WHIMSY – Dan Brett – Acrylic on wood

“Rooted” in Vergennes

Northern Daughters presented “Rooted,” a solo exhibit of new work from Hannah Sessions, in March. In addition to being a professional artist, Sessions owns a farm and cheese business (Blue Ledge Farm) with her husband Greg Bernhardt, in Salisbury. The animals and barns that she paints are not only lovely specimens and interesting compositions, but her friends and her livelihood. Sessions donated 10% of sales from this show to the Vermont Land Trust.

“Signs of Life” in Brandon

The Brandon Artists Guild exhibited “Signs of Life” in May, featuring works by printmaker Jeannie Podolak and painter Dan Brett (pictured, left). Podolak, of North Chittenden, and Brett, of Whiting, created bodies of work that reflected their emotional and creative journeys through 2020 for this exhibition. 

“Find Your Own Space” in Shoreham

The Lemon Fair Sculpture Park celebrated many new pieces in the Shoreham park including Susan Teare’s art installation, “Find Your Own Space,” in June. The site-specific installation was created by the artist, Teare, in collaboration with her son, Kirk, and is one of the newest pieces at the open-air sculpture park in Shoreham. 

‘FIND YOUR OWN Space’ by Susan Teare

Painters meet en plein air

Eight painters brought brushes, paints, canvases and palettes out of their studios and into the great outdoors of downtown Middlebury in August for Plein Air 2021. It was Edgewater Gallery’s second annual celebration. Visitors saw Rory Jackson, Philip Frey, Scott Addis, Joe Bolger, Tim Horn, William Hoyt, Kathleen Kolb and Julia Purinton. 

RORY JACKSON PAINTING en plein air in Middlebury. Independent photo/Steve James

“5×5” in Bristol

Five artists showed five new pieces of work at Art on Main in Bristol in October. The featured artists include Valerie Dearing, David King, Anne Majusiak, Ellen Spring and Michelle Turbide. Their works revealed a new twist or turn to their current mediums.

RAKU FIRED CLAY with a crackle glaze by Valerie Dearing.

Mini gallery opens in Lincoln

Mary Barnett, a volunteer at the Lincoln Library, spearheaded the efforts to get a free mini art gallery going on the porch of the library. “The whole idea is: Let’s just have some fun,” she said. “If you’re inspired to put something in, put something in. And if you really love something there, take it.” Janet Chill, Janet Fredericks and Nancy Custer Carroll were a few of the artists Barnett tapped to get the ball rolling.

MARY BARNETT SPEARHEADED the mini art gallery project at the Lincoln Library back in August. Independent photo/Steve James