Name: Tom and Julie Merwin
Age: 69 and 70
Hometown: Castleton, Vt.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Tom: Lost, searching and amazed. Julie: Writer, author, illustrator
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? Tom: I’m comfortable being lost while painting a landscape. Julie: We met on the night shift at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
How do you start your day? Tom: Meditation, contemplation and exercise. Julie : Coffee! Then I feed birds, a couple of feral cats, our pets, our family, then I write.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Tom: Questioning existence. Julie: Navigated a small boat through a Canadian lake during a tornado.
What’s your favorite food? Tom: Potato pancakes. Julie: anything Italian.
Do you have a day job? Merwin gallery in Castleton features Tom’s work and I publish my own books and other authors as MacGregor House Publishing.
What medium do you work in? Tom: oils. Julie: fiction
Why this medium? Tom: Because of its speed and ability to layer, I can distress it, wear it down, evolve a piece as the strata shifts. Julie: My series The Tales of Earden led me into a complete world, with literally more than a hundred characters over the course of five novels, often with surprising, unexpected turns in the road. I like people and I’m okay with reality but I’m really happiest in the world of make-believe.
What inspired you / how did it start? Tom: My grandfather was a painter and art restorer also a collector so paintings and paints were a common part of my life. Julie: Both my parents were voracious readers. My Dad took me to every library in Rochester, N.Y. where I grew up. Walking into a new library and walking out with a pile of books for free! I never got over the excitement, must have spilled over into writing.
Do you have a process for creating? Tom: I often initiate a spacial approach which is abandoned after the first stroke but still rides internally throughout the experience of the pieceThere’s always surprises along the way. Julie: I’m a ‘pantser’ when I write the first draft, I let it fly, get it all down. I’m not a ‘plotter’ ( some writers use graphs and cards). C.S.Lewis said he felt like he was just a vessel through which what needed to be said was told. I feel that way to. Although my current project, a YA fantasy set in Ontario, Canada is based on a childhood experience.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? Tom: (can work anytime, day or night and frequently does). Julie: morning…after coffee!
Which artists inspire you? Tom: Chinese -Tou Chi, Shu Ta, Japanese - Taiga, Buson, European - Miro, Van Gogh, Goya and Persian miniatures American - Innes, Sargeant, Burchfield. Julie: World-builders. Tolkien, Gaiman, Penny, Pritchet, Dickens, DuMaurier and an old favorite of my Dad’s, Thomas B. Costain.
What do you listen to when you work? Tom: Classical, Ravi Shankar, Dave Brubeck, Gypsy Kings. Julie: No music and I don’t hear anybody or anything, as my husband will attest.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? Tom: This is an area surrounded, immersed in nature and it has a diverse and active artistic community. Julie: I’m amazed at the community of creatives in the hills and valleys of Rutland, their support for each other and Rutland.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Tom: Started painting as soon as we moved up here. Julie: Being part of Vermont Arts Council’s Open Studio Weekend, 22 years ago.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Tom: The people, nature, affordability of work space. Julie: Especially in the last couple of years, the dedication, ingenuity of arts, city and business leaders has embellished Rutland street art and sculpture, mural projects, opportunities for shows blooming everywhere!
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Tom: 77 Arts, Chaffee, SVAC, Stone Valley Arts. Julie: The Castleton Writers Group, 77 Arts
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Tom: The 77 Arts “Gero-Trancendence” exhibit that Bill Ramage organized showcasing mature artists and the recent Mural project at Roots restaurant. Julie: Yes, “Gero” was just the most incredible celebration! Also I look forward to meeting (after Covid) and making lunch for young artists from all over the world when 77 Art’s Artists Residency re-starts.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? Tom: I’ve been painting with a group of great painters who are considered mentally ill and find labels like these un-necessary and restrictive. For several years I have put together programs, exhibits and gallery shows all over Vermont with the help of Vt. Psychiatric Survivors and plan to expand this movement. Julie: I look forward to being able to read and listen to other writers, authors and poets once more at Phoenix Books and the other open readings around Rutland.
www.merwinstudios.com www.jcartermerwin.com
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Carolyn Shattuck
Name: Carolyn Shattuck
Age: 72
Hometown: Rutland
How would you describe yourself in three words? An artist, a mother, wicked sense of humor.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? That I’m Canadian. And there is a difference growing up in Canada.
How do you start your day? I drink coffee and read the Rutland Herald every day.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? I visited China and travelled to Africa several times. I used Boundless Journeys in Stowe, a fantastic tour company.
What’s your favorite food? Sushi sashimi
Do you have a day job? Retired nurse and teacher and I still teach when I can.
What medium do you work in? Printmaking, collage and Artist books
Why this medium? Most book artists start off as printmakers and the idea with printmaking is that you’re working on a horizontal surface placing images, so they’re interacting, and when you tilt the plane to a vertical surface, it speaks of sculptural book arts. So I like creating structures with many parts to assemble.
What inspired you / how did it start? I always have, since I was 7 years old, used the sewing machine. I don’t remember ever not working with my hands. I loved art, I loved my art teacher, he was really funny.
Do you have a process for creating? I learned how to keep the conversation of creativity, through, believe it or not, graduate school, which was awful. It’s trial by fire.You hang your work and they criticize it. I don’t agree with the process but they did teach me how to stay with an idea and how to move from one idea to the next. I (also) have triggers, mainly with environmental issues images. Presently I am making books about Africa and the ongoing threats to wild animals. I get ideas sometimes when I’m driving.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? It’s all the time. It could be nothing then it could be something. It just depends. I have this running dialogue in my head and sometimes it comes forward and makes sense and other times I let it go. I think one of the biggest things artists can do is be in limbo. Which means you have to have the ability to not resolve everything. You’ve got different ideas intriguing you but you don’t know how it’s all going to work and I think you just have to live in that space. Our culture wants to start here, do this and finish. But that’s not the way creativity works. And sometimes it doesn’t work out and sometimes it pops up a year later in another way.
Which artists inspire you? Elizabeth Murray, and Jennifer Bartlett are contemporaries for me, when I was in grad school in the 80s they were at the peak of their careers. And Romare Bearden, I love the way he puts color together. And Arthur Dove.
What do you listen to when you work? Vera Lynn. It’s sorrowful in some ways, like we’ll meet again, and we are probably not going to, because of the war, and loss. But I was really attracted to that music and I play it all the time for a couple months and then I won’t play it. And the other thing I listen to is African music. I listen to a lot of news though. It’s not good (laughs).
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? They’re mixed. It’s nice to have this wonderful environment and landscape, clean air, you’re far from the maddening crowd, I like that and I love it here. But I think the downside is just access to venues and people to show your work. I get out of Vermont and go to Book Fairs and Arts Festivals and meet a lot of people. It’s how I compensate for living here in Vermont, I don’t think I could stay here the whole time, I need to interact with people.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? I first moved here in 1978. I only knew how to silk screen. It was a limiting type of rigid process so I started painting and then (teaching).
