Post Residency Mishmash

Something I didn’t expect to face once I got home last week was how challenging it would be to re-adjust to reality after the luxury of centering my brain on largely one single thing for a span of 7 days. It’s made me even more acutely aware, not only of what a gift the week in Johnson truly was, but also of the hundreds of day-to-day concerns, big and small, we all regularly juggle just to keep our heads above water in daily life.
Therefore, if this post seems a bit all over the place, it is. But it is also a reflection of the rich and various arty things that have captured my attention as I’ve pulled myself back into my routine.

First, after working in that large, open, and mostly empty studio at VSC, I realized that despite packing up a full car-load of supplies, I doubt anyone walking into my home studio while I was away would have noticed anything was gone. In other words: time to clear out! In the midst of tackling that chore I found a stash of old drawings that I had totally forgotten.

A lot of water and art has passed under the bridge since I made this drawing in 1992 while sitting in the driveway of our house in Hawaii as our kids drew with chalk and rode a tricycle. It caught my eye immediately because I can (now) see in this jumble of boxes and beach toys, piled at the back of our carport, the roots of the sketches of the stacks of drying dishes I’ve been making for the past couple of years. Even all that time ago, without realizing it, I had an urge to distill an image into an abstraction of shapes and values, while moving outside of a self-determined frame. It’s just that it’s taken doing it many, many more times to get to the point of recognizing what I was attempting.

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A trip to the Vermont College of Fine Arts to see an exhibit of exceptional high school art was both exciting and humbling. Much of the work coming from these young artists was very strong. I took photos of the 10 pieces that stood out most to me, but I’ve narrowed those down to my favorite three which follow below (with a fourth thrown in…just because I can, and for reasons that most of you will guess). I see a bravery of perspective/vision and adventurous spirit in these works that is quite admirable and mature.

Sunset Journey ©Meredith Nicol, Lyndon Institute, Watercolor, pen and ink The detailed pen and ink work of this piece unfortunately doesn’t translate in this photo, but I was very impressed with the expressiveness and assured hand of this young artist.

The book I read this past week was Anthony Doerr’s Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World. I became very fond of Doerr’s writing style and his prowess with metaphors in All the Light We Cannot See. So paired with my own fond memories of Rome, Four Seasons landed squarely on my to-be-read and library waiting list a while ago. It was definitely worth the wait.
One word of caution: if you haven’t had kids, it might not be for you…too much talk about the messy realities of those first months. But for those of us who have had the privilege, and who know the life-altering joys and challenges that come in that first year, this book is a thing of beauty — especially when coupled with the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of Rome, which Doerr so masterfully conveys. His genius is in elevating both the simple and the monumental in such a way that they simultaneously evoke a sense of familiarity and awe.
And, although I didn’t plan it that way, it was a great read for Mother’s Day week!

Musical Rage ©Finn Rooney, Hazen Union High School, Color pencil

Lastly, we are all rejoicing as spring has finally taken hold of this corner of the world. The trees have leafed out in a matter of days, so I guess it would have been better if I had thought to share this haiku with you last week. Despite being a bit late, it still resonates and I keep going back to its simple beauty.

Jewelry

Buds on silver twigs –
Purple, scarlet, green and gold –

Spring’s bright jewelry

From A Haiku Each Day, ©Abigail M. Parker

Untitled Self Portrait ©Aidan Lodge, People’s Academy, Digital Photography The unfortunate glare on the right panel of this striking photo is mine. Apologies.

So what do all these vignettes have in common? One of art’s greatest strengths, regardless of discipline, is it accesses and clarifies the deeper elements of what we already know.

Elizabeth Fram

Eye of the Needle

Post Residency Mishmash

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