Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition 2014
Valley Arts Foundation Mission Statement
The Valley Arts Foundation supports the multiple interests of the Mad River Valley, Vermont by encouraging and promoting participation in the Arts.
On the cover: Last Harvest, by Robert O’Brien
Welcome to the 2014 Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition! On behalf of the board of directors of the Valley Arts Foundation and our corporate partner, Lareau Farm, home of American Flatbread, I am pleased to welcome you to the 2014 Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition. From humble beginnings in 2012 with a show of only eight watercolor artists, we are now presenting this magnificent exhibition of eighty paintings by sixty outstanding watercolorists from New York to Florida and Maine to California. The Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition is the only summer exhibition of its type in New England. With increased award offerings, extensive media coverage and enhanced Silently Standing, 17 x 20 national recognition, we are making the transition from a regional to a major national show. Our continued growth is ensured through our collaboration with Lareau Farm to restore and refurbish the present Red Barn venue into first class exhibition galleries capable of displaying a larger number of paintings and other artwork. I thank the exhibition staff, the personnel of Lareau Farm and our dedicated docents for their work making this show possible. I am grateful to all the participating artists who make the world a more beautiful place through their paintings, and I thank you, our visitors, who make this all worth while. Gary C. Eckhart President, Valley Arts Foundation Curator, Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition
A Brief History of the Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition During the winter of 2012, the Valley Arts Foundation mounted a watercolor exhibition in the Festival Gallery, which is a small space tucked into the Village Square shopping mall. This initial show of 16 paintings by 8 artists of the Vermont Watercolor Society proved to be a huge artistic success as visitors came from across Vermont to see the exhibit. The Foundation’s board of directors immediately began discussions on the feasibility of an expanded, annual Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition. Realizing the need for a larger exhibition venue, the board approached George Schenk, owner of the historic Big Red Barn at Lareau Farm, about the use of the barn as a gallery during the month of July - much as the Red Barn Art Show uses the facility during the Vermont Festival of the Arts in August. George was thrilled with the idea, so the Exhibition moved. In late June of 2013, the second Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition opened in the Big Red Barn for a run of four weeks. By the time the show closed, more than 2200 spectators passed through the door and purchased 23 paintings. Although initial plans called for the Exhibition to become a national show by the summer of 2015 or 2016, the 2014 Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition has already reached that goal this year by showcasing the work of sixty outstanding artists from across the United States. With the planned restoration of the Big Red Barn into a year-round art center with larger, state-of-the-art gallery spaces, the Exhibition has a permanent home with room to grow.
Robert O’Brien, AWS, NWS Juror of Awards
Born 1954, in Rochester, New York, Robert O’Brien has been painting in the watercolor medium for over forty years. Since moving to Vermont in 1977, he has focused his work on landscape and architectural studies. Vermont, with its distinct four season climate, provides the artist with a wealth of subject matter and ever changing light effects. He resides in Perkinsville, Vermont. Robert finds beauty in the ordinary, subtle reminders of everyday life in rural New England. In his own words, he is driven “to capture the vanishing landscape in my paintings before they disappear forever as a result of the steady hand of ‘progress.’” Since 1998, Robert has traveled annually to Southern France. The region’s sun-splashed landscape and timeless quality of light has added a new dimension to his paintings. His painting High Wall, above right, was the Best in Show winner at the 2013 Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition.
