly, gazing out the window, having just learned she was going to be a mother. made their livelihood memorializing the rich and famous. But these were also men and women who were painting their spouses, children, parents and friends. As Melhado observes, “These are portraits painted as mementos, as tributes. And they say much about what both the subject and the artist wished to convey to the viewer.” For example, the charming sketch Lorenzo Hatch painted of his newly-pregnant wife is a loving moment captured for all time. On the walls of the Wilson is an array of many of the Arts Center’s most illustrious members, artists and benefactors, painted by and for each other. From Boardman Robinson to John Atherton, Luigi Lucioni, Louise Arkell and Orland Campbell, the exhibition is a warm-hearted look at the faces that built a magnificent institution. The exhibition’s salute to this legacy is even more poignant positioned opposite Kate Gridley’s impressive installation of portraits of contemporary young men and women reaching adulthood. These two exhibitions will be the highlight of the season at SVAC. Orland Campbell / Elizabeth de C. Wilson
Summer@SVAC
Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum
The Yester House Galleries
Arkell Pavilion
World-class exhibitions and the Permanent Collection
Ten galleries of art for sale by the region’s leading artists
Live performances in a beautiful mountain setting
Our Fragile Home Pat Musick/Jerry Carr Evocative installation inspired by the view of earth from space Through July 14
Annual Member’s Exhibition Expansive group show of the members of the Southern Vermont Arts Center July 6 – August 18
Duets Seasonal exhibition featuring works expressing the theme of duality August 24 – September 29
Manchester Music Festival Featuring the Manchester Chamber Orchestra and special guest stars Gala Panorama / July 11 Beethoven and the Dawn of Romanticism* / July 18 Mozart to Morricone* / July 25 Russian Blockbusters* / August 1 English Landscape / August 8 Dvorak, Piazzolla and a Bayan Bash / August 15 Rising Stars from the Metropolitan Opera / August 22 Manchester Pops Concert with Audra McDonald / August 25
Little Picture Show A delightful gallery of pint-sized but impressive paintings and drawings. Ongoing in the Upper Hall Gallery
101 Years of Broadway* Favorite songs from past and present, performed by original cast members July 13
Leslie Peck / Sunlit Plums (detail)
Northshire Performing Arts with Tommy Tune* The Northshire’s favorite tap dancing master in Taps, Tunes and Tall Tales July 23
Memorial Tribute Elfreide Abbe, Jane Armstrong, Katherine McCabe, Virginia Webb A posthumous retrospective of wellloved members of the Arts Center Through October 21 Portraits Through Time A look at the Art Center’s heritage through selections from the Collection Through October 21 Passing Through: Portraits of Emerging Adults Kate Gridley An important installation of portraits and narratives of Vermont’s youth August 3 – October 21
Kate Gridley / Mahir (detail)
A Lifetime of Vermont People Peter Miller Black and white photographs of native Vermonters. A companion show to a book exhibit at Skinner Library July 8 – August 14
Bob Milne An entertaining night by the dean of Ragtime /August 16 * A Hills Alive! event 101 Years of Broadway
Hay Madeira Education Center
The Arts Center Experience
Workshops and art camps by the region’s finest instructors
There’s a lot more to do on campus besides enjoying the art
Art and Performance Camps Week-long art instruction and performance camps for children. Drama and Play Camp / Ages 6-10 July 8-12
Sculpture Park Trails leading from the lower meadow to the upper campus pass by more than 35 pieces of sculpture on the 100-acre SVAC campus.
Ceramics Camp / Ages 7-11 July 22-August 2 (1 or 2 weeks) Art and Nature Camp / Ages 6-11 August 5-9 Artist Workshops Art instruction by professional member artists. Barbara Pafume Painting Your Way / July 8-August 26 Elaine Witten Elements in 3d Clay / July 9-12 Christopher Pierce Oil Floral Still Life / July 23-27 Chester Kasnowski Foundations of Art / August 10-11 Robert O’Brien Portraits in Watercolor / July 17-19 Landscapes in Watercolor / August 13-16 Robert Carsten Impressionism in Pastel July 9-13 Interior and Exterior Still Life in Pastel August 20-24 Nocturnal and Autumnal Landscapes in Pastel / September 26-27
Summer Art Camps
Community Notebook A listing of events and other goings-on around campus Exhibition Openings Summer Exhibition and Peter Miller: Vermont People July 6
Boswell Botany Trail A rambling, 3/4 mile long trail leads through a glacial micro-climate with stately white birches, native orchids, grasses and moss. The trail is also habitat to one of the most diverse assortment of fern species in Vermont.