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Probably they are attracted to the rural beautiful landscape and less pollution.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Carving Studio and the Chaffee Arts Center.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I got really involved in the Open Studios.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? A continuation of Open Studios, on a bigger scale. Something more like the 77 Gallery situation but with not much jurying going on. More interaction with the public to exchange ideas and feedback.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Patty Thomas
Name: Patty Thomas
Age: 55
Hometown: I’m in Pittsford and I’ve lived here for a number of years. My hometown where I grew up is Abington, Massachusetts.
How would you describe yourself in three words? I’m creative, I’m kind, and I am outgoing.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? There’s a lot of things (laughs) I have a massive collection of Pez dispensers, like hundreds, maybe thousands. I would get them as gifts all the time and I didn’t want to throw them out.
How do you start your day? Coffee in bed.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? My wife and I ride dirt bikes, so we went dirt bike riding last summer in the mountains of Washington.
What’s your favorite food? I love chocolate.
Do you have a day job? I’m a school-based occupational therapist but it sprinkles into my creative life. I’m a maker, I belong to the MINT Makerspace and I create adaptive devices for individuals with disabilities.
What medium do you work in? First and foremost how I identify if I’m being artistic is I sew and I use fabric. But I am learning woodworking and I’m learning to turn on a wood lathe which I love. So wood, and I also dabble in electronics and I have an invention, an electronic device that’s not patented yet. And I’ve mashed up electronics with my sewing. The MINT brought in an artist from New York City who taught us how to sew circuits and lights into fabric. At the MINT there’s a metal shop, a wood shop, electronics, computerized laser cutting, so I usually need a little bit from each shop. It’s really an eclectic mix of media that I use to create what I create and it’s usually a collaborative effort because I don’t have the skills for each of the shops. There’s people who do, and if you ask a question most people are really kind and will show you how to weld or weld something for you or teach you how to use a wood shop tool. I also use triple thick cardboard called tri-wall and you work it like wood and finish it off with primer and paint, and I make all kinds of adaptive devices like chairs, devices for kids with special needs, and all kinds of stuff like that with cardboard.
Why this medium? (See next question)
What inspired you / how did it start? Different reasons but I would say the main reason, my work overflows into my creative life and vice versa and it’s for me finding solutions for everyday challenges for people that can make things accessible for people who couldn’t otherwise access things.
Do you have a process for creating? I’m a therapist so I know body positions and what’s necessary, so I visualize it and do a quick sketch in a notebook - pencil paper, very raw Pictionary-style sketch - and then I might sit down and draw it out in a little more detail. From there I take it to the shop. Or my kitchen counter.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? It ranges, what I really need is large blocks of time. I do have an 11th hour phenomenon that goes on, something kicks in and I get into that flow and go for hours.
Which artists inspire you? There’s a couple of occupational therapists that people probably wouldn’t know. But Alex Truesdell came and spoke to us in OT school and what she had to say stuck with me. She went on to open a studio in New York City called Adaptive Design and it’s all nonprofit adaptive devices for people. They go in and from soup to nuts design and walk out with a device. That would be one person who’s definitely inspired me. Locally for the wood-turning, when Vermont does Open Studio weekends, Rich Detrano in Ludlow is an incredible, gifted wood-turner and I was brand new at it and he took me under his wing. Rick Gile is an electrical engineer and also an entrepreneur and inventor and he’s another guy who’s taken me under his wing and given me a lot of support.
What do you listen to when you work? I don’t typically listen to anything because I have a hard time multi-tasking. Some people have to have music, it distracts me.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? We are incredibly lucky to have the MINT Makerspace. It is a really uncommon thing even in more urban areas. I’m so profoundly grateful for that space. Being a maker in Rutland and having access to it, I can’t say enough about it. Most days if you go you’re going to see a bunch of empty shops but when you get connected with the community and put yourself out there, people donate hours of their time and expertise and even materials sometimes.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? I have been a maker of cardboard adaptive devices, I make one particular chair it’s called a Corner Sitter. Before I joined the MINT I was cutting the cardboard with a box cutter on my kitchen counter - not safe, and very tedious. And then I reached out to the MINT and they showed me how to use a band saw. The precision and the amount I could put out in a day and the quality - I went from one chair a weekend or a day to five in one two-hour session at the MINT. It increased my productivity and accuracy dramatically. When I’m cutting at home with a steak knife or a box cutter it’s jagged and doesn’t look professional but at the MINT putting it through a band saw it’s beautiful.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? In my case because we have a great maker space here. Art in the Park, and Open Studio weekends I think draw people to the area.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? The MINT
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I love Open Studio weekends. I missed that terribly this Fall. We went into Peter Huntoon’s studio and to see the different styles, and his studio, you could eat off the floor. I won’t forget it. And to see people just doing what they love is incredible.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? I’d like to see more classes available and more opportunities for everybody to have a chance to try things.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Fran Bull
Name: FRAN BULL
Age: 82
Hometown: I grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, lived in NYC for many years and now have lived in Brandon for 20 years.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Adventurous, curious, obsessed.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I have a great interest in Physics, especially Cosmology. I sing opera.
How do you start your day? I get up, make the bed, write down a dream ( I am engaged in Jungian therapy), take a shower, get dressed and eat the same thing every day for breakfast: fruit, Yogurt, walnuts, and a cup of tea.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Committed to a life in art
What’s your favorite food? that same fruit salad I eat for breakfast! Oh, maybe oysters, raw and fresh from the ocean, but that experience is rare!
Do you have a day job? no.
What medium do you work in? I am a painter, printmaker, sculptor and performance artist.
Why this medium? see above--my ideas and visions demand their mediums and I follow suit.
What inspired you / how did it start? I began making art seriously at such a young age--maybe 6 or 7--it was a calling. I attended Museum school in Newark, NJ my entire childhood, learning every medium. At the Newark Museum, I not only made art, I considered the museum my home away from home and lived among the artists on display. I had several great teachers there--all practicing artists, and later, a few very great teachers--June Leaf, Malcolm Morley, Barbara Pearlman, each of whom imparted invaluable knowledge and example.
Do you have a process for creating? Things come to me, images, voices, thoughts. Ideas and words from books and poetry. When the voices are loud and insistent, I know I must follow.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? I'm not much of a morning person. I like sliding slowly into the day. Lately I begin around 11 or 12 in the studio.
Which artists inspire you? There are many. Dubuffet comes to mind in this moment. Picasso, Malcolm Morley was a tremendous influence--we married briefly and I worked in his studio all day, every day for three years. He was a brilliant artist and teacher. I adore Yayoi Kusama these days, her idea that we are but a dot in the vast universe. Oh, so many artists.