High Wall, 14 x 20
Annelein Beukenkamp Juror of Acceptance Artist’s Statement: “My watercolors and approach to painting are constantly evolving. I truly enjoy the beautiful way the pigments mingle and interact on the crisp white paper. Watercolor is the spontaneous medium I try to control while harnessing the pigment’s power into a colorful painting.” Annelein is member of several Watercolor Societies and teaches numerous painting workshops. She lives in Vermont. Letter Sweater, 17 x 12.5
Lisa Forster Beach Juror of Acceptance Lisa Forster Beach is an award winning artist living in Stowe, Vermont. She is widely recognized for her drawings and watercolor paintings. They represent her responses to her environment, experiences, impressions, and perceptions both seen and felt. Lisa was awarded signature membership in the National Watercolor Society in 1986. She is acclaimed for her teaching, which includes watercolor workshops, art museum classes, college courses, public school, Elderhostel, and classes in her studio. Golden Woods, 22 x 15
Harald Aksdal Guest Artist
Artist’s Statement: “My initial work focused on details, respecting each individual line, dot, burl, and blade of grass. I find, though, that I am moving gradually from the ‘how’ to the ‘what.’ Still respecting each detail, following the concept that ‘the Devil is in the details, God is in the details, Life is in the details,’ art has become my spiritual path with each piece building upon and adding to my previous work.” Harald’s studio in Fairfax, Vermont is open to visitors. Footbridge, 22 x 14
Jeanne Carbonetti
Judge of Awards, 2013 Jeanne Carbonetti has been a professional artist for more than 30 years. Specializing in developing the power of the creative process, she is the author of six books, including The Tao of Watercolor, The Zen of Creative Painting and The Yoga of Drawing. She also runs Crow Hill Gallery of Fine Art and The Eden Center for Creative Power, both in Chester, Vermont. Her paintings are in collections both private and corporate throughout the United States, Europe and Australia. Red Poppies, 40 x 40
Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition Awards
Best in Show $500 Donor: Turtle Creek Builders
Gertrude C. Finley Award Donor: Marsha Finley
President’s Award $200 Donor: Gary Eckhart
Jay Finley Award $250 Donor: Marsha Finley
Moosewalk Studios Award Donor: Moosewalk Studios
$200
Nancy & Jess Mobley Award Donor: Nancy & Jess Mobley
$200
The Eleanor Ahern Award for the Best Use of Color Donor: Jane & William Macan
Board of Directors Award Donor: Valley Arts Foundation
$100
Big Red Barn Art Show Award $100 Donor: Dotty Kyle
Vermont Watercolor Society Award Donor: Vermont Watercolor Society
$250
$250 $100
Merchandise Award donated by Holbein Paints American Flatbread Award to Vermont Artist Donated by George Schenk
The Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition thanks these patrons for their generosity. To create an award, please inquire at info@vermontarfest.com or call 802-496-6682.
Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition Participating Artists
Amanda Amend
Burlington, Vermont The End of the Day, 11 x 15
Letty Annis
Jeffersonville, Vermont Girl Talk, 10 x 14
Donna Asquith
York, Maine Uncle and Nephew, 21 x 29
Diane Bell
Sandra Berbeco
Terry Boyle
Cindy Brabec-King
Weston, Vermont Walking Home, 14 x 20
Huntington, Vermont Morning Approaches, 8 x 10
Shelburne, Vermont Sophia, 8 x 8
Palisade, Colorado Where Treasures Lie, 22 x 30
Kathleen Berry Bergeron Jericho, Vermont Emily’s Bridge, 13 x 17
Jean Cannon
Burlington, Vermont Peaches, Pitcher and Plums, 22 x 30
Claudia Carl
Liisa Laaspere Colby
Lynn Cummings
Middlebury, Vermont Sunflower, 7.5 x 10
Waitsfield, Vermont A Week of Grapefruit with Geoff,
South Burlington, Vermont Poppies Among the Weeds, 10 x 8
Don Dalton
Monique Dewyea
Joann DiNicola
Chester, Vermont Toward Sand Beach, 18 x 14
15 x 22
Colchester, Vermont Winged Hollyhocks, 22 x 15
Randolph, Vermont Blueberries and Blue Jays, 12.5 x 18.5
Linda DiSante
Lyn DuMoulin
Sandra Ershow
Burlington, Vermont Pileated Woodpecker, 19 x 13
Brandon, Vermont Lone Pine on Lake Lila, 15 x 22
Waterbury, Vermont Mountain Brook–Autumn,
Sandra Swanson Fries
James Gardner
Mary Ann Duffy Godin
Southington, Connecticut Woodwork, 19.25 x 15.25
Vershire, Vermont Granite Hills, 12 x 16