Kate Gridley: Passing Through August 3
Cafe Mamie Chef Mariah Macfarlane’s acclaimed restaurant serves artfully prepared and locally grown fare in a beautiful setting at the Yester House. Now open for dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings and during performances at the Arkell Pavilion.
Duets Juried exhibition open to all artists Closing Date: August 10
Box Lunch Picnics Enjoy a mountainside picnic as you spend a day on campus enjoying the art and hiking on the trails. Bring your own or purchase a gourmet lunch-to-go at Café Mamie.
David Tanych / The Big Game
Duets August 24 Calls for Submission
SVAC Fall Open Juried National Exhibition Closing Date: September 21 Artist Talks Robert M. Sarly President, Vermont Museum of Contemporary Art / July 14 Mara Williams Oakes Chief Curator at The Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center / August 4 Fundraising Events Open Garden Tour / July 13 View the expansive gardens at Turkey Hill Farm, jointly sponsored by The Garden Conservancy Passing Through / August 2 A conversation between Kate Gridley, a well-known moderator and young adults portrayed in the exhibition The Art of Bridge / September 9 The rooms of Yester House will be filled with players. Lunch by Café Mamie. Winter Ball / December 6 The Arts Center’s premier fund-raising event returns to the holiday season Go to svac.org for details on all events.
Conversations The Arts Center is committed to seeking input from the community as it prepares for the future. As a starting point for this dialogue, Artview sat with new Interim Executive Director Seline Skoug to learn what questions are foremost on her mind. Artview: To begin, can you tell us what your responsibilities are? Seline: I am responsible for implementing policies set by the Board of Trustees. My main focus is preparing the Arts Center for a new executive director who can hit the ground running. Artview: Where does the Arts Center stand, both financially and operationally? Seline: The Arts Center is in good health. Its assets are considerable and its future potential is unlimited. There is work to do, but we are focusing hard on the efficacy of operations and there is a renewed energy on campus, both from staff and the community. I am very optimistic. Artview: What is the biggest challenge facing the Arts Center? Seline: I’d say it is the same that every professional artist faces. The economy has had an effect on the market for art. Because a large part of our community relies on a strong art market, we suffer when they suffer. Thankfully, that seems to be turning around. Artview: What do you see as the Arts Center’s greatest assets? Seline: Since I have been involved in the svac community, I am amazed at the passion, energy and commitment of the svac board, artists, volunteers and staff. And of course, the spectacular campus doesn’t hurt. Artview: What is your personal vision for the Arts Center? Seline: Honestly, I don’t feel that
I am the one to create a ‘vision’ for the Center. I would answer by going back to the original mission statement of the artists who created this institution. It’s really clear: “The mission of the Southern Vermont Arts Center is to make both the visual and performing arts an integral part of the life of our community and region.” I don’t think I could say it any better. Artview: What are your biggest questions as you look toward the future of the Arts Center? Seline: My concern is the same as the Board of Trustees – how to bridge a legacy of American realist landscape art and classical music against emerging generations of art lovers with divergent tastes and preferences. Art is organic and dynamic and some say the “market” may be moving away from us. But equally, there may be value to placing a compass in the ground and remaining a champion of traditional genres. This is a dialogue that is important and requires thoughtful discourse. Artview: OK. So what specifically would you ask the readers of this journal to do to help? Seline: Love art. Get involved. Donate. But more importantly, let us know what the Arts Center means to you and what your aspirations are for it. We all know it is a magnificent institution, founded as a legacy and emblematic of a region that we all love deeply. I urge readers to embrace it and engage in moving it forward for future generations. Our doors are open for everyone and we welcome that input. We invite your feedback on the future of the Arts Center. Please join the conversation at artwithaview.org.