What do you listen to when you work? I can't listen to music for long as I work. It is distracting. I did listen to a book on tape recently, however. Depends on where I am in the process. There is a phase of work that is repetitive and even tedious. That's when I can have audio.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? Thanks to Bill Ramage, who is himself a brilliant artist and organizer, I can participate in a vital and interesting community of artists in Rutland. I am crazy about these artists, all so good, and such great people. I have been involved, as well, with the Carving Studio--a sensational place, and unique in the world. I have taught there,served on the Board, I love Carol Driscoll, the director, and were it not for Covid this past year, I'd have quite an interesting and inspiring social life as an artist.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Sorry, I have not actually made art physically, in Rutland. I had a smashing show at the Chaffee in 2017. Meg Barros arranged for me to speak at the Paramount--also an incredible experience of putting together a 1-hour talk with PowerPoint called My Life In Art. I think it's on my web site.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? One person is responsible for this excitement: Bill Ramage. It was his idea to open 77 Gallery and to fix it up so that it was quite gorgeous as an exhibition space. He gathered over 100 artists statewide for a show, and then along with others, started a residency for artists from all over the world. Rutland as an art mecca is largely his vision. He has explained to me that Rutland is at the center, geographically, of a larger arts community encompassing The Hood Museum, the museum at UVM, Mass MOCA to the south, the Clark, and even Albany. His vision for Rutland is broad. All that is needed is the usual: funding!
Meg Barros created some excitement during her tenure at the Chaffee, as well. Art in the Park was just terrific. Again she invited me to mount my installation, In Flanders Fields--a glorious experience for me. We had a series of talks--poets, artists and Ilene Blackman (now deceased) created a most wonderful dance piece in the midst of my sculpture. These were great times and unique moments.Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? See above. Just now I am not active. Covid is largely responsible, but also I have been pursuing parts of my career in NYC and Europe. I am very active in Barcelona, in Milan. A work I spoke about at the Sparkle Barn in Wallingford (Stacy Harshman is also doing great things in that location) an elaborate boxed set of etching and poetry, (a kind of diary of healing visions I had while undergoing radiation treatments for cancer at RRMC, Edition of 13), is now in the permanent collection of the Biblioteca Nacional of Catalunya. There will be an exhibition in April, 2021. I make etchings in a studio in Barcelona, having worked there since 2000. (I speak Spanish).
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Hard to pinpoint. There have been several. I loved Whitney Ramage's installation recently at the 77Gallery. I love Bill Ramage's large "Downtown Rutland" drawing. I loved Sandy Mayo's exhibition of abstract work last year. Oliver Schemm had a wonderful show that touted the origins of the museum--gosh, I need to look up the title. It was such an enlightening show.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? I would like to see an influx of adequate funding for the Arts so that people like Bill and Oliver and Sandy and others, could build upon their visions. The Chaffee should be a major community center, a museum, gallery, performance space, restaurant on the model of MassMOCA. Kids ought to have a place they can claim as their own for making things, and being safe and nurtured. But perhaps such a center needs to be located more downtown. There ought to be a beautiful museum/education center, community center. There is no lack of vision.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Piper Strong
Name: Piper Strong
Age: Yes! 57
Hometown: Hydesville
How would you describe yourself in three words? Visual, outgoing, athletic
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? Really afraid of snakes, but everyone knows that!
How do you start your day? Kisses, feed cat, coffee
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Ski Mont Blanc right down the face
What’s your favorite food? Sushi and chocolate
Do you have a day job? Sometimes, ski coach
What medium do you work in? Mixed, metals
Why this medium? It’s challenging and physical plus it requires some skills I have doggedly worked at
What inspired you / how did it start? Art History, Myth
Do you have a process for creating? Sketches, lots of drawing, cutting, hammering, welding.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? Sunny days
Which artists inspire you? Van Gogh, Botticelli, D. Smith, O’Keefe, L. Nelson
What do you listen to when you work? Jazz, Motown, RNB, VPR
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? Artists are very spread out in VT. Can be pretty lonely, connect through shows
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Been doing Chaffee Art in the Park for decades
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? VT is easy living and space is important, plus beautiful country
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Chaffee, Southern VT Art, Fletcher Farm
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Chaffee and Fletcher
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? Positive. Hope to keep making art.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Nick Santoro
Name: Nick Santoro
Age: 72
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
How would you describe yourself in three words? Vital, creative, mystical
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? That I made the effort and took the time to clean up and reveal the Jesus-St.Joseph metal statue at St. Joseph's College and straightened the bent marble bench so that it was visible from the road before construction begins next year
How do you start your day? With a prayer of gratitude for living in paradise
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Immersing my psyche in dream work and shamanism
What’s your favorite food? A fresh vegetable soup that I make with a Magic Bullet Blender
Do you have a day job? No. I've been sidelined for about 15 months with spinal lumbar issues. COVID delayed my 3rd back surgery until September. 3 months later, my body is strengthening
What medium do you work in? Stone for 40 years, glued-together (painted) dimensional firewood blocks
Why this medium? As a young man its hardness provided me the perfect dense resistant material to creatively sublimate my deep anger, focus my natural athleticism and engage my kinesthetic/tactile/poetic sensibility to carve organic looking 3-dimensional shapes
What inspired you / how did it start? I first carved a piece of Indiana limestone at Corcoran Art School in 1977. From the moment the stone hammer I swung hit the point chisel and stone chips started flying releasing the oily smell from the 300,000,000 year old tiny fossils that comprise the sedimentary stone, I was compelled to shape stone as my adult calling
Do you have a process for creating? It varies with the material and intention of the creation. In some pieces I know from the onset what the piece will more or less look like. Here is another type of approach that depicts the gnostic process of synchronicity itself. The following narration describes why I consider the small sculpture ESSENCE (which is currently at the Chaffee) my best piece of stone carving from the hundreds I've shaped. From the mid-90's, the main vertical stone of ESSENCE was a small untouched block of stone until 2006. Making something with it was in the back of my consciousness but never with a specificity. Sometime in the late-90's a friend gave me a random piece of the same Tennessee pink limestone. There was never any intention to combine the 2 stones. About 10 years later, the characteristic veining of this type of stone called out to me to reduce the pink stone in order to raise the vein. The only connection was that they were quarried in Tennessee. What happened next was synchronistic perfection. Because the main vertical stone was too unstable to be shown without a base, I started looking around to see what seemed to work. When I chose the one given to me, not only was it the right size dimensionally (8 x 8"); it's 3/4" thickness didn't overwhelm the small main carving. The main vertical stone sat well-centered on the base stone, AND, the veining of the vertical and base pieces magically matched up. Then I raised the veining of the base stone. In the case of this carving, the vein emerges at the front of the base stone, climbs up the main vertical stone, descends the other side, and exits out the rear of the base stone. The reason I esteem this small work and talk at length about it, is that the vein is like an umbilical connection with our primal and universal Great Mother Earth, "the ground of our being and the source of the grace that allows us to stand up and carry on" -Gary Lindorff
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? As I have aged, I rise earlier. During the early part of the day my spirit, mind and body are most clearly focused and creative
Which artists inspire you? Constantine Brancusi, Richard Serra, Georges Rouault, Michangelo Buonarroti
What do you listen to when you work? Birds, wind and rain in the summer; fire and rain in the winter and the usual background car, truck, ambulance, fire truck, railroad, barking, voice sounds
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? Being able to easily be in Nature by going to Pine Hill Park, Mead Falls or Mendon Creek (the source of Rutland's water) on Wheelerville Road, etc., has given me an endless resource for creative inspiration
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? In 1990, when I worked on "Ancestral Torches" at The Carving Studio
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Its stone history, The Carving Studio, The Sculpture Trail, outdoor murals, pop-up galleries, easily reached by car and train, an urban location in a rural setting
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Over the course of 25-30 years the Chaffee Arts Center has exhibited my work and I have met many other artists and seen many unique expressions
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Bill Ramage's large Rutland drawings with himself as the lone subject
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? From my 30 years here, the arts in Rutland need 6 components to thrive. First, making use of Amtrak to attract residents and visitors. Second, building a downtown hotel. Third, private investment like Mark Foley has made. Fourth, encouraging and subsidizing downtown retail artist studios. Fifth, exhibiting large contemporary sculptures along Routes 4 & 7. Sixth, re-unite the 4 communities of Rutland City, Rutland Town, West Rutland and Proctor to re-invigorate collaborative pride and enthusiasm for the Rutland region.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Mary Crowley
Name: Mary Crowley MRC
Age: 6 A.A. Milne, last line of poem The End " But now I am six and I’m clever as clever, and I think I’ll be six now forever and ever. "
Hometown: Haddonfield, New Jersey ( Philadelphia, my city )
How would you describe yourself in three words? creative procrastinating up-for-a-good-time
What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you? When I was a girl, I’d go to the woods and build a fire and roast a few potatoes. I think I thought of the whole ritual as my personal religious practice, involving worship of a sun god. I didn’t practice this ritual often, for I thought it was not OK, even wicked.
