Community shines bright in ‘Local Color’
Five works from the "Local Color" exhibit. At top, from left, are "At Silver Lake, September" (acrylic on board) and "Barn Across the River, October" (acrylic on board) by Margaret Lampe Kannenstine. Below, from left, are "On the Ottauquechee, Quechee" (pastel), "Up Lyme Pond Road, Pomfret" (acrylic on canvas), and "Pine Hollow Pond, Pomfret" (pastel), all by Karen Chalom. - (Gareth Henderson Photo)
As a young boy, Kip King found a 1920s Kodak camera in his family’s house and asked his dad if he could use it. Permission was granted, and a passion was born.
Today, King, who lives in Norwich, Vermont, is one of more than 70 local artists showing their work at Artistree Gallery’s annual “Local Color” exhibit, which opened on Friday and welcomes in the autumn season. It runs through Nov. 6.
Speaking at Friday’s opening night in Pomfret, King was enjoying the experience, but not only because of the chance to show his work here again; it’s also because of the highly collaborative Artistree community. Any artists are welcomed in, he said, whether they’re experienced or just starting out.
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes a community to make an artist,” he said. “It’s just a great community to be a part of.”
Groton State Forest, Vermont. (Photo by Kip King / kipkingphotography.com)
Sonja Olson, a printmaker and painter, is also showing her work in Local Color and praised that supportive spirit as well. Olson has lived in the area for 30 years, and is part of Artistree’s Daily Artists group which meets regularly and encourages one other on individual artistic endeavors.
“It’s brought artists together as a community,” she said, noting the group had a gallery exhibit earlier this year.
That inviting community feeling is also apparent in Local Color, with its great variety of expression and a range of autumn hues.
“There’s a huge variety of work, styles and colors,” said Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the gallery. There’s also a lot of interest from artists wanting to show their work for the first time at Artistree, Goodwin added.
“We keep getting a lot of new participants,” she said.
Artistree Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Read more about the work in Local Color on the website.
— Gareth Henderson
“Sunny Susie” (oil on board) by Pat Macri. - (Gareth Henderson Photo)