Leslie Parke / Crystal and Porcelain (detail)
Around Campus News and topics of interest to the Arts Center community. Hills Alive! comes to SVAC The Arkell Pavilion plays host to five performances as a part of the regional summer arts festival Hills Alive! The festival includes events at performing arts venues across the region. The program is supported by the Vermont Commission of Tourism and Marketing as an effort to draw visitors to Southern Vermont. For a complete festival schedule, visit hillsalive.org. SVAC scholarships awarded Two students from Burr and Burr Academy are the 2013 recipients of SVAC scholarships. Sarah Maness will attend the University of Colorado at Boulder and Miyako Molinelli will attend Rhode Island School of Design. Café Mamie expands offerings Chef Mariah Macfarlane has added new features to her acclaimed restaurant at The Yester House. She Tony Schwartz / Desert Sunset (detail)
is joined by Chef Paul Brinker, who like Mariah, is trained in the classical French tradition. In addition, the restaurant is now open for dinner Friday and Saturday evenings and during performances at the Arkell. Café Mamie also offers dinners to go and boxed lunches for picnic dining. Call 802.366.8298 for reservations.
Café Mamie is open for dinner weekends and for evening performances at the Arkell.
Volunteers rebuild Botany Trail Earlier this Spring, the Garden Club of Manchester organized an effort to restore the Barrows Botany Trail with the help of a team of students and faculty from Burr and Burton Academy. The crews cleaned, weeded,
and rebuilt the trails complete with benches built by Burr and Burton students. This project is an example of the many ways you can help the Arts Center by becoming a volunteer. To become a part of the SVAC team, contact Jen Grigsby at 802.367.1302. Calls for Submission for Duets and SVAC Fall Open Calls for Submission have gone out for the upcoming group exhibitions at the Yester House. Submissions can be made digitally and the deadlines are August 10 for Duets and September 21 for the Fall Open. Contact Chester Kasnowski at 802.367.1306 or go to svac.org/submissions for information. Become a member of SVAC We have mailed our membership appeal and are encouraged to see members renewing. If you haven’t yet done so, or would like to become a member, you can do it easily online at svac.org/membership. Please remember that it is our membership that makes SVAC such a vital and dynamic place. We welcome everyone to join the community. Tell a friend!
Passing Through: Portraits of Emerging Adults Kate Gridley Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum August 3 – October 21 Visual and audio portraits explore the journey from adolescence to adulthood. Kate Gridley sees a world in which emerging adults (the phase of life between adolescence and full-fledged adulthood) are recognized, honored and supported to fulfill their human potential. Her ambitious and virtuosic installation Passing Through is not only an examination of the moments in which young adults develop their ideas, fully realize themselves and claim their voices, it initiates a dialogue about the way our society regards them. Gridley’s stated goal for the installation is to heighten awareness of the value of this age group to their
ARTVIEW
communities and to inspire other teens and emerging adults to connect through the paintings and recognize the power of their own words. Outreach activities are being planned to draw school groups to the SVAC campus to engage in a dialogue about respect and the passage into adutlhood that crosses socio-economic boundaries and may ultimately transform communities. Passing Through is a unified set of seventeen oil portraits (60” tall x 30” wide) of young adults between the ages of 17 and 24. During the sittings for the portraits, each subject shared his/her stories, dreams and hopes and Anne Garrels, former public radio correspondent and author, conducted interviews that became audio portraits. Accessible to viewers via cell phone and other devices, they are an integral part of the exhibition that combines Gridley’s 16th Century Renaissance painting techniques with the digital possibilities of the 21st Century. After its run at SVAC, the exhibition will travel to galleries and museums throughout New England. Opening Reception: August 3 from 2 pm to 4 pm. Artist Conversation: August 2
NONPROFIT ORG PRSRT STD US POSTAGE
PAID MANCHESTER, VT PERMIT NO. 1
S outhern V ermont A rts C enter West Road, Manchester Vermont 05254 802.362.1405 | SV A C. O RG Hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 10 am–5 pm Sunday: 12 pm–5 pm On the cover: Kate Gridley / Annabelle (detail)