How do you start your day? Usually, I eat cereal, blueberries, and bananas. I drink coffee. I go for a walk to the pond. ( Except for those days when I get engrossed in something else and do not walk for awhile. ) The pond and environs are different every day. Walking there and just being there are a wonderful way to Be in Vermont.
What is the most adventurous thing you have ever done in your life? I think the most adventurous thing I do, present tense, is to start a new drawing or painting. I have a certain lack of confidence, a fear that a particular work of art will not be as I would like it to be. This description may not resonate with those who take physical risks. However, as an artist, I enter a new world with each drawing or painting. I must muster courage to begin, continue, and complete a piece.
What’s your favorite food? Tea with Lemon and Sugar, hot or cold & A Cookie to go with it. ( I know, strictly speaking, tea is not a food. Lemon and Sugar & A Cookie are though. ) ** Favorite flowers ? Sunflowers and Carnations.
Do you have a day job? No. However, I always seem to be involved in a project. Right now I am happily getting ready to do a drawing show/class on PEGTV, 1075, to air starting in early January. The name of the show is just one word, draw. I think there will be two shows a month in January, February, and March. See it Mondays at 3PM, Tuesdays at 11AM, and Thursdays at 7PM. In addition, anyone can get the show, draw , by going to PegTV.com, going to Video on Demand and typing in the four letters, d-r-a-w. After the first three months of 2021, I will decide whether to have one or two shows a month. I am learning some facets of the creative process that I did not know about before. Also, I am having fun with lines, squiggles, scribbles, doodles, and drawings.
What medium do you work in? Water Color, Pastel, Pencil, Charcoal, Conte Crayon. Essentially Drawing and Painting. Pen and Ink and Water Color for the two children’s books I wrote and illustrated.
Why these mediums? I like variety.
What inspired you? How did it start ? I think I started the way every other little child starts, by making lines and then deciding that I would like to scribble and then try to make lines that went together that looked like something I could see - a person, a tree, the sun. My mother put a drawing I did when I was 2 1/2 or 3 in my baby book. It is delightful and shows people done in different ways. How do I know they are people ? They have faces, of sorts, and arms and legs drawn with lines. I smile when I think of this drawing my mother saved. I framed it and am happy to have it as a reminder that children’s drawings are expressions of the creative spirit, which needs to be acknowledged and nurtured.
Do you have a process for creating? Not really. I have to Figure Out a process to get myself started. Warm up exercises I think are crucial. ( Answering these questions has made me aware that I want to have a beginning routine for creating art.
When are you the most inspired/ What is your favorite time of day to work? I am inspired when I see or feel anything that touches me. / I like working in the morning best. Any time of day is fine, really, if I am creating with one other person, and we are each focused on our work.
What artists inspire you? Sooo many artists inspire me. Off the top of my head - Van Gogh, Sargent, Picasso, Homer, Turner, Matisse, Monet, Leonardo, Chagall; the Cave Artists of Europe; Field, Huntoon, Huebner, Seward, Shattuck, McFarren, Holmes.
What do you listen to while you work? Nothing. Maybe I will try Rachmaninoff some day. I had a good time and made a really good leek and potato soup while listening to Rachmaninoff.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I think that as long as there are artists in the greater community and a place like The Chaffee Art Center (775-0356), that artists have the opportunity to grow, metaphorically speaking. I think Marketing, which has such broad outreach nowadays, makes the difference between selling and having work languish at home. The Carving Studio is also a beacon of Hope.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? When I moved here in the 70’s, I was in a Creative Stitchery phase, drawing lines and making shapes with yarn. I soon left that phase because of a workshop I took from Sabra Field at Castleton (now CU).
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? I think it is because we are a diverse and welcoming community with a thriving art location, The Chaffee Art Center. Sherri Birkheimer-Rooker is a dynamic and creative E.D. She keeps the mansion open with her work ethic and grant writing skills. Carol Driscoll of The Carving Studio is also a driving force.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved in and how has it impacted you? I have been involved with The Chaffee Art Center for many years, as a past board member and as an artist member. The Chaffee has given me a place to support the arts, to connect with other artists, and to show my work. I love the building with all its details from different periods of architecture. I rejoice that Art in the Park took place this summer and that there are continuing exhibits in the mansion. Right now, until early January, there are works by member artists and Gingerbread creations.
What is your favorite art exhibit /project you’ve seen in Rutland? I loved being involved in the 2 street art projects - All Aboard Rutland ( trains celebrating the present and the past of Rutland ) and The heARTs of Rutland. I also was happy that Emma ( East Mountain Mentoring Artists ), of which I am a member, had both floors of The Chaffee for our show. Oh, yes, there was an IBM exhibit many years ago, with models of Leonardo da Vinci’s work. One more favorite, the Sabra Field show, with many prints of her home state of Vermont.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? I would like to see an outdoor venue, so vital now, where all the arts could be showcased.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Yvonne Daley
Name: Yvonne Daley
Age: 74
Hometown: Melrose, Mass.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Persistent, inquisitive, dependable.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I’m not impressed by money or power. I like ordinary people.
How do you start your day? I read and write in bed and drink black coffee that my husband brings me.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? N/A
What’s your favorite food? Pie.
Do you have a day job? I teach three private writing classes a week and write professionally during the week.
What medium do you work in? I’ve returned to my early medium of working in fabric art, sewing, quilting, and especially embroidery and painting on clothing.