14.5 x 10.5
Milton, Vermont Downy on Duffy Road, 14 x 10
Queensbury, New York December Dusk, 11 x 14
Gerri Groff
North River, New York Anticipation, 22 x 15
Kate Hartley
Carole Hennesey
Linda Holmes
Doris Ingram
Peter Jeziorski
Wurtsboro, New York Windswept Sunflowers, 14 x 11
Weston, Vermont Free Range Chickens, 15 x 21
Chicago, Illinois Slipping Away, 22 x 15
Grafton, Vermont First Bucket, 14 x 21
Ginny Joyner
Colchester, Vermont Mushroom Bucket, 6.25 x 6.25
Katra Kindar
Shelburne, Vermont Paris Rooftops at Dawn, 21 x 28
C. Asheley Kapelewski Guildhall, Vermont Master of What She Surveys, 14 x 20
Kathleen Kolb
Lincoln, Vermont Sunside, Early Morning, 21 x 29
Patrick Kennedy Shelburne, Vermont Spica, 14 x 14
Joan Lane
New York, New York Quiet Rapture, 10 x 8
Patricia Lipinski
Annette Lorraine
Mike Maron
Donna Mathieu
North Troy, Vermont Jay Peak, 18 x 28
South Portland, Maine The Lobsterman’s Truck, 14 x 14
Montpelier, Vermont Tropical Tea, 11 x 14
Underhill, Vermont Fall River, 10.75 x 10.75
Jackie Mangione Williston, Vermont Spring Thaw, 22 x 30
Jan Olmstead
Rye, New Hampshire The Duchess, 35 x 28
Barbara Pafume
Janet Palmer
Cambridge, Vermont Alluring Lilies, 12 x 15
North River, New York The New Novel, 16 x 10
Lynn Pratt
Kathrena Ravenhorst-Adams
Pawlet, Vermont Wild at Heart, 11 x 15
Northfield, Vermont Barnscape II, 12 x 16
Cristina Pellechio
Waterbury Center, Vermont Untitled, 22 x 10.5
Susan Riedo
Brattleboro, Vermont Evening Hillside, 13.5 x 23
Susan Bull Riley
Doris Roberts
Montpelier, Vermont Camel’s Hump, 7.5 x 9.5
Belmont, Vermont Autumn Still Life, 15 x 19
Tom Ryan
Natalie Smythe
Queensbury, New York Taste of Africa, 13 x 13
Glendale, California Blue on Blue, 16 x 12
Sarah Rosedahl
North Hero, Vermont Palms, 17 x 13
Don Taylor
Panama City, Florida Duoglide, 30 x 22
Jeanne Maguire Thieme Swanzey, New Hampshire Shady Retreat, 16 x 16
Nancy Tomczak Milton, Vermont After the Kill, 14 x 11
Tomomi Ueda
South Burlington, Vermont Summer Days, 15 x 11
Enjoy The Vermont Festival of the Arts in August With over 100 events at sites throughout the Mad River Valley, the Festival offers something for everyone during the entire month of August! View an art show, taste new foods, take a workshop, watch painters work plein air, dance under the stars, and more! Susan Wiley
Ballston Spa, New York Oriental Pleasures, 22 x 30
Pick up a copy of the Festival Program, or visit www. vermontartfest.com for detailed event listings and a calendar.
Upcoming Events Big Red Barn Art Show July 31 - August 31 Lareau Farm
Festival Picnic & Fireworks August 3 Lareau Farm
Robert O’Brien Watercolors July 1 - August 31 Bridges Resort
Taste of the Valley August 10 Sugarbush Resort
Plein Air Paint-Out August 15 & 16 Waitsfield Village
Barns & Bridges Tour August 24 Throughout the Valley
For more information about the Valley Arts Foundation (VAF), or to become a member, please contact Karen Nevin, Executive Director, at 802-496-6682 or info@ vermontartfest.com. Annual membership dues are $40 for an individual, or $100 for a household membership or a Friend of the Foundation membership. Membership is also available on-line: View membership details at www.valleyartsfoundation.org. The Valley Arts Foundation not only provides support for the Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition, but also gives umbrella support for the more than 100 events that comprise the Vermont Festival of the Arts during August. In addition, the VAF hosts shows all year at the Festival Gallery, located at #2 Village Square, Waitsfield, and curates shows at The Bridges Resort, 202 Bridges Circle, Warren. The Valley Arts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Š 2014, The Valley Arts Foundation, PO Box 238, #2 Village Square, Waitsfield VT 05673
VALLEY ARTS FOUNDATION
Valley Arts Foundation Board of Directors Gary C. Eckhart, President Julie Burns Michele A. Eid Darryl Forrest Dotty Kyle Vee Lynch Nancy Mobley Ward A. Smyth Kyler Turnbull Karen Nevin, Executive Director Rebecca Silbernagel, Designer/Photographer Linda Barnes, Volunteer Coordinator Noa Shems, Intern Amy Sheahan, Intern Erik Silbernagel, Intern
Special thanks to John at Ecolor Printing for help with production.
Lareau Farm, home of American Flatbread Sponsor of the 2014 Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition