Ushering in the spring, with ‘MUD (season)’
At right, "Bernie" by Marilyn Syme is shown at ArtisTree Gallery's "MUD (season)” show. At left are Syme's "Classic Jeans Jacket" and "Muck Boots" and Sarah Wesson's "Spade." (Gareth Henderson Photo)
ArtisTree Gallery’s annual springtime show is ushering in the light of spring as the region enthusiastically salutes this hopeful new season.
In this year’s “MUD (season)” exhibit, artists are also reflecting on the pandemic, portraying what they’ve missed most and what they’ve learned. The show at the Pomfret, Vermont, gallery runs until April 17 and is open for public viewing, Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Art enthusiasts can also experience the show online. It features paintings, drawings, mixed-media collage, photographs, sculptures and ceramics from 65 local artists, for a total of 180 pieces.
Deborah Goodwin, exhibits coordinator at the gallery, said not all the work is related to COVID-19, and bright, spring-themed work has the strong presence it always does. But it's a year that drove lots of creativity among all artists.
"I think most people would say it's a solace to them, to make artwork during this weird, terrible time," Goodwin said.
The theme of looking back during this spring of hope is alive and well at this brilliant new show, which notes several topics that will be very familiar. Marilyn Syme's pieces include three works of trompe l'oeil (French for "fool the eye") acrylic painted on masonite, one of which shows U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wearing his world-famous mittens. "Meet Me on Zoom", by Amy B. Schachter, reflects the all-too-familiar Zoom experience, from happy to tired faces, portrayed with acrylic paint and graphite on a wood panel. Photographer Nicholas Gaffney shows memories from the Tunbridge World’s Fair, juxtaposed with a picture of the empty, sunlit fairgrounds from 2020.
Part of the “MUD (season)” show at ArtisTree Gallery in Pomfret, Vt. (Gareth Henderson Photo)
Being several weeks into the new season, MUD also beautifully presents the spring flowers we all love, adding to the many bright expressions of life, ranging from the realistic to the abstract. Christine Hawkins, showing her work at ArtisTree for the first time, has several abstract paintings on paper with the varied colors of spring.
"It really does make you smile," Goodwin said of the show. "It's very cheery, the colors are wonderful. In general we've seen artists get extremely creative this year."
Speaking of creativity, the recent months have also brought some great artistic successes: Katie Runde, whose work "What I Miss" is part of the ArtisTree show, was recently selected to paint a portrait of Alexander Twilight to hang in the Vermont State House. Twilight was the first African American elected to a U.S. state legislature; he was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1836.
While many of these artists have displayed work at ArtisTree before, Goodwin said, a number of new artists have also submitted their creations since ArtisTree reopened last June. Many people have come by to see the work displayed in the gallery as well, though the typical openings for shows have not been possible during the pandemic.
"We've had a lot of traffic and a lot of newcomers to the area," Goodwin said.
Given this very welcome start to the spring season, it's fitting to echo the announcement for the show: "Come see more than 180 pieces of remarkable and varied artwork — you will leave with a smile, feeling more-than-cautiously optimistic!"
— Gareth Henderson
ArtisTree Community Arts Center & Gallery is located at 2095 Pomfret Road in Pomfret, Vermont. For more information, call 802-457-3500, email info@artistreevt.org, or go online at www.artistreevt.org.