Why this medium? When I was a single mother of five, I thought it best to use my love of art and crafts for utilitarian purposes. I designed signs, tee-shirts and logos for businesses and made and decorated clothing for my family and friends.
What inspired you / how did it start? I started doing botanical art as a girl and took a lot of botany classes in college. I like the simplicity and the detail.
Do you have a process for creating? Most of my work is for gifts so a birthday or anniversary provides the impetus. I’ll write a poem for a friend or one of my kids and illustrate it.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? First thing in the morning; very late at night. I’m a night owl and an early riser. I try not to plan outside activities until the afternoon and evening.
Which artists inspire you? Van Gogh, Peter Max, Francis (Franz) Bauer, John Pastoriza-Pinol.
What do you listen to when you work? Classic rock, bird song, silence.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? When I think of my profession, I really consider myself a writer. I think my gardens are artistic in the same way as my clothing art and illustrations. I’d rather garden than write or paint, I suppose. Writing nonfiction has brought me not just an income but the true pleasure of meeting people I wouldn’t otherwise; doing that in Rutland and in Vermont has shown me the range of interesting and resourceful people in our community and state. Artwork and crafts are much more a hobby for me, a pleasure for me and mine, like gardening, I suppose. I don’t think where I live impacts that much other than subject matter.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? I lived in Goshen with all my kids when I was the most prolific in terms of artwork. I’ve just returned to this early pastime and am now making personal gifts for friends and family. The first one I made recently was a poem about hiking with friends illustrated by a botanical drawing of a trout lily.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Rutland is real.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Chaffee primarily although I support the others.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I love the member shows at the Chaffee and really thought the 77 Art Exhibit of Vermont artists over 70 that Bill Ramage organized was terrific on so many levels.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? More diverse expressions of art that include many medium from glass and metal to fabric and multimedia.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Alexis Kyriak
Name: Alexis Kyriak
Age: 70
Hometown: Vermont
How would you describe yourself in three words? Always at work
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I don’t know what people don’t know
How do you start your day? I manage to get out of bed. Then I head for the refrigerator, and then I take a shower and my studio is in the bedroom so it’s one of the first things I see when I wake up.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? I headed for Greece without my medication.
What’s your favorite food? Oranges. (If it’s edible I’ll eat it.)
Do you have a day job? No I don’t, my work is the art totally.
What medium do you work in? Pastel, graphite, acrylic and fiber.
Why this medium? I was taught embroidery as a young child. The colors of the pastels and the texture of the pastels I love.
What inspired you / how did it start? From 4 years of age we knew what I was. For 30 years I’ve worked at it and just now permitting myself to think of myself as an artist.
Do you have a process for creating? I have a blank canvas and I will make arcs, an arc at the top of the canvas and an arc at the bottom, juxtaposed to each other and looking for an image, it’s always the female nude. Once I have an outline I go for dark and light. Mass. And then the painting just happens. The arc is my prayer. It’s an invocation.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? Nighttime.
Which artists inspire you? Cezanne, Matisse, Van Gogh, I do not like Duchamp. He was arrogant. He opened Pandora’s box with his urinal. He opened up what I call negating the negation. Anti-beauty. His work is beautiful, much of it but that urinal just stands in my mind. That and also Koons and that small porcelain knick-knack that he made of Michael Jackson and his monkey Bubbles that sold for like five million dollars.
What do you listen to when you work? When I do listen it’s Copeland and Joni Mitchell and Leonard Bernstein.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I participated in Art in the Park several times. It’s wonderful that it’s there.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Art in the Park and the excitement thereof and the possibility of sales and of meeting others and the community.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland/Vermont? It’s liberal. I very often feel that this is the culmination of the 60s and I’m a child of the 60s. I was 12 and 13 when the Beatles hit and LSD and I said that’s for me. I came to Montpelier and about a year ago but I lived in Northfield for ten years. I’ve never seen so much grey hair in all my life. All us old hippies have come to roost and it’s like the fulfillment of the 60s.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? (Being a) member of the Chaffee, there’s someplace to go to where I can be seen
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I think the Art in the Park and the Chaffee itself.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? Community. A real sharing. Collaboration.
http://www.alexiskyriak.com
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Don Ramey
Name: Don Ramey
Age: 61
Hometown: I grew up mostly in West Seneca, NY; a suburb of Buffalo where my mom grew up and lives now. I've been in West Rutland 30 yrs this month, which is three times as long as anywhere else I've lived.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Curious, Irreverent, Tactile
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I was born in Anchorage Alaska, at Elmendorf Air Force Base. Both my mother and late father are military veterans.
How do you start your day? If I'm working at home, with coffee and a light breakfast, with computer news.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? I've been a self-employed sculptor my whole adult life! I also sailed in the Pacific on the USCG Barque EAGLE, and crossed the Atlantic on the USCGC CHASE when I was a cadet at the US Coast Guard Academy.
What’s your favorite food? Cabot extra sharp cheddar cheese on fresh ooh La La Bakery's olive sourdough bread. With a Long Trail Ale.
Do you have a day job? Most days, yes, but things are pretty slow right now ;-). I do a wide variety of sculpture and other trades work to earn a living.
What medium do you work in? I prefer stone (Champlain Black is my favorite), but I'll work with whatever material a customer or project requires.
Why this medium? I love the sensations of chipping away with hammer and chisel. The techniques and tool skills require practice and refinement, but the process itself is elementally simple.
What inspired you / how did it start? I don't remember the first time I saw a stone sculpture, but I was always impressed by them, that it was even possible. Once I started studying sculpture I knew I would eventually try stone carving. Once I did, I just wanted more tools! (I used to have a hammer fetish, which has waned now that I probably have enough of them :-)
Do you have a process for creating? It varies from project to project, sometimes I do sketches, but usually I work things out in 3D. It always ends (when allowed) with a lot of time looking at the form, refining details.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? I do my best physical work just before lunch and mid afternoon til dinner time. Creative thinking is done best in the evening.
Which artists inspire you? The ones with the most refined craft in any medium. I aspire to be like them someday.
What do you listen to when you work? I'm a late adopter when it comes to technology like streaming. It used to be VPR, but now it's more 101.5 WEXP which has a great music mix COMMERCIAL FREE
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I don't know about Rutland, but West Rutland has more resources for making sculpture than many metropolitan areas. ;-)
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? It was actually in Proctor at the Carving Studio in 1989. I started two stone sculptures. Then I worked at Campbell Plaster and Iron when it as at the Howe Center.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Same as everywhere, low priced real estate, and a community of other artists.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? I've done work for the Carving Studio over the years and it has led to many friendships with artists from many places. I also met many of the longest term friends I have locally in the early days of the studio.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I think all the murals have added some welcome splashes of color to the cityscape, and the Marble Trail is punctuating it with nice points of interest.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? More money. More patrons and more interest from the community at large. There are many individuals and organizations doing a lot of heavy lifting to create more opportunities for engagement. They just need more wide spread support to make great things happen.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
... Liam Fracht-Monroe
Name: Liam Fracht-Monroe
Age: 39
Hometown: A few - Pittsford when I was very young, then a few other places around Vermont, and now Mendon is home.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Determined Cookie Joker
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? It’ll stay a mystery
How do you start your day? Coffee, always coffee. And usually an egg and cheese sandwich.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? N/A
What’s your favorite food? Is Maple Syrup a food group?
Do you have a day job? Sure do, I'm a partner in Smörgåsbord, a global live event design and production agency.
What medium do you work in? Metal
Why this medium? The ability to create lasting outdoor expressions that will be seen by others (hopefully). Plus, I can't paint, draw, or do much worthy of art in woodworking or pottery.
What inspired you / how did it start? Covid - I needed something to help get our family outside during the spring lockdown. I wanted to gather around a fire pit, something by boys love. But nothing I could find online or in the stores was an expression of who I am. So I set out to design something unique to me and my family. Once I built one and showed it to friends, it turned into another order, and another, and at some point I decided this was now a business.
Do you have a process for creating? I work with a fantastic creative director. I interview the customers, understanding their passions and hobbies. Then I work with Ken to figure out how we can translate that into artwork that works as a fire pit panel.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? I like to go in at the end of the day when things are slower and the day is coming to an end.
Which artists inspire you? I like Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, and I enjoy finding other people’s art - completely unknown folks - who manage to create some amazing stuff and post it on the internet. There’s a lot of folks out there that are super talented and don’t have a following or anything like that but I stumble across them and I’m always impressed.
What do you listen to when you work? It's hard to listen to much with the noise of the shop, so I guess the voices in my head, or whatever song is stuck in there at the time.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I'm just a guy who knows how to weld and had some great resources at my fingertips. I'll let others consider me an artist if they wish, and provide their thoughts.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Well, at like age 6 I think I was in the Herald for making Easter eggs. I was about a half dozen away from cutting my ear off.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Why is anyone attracted to Rutland? In a normal year, it has a vibrant downtown, awesome farmers market, 15 minutes to great skiing, an amazing sense of community. What's not to love!
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? I get to mingle with a few artists at the Mint and have learned a lot from them, but I'm not really that "in" on the art crowd. My day job is more video calls and spreadsheets...
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I love the murals around town. Every one of them makes me feel like Rutland is a little bigger than it really is. Such talent in the design of those!
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? My hope and goal is to see all of the area thrive, not necessarily just the arts. It’s cool to see the murals painted and the sculptures that have come in, there seems to be a strong sense of community within the downtown that’s helping all - the tide raises all boats.
www.insanefirepits.com
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Alastair Stout
Name: Alastair Stout
Age: 45
Hometown: Vidlin, Shetland, UK
How would you describe yourself in three words? Glass Half Full
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? (See No7) when moving to the USA, all I brought with me was a toothbrush, scores of the 6 late Beethoven string quartets and a DVD set of the films of Stanley Kubrick.
How do you start your day? Coffee and a quick browse of Shetnews.co.uk
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Moving from the UK to the USA in 2002.
What’s your favorite food? Any kind of hors d’oeuvre
Do you have a day job? Minister of Music at Grace Congregational Church
What medium do you work in? Music
Why this medium? Relatively good at this medium.
What inspired you / how did it start? When I turned 10, I moved away from home to take up a choral scholarship at Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, UK. Singing the rich, fantastic repertoire in the sublimely beautiful cathedral twice a day for four years ignited a spark...
Do you have a process for creating? Quick bursts of creation are followed by weeks of sculpting raw material into something that works.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? Morning, when ideas are fresh.
Which artists inspire you? Currently: Art: Francis Bacon, Film: Werner Herzog, Music: Tom Waits, Literature: George Mackay Brown
What do you listen to when you work? Silence
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I appreciate the collaborative opportunities that are prevalent in the Rutland community. We are lucky to have many outstanding talents in the area, and it has been a joy to work with them on various projects.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? We moved from Pittsburgh, PA, to Rutland in 2017. However, my earliest memory happened in 2004 when I passed through Rutland on vacation. I was writing a piece for two pianos and was sketching it overnight in one of the Rutland motels.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? The encouraging and appreciative community.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Mostly been involved with music making at Grace and other local churches. Grace hosts many organizations throughout the year, so it’s been a pleasure to work with local music, drama, art and dance groups over the past three years.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I had the pleasure to work with the extraordinary local tenor, Ryan Mangan, a few weeks ago. We performed songs by Beethoven and Vaughan Williams. I have no doubt Ryan will go on to great things, so I’m making the most of his return to Rutland during COVID times.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? Collaboration is vital in the arts. I enjoy the cross fertilization of mediums, and think Grace church is a wonderful venue to see this happen. I hope that local artists and organizations continue to collaborate with us and explore exciting new ideas.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Sandra Stillman Gartner
Name: Sandra Stillman Gartner aka Sandra Gartner
Age: NA…because I’m an actor and want to leave that open for interpretation
Hometown: Born in Glens Falls, New York…lived, studied and worked in Boston, Mass., Washington, DC and New York City. Now reside in Rutland, Vermont
How would you describe yourself in three words? Compassionate, Creative and Dependable
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I wrote an article about the Mrs. America Vermont/New Hampshire by entering the pageant and was awarded 2nd Place for the contest.
How do you start your day? Bathroom, Newspaper, E-mail and messages, Iced Coffee
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Climbing a water tower at sunrise in Ashkelon, Israel (a few miles from the Gaza Strip) with a friend of mine. She got scared and couldn’t climb down and I had to find someone to help us.
What’s your favorite food? Ice Cream
Do you have a day job? Co-producing Director of Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre and writer for “Rutland Magazine” and other periodicals
What medium do you work in? Theatre, Film, Writing and Producing
Why this medium? My two artistic passions have always been acting and writing
What inspired you / how did it start? I had my first acting role as a lemon drop under a toadstool when I was in kindergarten. When I was eight years old I started the Webster Avenue Gazette, named after the street I grew up on.
Do you have a process for creating? For writing, I always begin with an opening that will capture the reader. Usually it’s an anecdote. I am also very aware of transitions and following the natural flow of the story. In acting, I read the script several times, underline my part, look for the clues that lead to the next thought or sentence. Then I literally memorize it line by line, and go back and start over again until I have learned my entire part.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? I like to work mid-morning before my regular day begins. However, I have learned to be flexible and work when I can find a solid chunk of time when I won’t be disturbed.
Which artists inspire you? Meryl Streep is my favorite actor. I was on her property when I was working on a film. Backing down her driveway in my car, I hit a rock. Later on I found out it was a sculpture her husband Don Gummer had given Meryl for their anniversary.
What do you listen to when you work? I don’t listen to music when I work. I need to be in my own space in silence.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? When I lived and worked in NYC, you could walk out your door and find hundreds of opportunities to choose from. In Vermont, you have to be eclectic, network and be willing to travel for work.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? My husband Allen and I divided our time between NYC and Rutland for the first six years of our marriage. When we moved to Vermont, one of the first shows I did was “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown” produced by the Proctor Players. I played Lucy and my husband played Linus.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Vermont is a very welcoming state to artists and has a large population of creative people in all genres. It’s a great place to network and most of the available projects are varied, challenging and fun.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre has always been the major basis for my theatrical endeavors. However, I have also worked with Marble Valley Players and Inn One Theatrics and other companies throughout the state and across the border. The other organizations that have had a positive impact on my artistic life are: Crossroads Arts Council, Trust Us Lovers Film Society, the Paramount Theatre and the Chaffee Center for the Arts.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? The one I did with my writing partner and friend Ann Buffum which first appeared at the Brick Box Art Gallery. It was called “To Life! A Celebration of Vermont Jewish Women” and featured large scale panels with archival and colored photographs of the women who were interviewed, including quotes from the book we wrote to accompany the traveling exhibit. It also included art work of all kinds from Jewish Vermont artists across the state.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? Once Covid- 19 is being managed, I hope all the groups will be able to work together and network constructively. It would be good if we had open communication so we don’t conflict with the dates of our performances and commit to helping each other support and promote each other’s work.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Gary Parzych
Name: Gary Parzych
Age: 23
Hometown: I’m from Emerson, New Jersey. Just this year I moved to Clarendon, Vermont and I’m excited to be here!
How would you describe yourself in three words? Imaginative. Dedicated. Collector.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I am working on growing my collection of Vermont Marble Company remnants/ artifacts.
How do you start your day? I have a bad habit of waking up and checking all my social media accounts before even getting out of bed. Once I’ve done that routine, it’s time to get up and start the day.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? I’ve driven across the country, from LA to NYC! In February of 2020 I flew to Los Angeles, for what was supposed to be a month-long trip. As Covid-19 grew worse and worse, I decided that I should cut the trip early and return to the east coast. I woke up one morning, rented a car, and drove the 3,000 miles from LA to NYC in just three days. It was a fun trip but it was a little tough to do alone during that scary time of not knowing anything about Covid. I can’t wait to do it again when it’s safe to do so!
What’s your favorite food? Mac and Cheese. It’s just a classic that I will never get tired of.
Do you have a day job? No. I’m lucky enough to be living the dream- building my sculpture studio in Vermont and starting my own sculpture related business! More details to come soon.
What medium do you work in? Metal and Stone. My favorite metals are Cast Iron or Steel. My favorite stone is Rutland Striped Brocadillo, it’s a beautiful white marble with delicate green veins.
Why this medium? I’m drawn to these materials because of the complex process that they require to be manipulated. I like their industrial nature. The combination of metal and stone is interesting to me because one is liquid and malleable while the other is literally “rock solid” and very hard to manipulate. Both have their pros and cons but as long as I continue working with them I will also continue learning about them and the history of their role in art, and architecture, and even survival!
What inspired you / how did it start? I am really inspired by the history of the industries that revolve around the materials I use. For example, I am drawn to the process quarrying to get stone, or of smelting ore to get metal. I’ve always appreciated art and especially sculpture. In 2015 I began my studies of Sculpture and Art History at Massachusetts College of Art. It was there, in Boston where I found an amazing group of metal workers who became great friends. Then I found the same at the Carving Studio in West Rutland, and that’s how I ended up here!
Do you have a process for creating? Most of the materials I use have a pretty specific process of being worked with. Most include heavy tools and machinery that needs to function in a certain way. Because of this, a lot of my creativity happens on the problem solving end- how to make something in the most efficient manner, or how to make something structural and capable of withstanding elements.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? A lot of ideas come to me at night time, usually before bed. But I find that it’s best to do the physical work in the mornings and during the day because that’s when I’m able to be the most efficient. However, sometimes when I really get in the zone I just can’t stop!
Which artists inspire you? Henry Moore has been a longtime favorite of mine. I like the way he is able engage and activate negative spaces within recognizable forms. Another favorite is Takashi Murakami. He has found a really interesting balance between fine art and pop culture. His ability to take dark/heavy concepts and squeeze them into friendly and approachable characters is a powerful skill that I look up to!
What do you listen to when you work? It depends on what I’m working on. I always like to change it up, so some sort of “decade mix” playlist is good for me!
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I love being an artist in Rutland. While I’m relatively new to the area, I feel so at home. I was really drawn to the area by the history of Rutland County. I’m thankful for the warm welcomes that I have received by art institutions and individuals alike. I’m also really excited to see public artworks being commissioned on such a regular basis. It’s reassuring to me to know that people are appreciative of, and receptive to sculpture and public art. It’s great to see some of the companies in Rutland sponsoring and supporting the arts and I hope that this continues to grow.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? In June of 2017 I came to West Rutland as an intern at the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center. Walking around the site was so inspiring to me, and part of the reason why I have since moved to Rutland County! My first marble sculpture was made at CSSC and it was a silly looking troll or gnome type creature. That was the beginning of it all!
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Rutland is a really unique place. It’s history is unlike anywhere else. It’s community is really supportive and welcoming. The many art galleries, art schools, and established artists in the area is another draw for artists in Rutland. One of my personal favorites is the Downtown Rutland Sculpture Trail.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? The Carving Studio and Sculpture Center feels like a second home to me. I love being there and I feel relaxed/ inspired/ motivated/ excited when I spend any time there. I recently joined Chaffee Art Center and I am thrilled to be exhibiting some of my sculptures there. I’m also really inspired by the gallery itself and the beautiful work they have on display from other members. Both CSSC and Chaffee have made me feel so welcome and I am looking forward to continuing working with both groups for hopefully many years to come!
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Art in the Park is my favorite art event in Rutland. Every year it never fails to put a smile on my face. I like walking through and seeing the talent that lives and works in Rutland. The murals by Persi Narvaez are another favorite. They bring so much color and energy to the downtown and I always love looking at them because every time I look, I find something new.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? The future of the Arts in Rutland seems to be bright. It's a long shot- but some sort of big art museum with both permanent and rotating collections would be so fun! I also hope that artists from around the world continue to visit Rutland and continue to share and contribute to Rutland’s history.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Peter Huntoon
Name: Peter Huntoon
Age: 58
Hometown: Middletown Springs, Vermont
How would you describe yourself in three words? A Vermont Artist
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I can’t draw a straight line either.
How do you start your day? Meditate, coffee with my wife, exercise, then on to the studio or out to paint.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Leaving a great job to become a full time artist.
What’s your favorite food? Pizza.
Do you have a day job? Art 24/7.
What medium do you work in? Oil and Watermedia
Why this medium? After 15 years working exclusively with transparent watercolor, I’ve focused on oils the last few years. From watercolor, oil adds two additional visual elements, namely texture and opacity. I’m always expanding my painting vocabulary and means of creative expression.
What inspired you / how did it start? My dad Bernie Huntoon was very artistic. He loved to draw, tinker and build things. I grew up assuming my interest and aptitude in those areas was natural and universal. By the time I turned 30, I understood I had something unique to offer the world. At that point I began to put real effort into developing myself, both as a person and an artist. Whistler defined talent as: “The ability to do hard work, in a consistently constructive direction, over a long period of time.” To the deliberate exclusion of a lot of other options along the way, I’ve been focused on art for 28 years.
Do you have a process for creating? Oh yes, and it’s ever evolving. I love the process! One of my current personal mantras is: Savor the process, and it’s all process.” It’s another way to remind myself to appreciate, respect, and enjoy each step of the journey. There are moments of exalted peak experience sprinkled in to be sure, but there’s another side of that coin. There’s a fair amount of slog and gruel in the creative process, but with the right attitude, it’s all good.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? I’m a morning person, but I can be inspired any time and anywhere. Once I bite into an idea or get into a painting, I’m like a dog with a bone. It’s hard to distract him or take it away until he’s done.
Which artists inspire you? Too many to count and ever evolving. Currently I’m into Nicolai Fechin. I’ve noticed that my search has gradually turned inward as the years pass.
What do you listen to when you work? Depending on the mood… usually ambient instrumental, classical, jazz, etc.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I think it’s great. The Rutland community has been very supportive of my work for many years. I do paint a lot of local scenes that many folks recognize. In that way we share an authentic and personal connection. Art is the conduit.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Making cardboard box “sculpture” in our back yard on the corner and State and Pine St. My steady source of empty boxes came courtesy of the State Cut Rate and Murphy’s Office Supply, next door. That was an important early lesson for a creative type; be resourceful and use what you have.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Rutland (and Vermont) is blessed with so much natural beauty and authentic character. I’ve had the opportunity to see and experience some of the world. For this artist, there’s no place I rather be than right here.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? I’ve found the best way to contribute to the community is to paint and share my artwork. I tried being on “A Board” once many years ago. I lasted one meeting. I have great respect and gratitude for all of our local organizations and the good people that make them go.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Art in the Park, rain, snow, or shine.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? This is a hard question, especially now. I think most people understand art (in all its various forms) is and always will be an important element for any vibrant community. Hopefully optimism and support for the arts in Rutland continues to grow.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Joe Citro
Name: Joe Citro (AKA Joseph A. Citro)
Age: Older than the dirt!
Hometown: Windsor (Birthplace of Vermont). But I was born in Rutland so have always had a fondness for the place.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Given to excess.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? That I was the first Vermont writer to try to collect all the state’s weird tales in a single book. But I didn’t get all of them, so I keep writing…
How do you start your day? Generally by checking my messages to see if there is anything that will alter the course of my life.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Probably when I took off on my own to live in Europe after high school.
What’s your favorite food? Pizza: the one true food!
Do you have a day job? I work at staying awake.
What medium do you work in? I write. Fiction and things that might not be fiction.
Why this medium? Process of elimination. Obviously you have never seen me draw or heard me sing.
What inspired you / how did it start? I always loved stories. My dad told me stories. My mother bought me books. My aunt Ida read to me. The whole process started when I was very young.
Do you have a process for creating? Yes. I read widely and have many interests. Plus, I enjoy research. The stories I write are a product of combining all those in a weird alchemy.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? My energy level has changed a lot over the years. I used to do my best work after dinner in the early evening. Now I seem to be at my best late morning. I’m not sure what happened...
Which artists inspire you? There are way too many to list. Early on it was John Steinbeck and H.P. Lovecraft. Later it was Howard Frank Mosher and Ernest Hebert.
What do you listen to when you work? The clack of the keyboard.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? I like being an artist anywhere, if artist I am. I don’t use that term to describe myself. But I’m delighted to do it in Rutland! I have given readings for at least three bookstores over the years. I have spoken and read at the library several times and once at the Chaffee. I’m delighted to say they plan to have me back again to celebrate the second book I did with noted Rutland artist Robert Waldo Brunell Jr. -- the soon-to-be-published Vermont Ghost Guide.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Simply coming into existence, I suppose...
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? N/A
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? No arts organizations, exactly. But I look forward to some involvement with the Chaffee. And in the past I worked with the historical society to identify a local house that was designed by the spirits and built in the 19th century by a local Spiritualist.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I have always loved the Hallowe’en Parade. I recall its founder, Tom Fagan, with great affection. He generously helped me with some research for my first collection of Vermont stories.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? Overall, the arts in Vermont seem to be taking care of themselves and thriving. From my own myopic point of view, what I'd like to see is a good Vermont book publisher that would publish Vermont books. I have a wonderful publisher, but they are in Texas (of all places). They are great to work with, but I'd love to be able to publish my Vermont books right here in Vermont. And I dare say one or two others would, too.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...LMNOPI
Name: Lopi LaRoe but I paint under the moniker LMNOPI
Age: old enough that I remember the day Nixon resigned
Hometown: born in Niskayuna, NY
How would you describe yourself in three words? A two legger
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I'd tell you but it's a secret
How do you start your day? Covered in purring cats
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? A DIY humanitarian relief effort in Haiti after the earthquake of 2010. https://domesforhaiti.blogspot.com
What’s your favorite food? matsutake mushrooms. I also love pizza and seeded baguette but I quit wheat cold turkey.
Do you have a day job? Sometimes I work during the daytime; does that count? I am entirely self-employed.
What medium do you work in? House paint, primarily. I'm also fond of pencils and print making; silk screen and intaglio. Sometimes I paint on paper and wood.
Why this medium? It works well when you're painting buildings. I switched mediums after my Mom died from leukemia. Prior to that I was an oil painter just like her. It was highly likely that painting with oils contributed to her illness and so I decided to break up with oil paint. Plus, I got into street art around 2009, so that changed things for me.
What inspired you / how did it start? I think it started when I saw the mad painter on Sesame Street. The sheer audacity of that guy suggesting that the world was his canvas stuck with me for decades.
Do you have a process for creating? Yes, lots of them.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? It depends on what I'm working on. I guess I prefer to work at night but that's not always possible when you're painting murals. My absolute favorite time of day to paint on walls outside is when it's not raining or snowing or excessively hot. If I'm working indoors my favorite time is when I'm feeling inspired. I love having the freedom to stay up all night long painting if that's what I want to do and sometimes I do.
Which artists inspire you? Picasso, Leonardo, Hopper, Lewis Hines, Dorothea Lange. Street artists: Blu, Phlegm, Chip Thomas, Gregg Deal, Chris Stain, Sara Lynn Leo, Marthalicia Martarrita and my absolute favorite right now is the muralist El Mac. His stuff is mind blowing.
What do you listen to when you work? Sometimes I listen to podcasts; politics, history and philosophy. I love Alan Watts. Lately I've been listening to a lot of music while I paint. I'm especially enjoying Alt-J, glass animals, Radiohead, cat power and Kendrick lamar these days.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? There are a lot of empty & thirsty looking walls in Rutland. I'm looking forward to creating more murals here. If you've got a wall, please don't hesitate; contact lmnopi@lmnopi.com
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? I moved here in 2018 and the first mural I painted was a portrait of Greta Thunberg at the Vermont food center. After I painted it I flew to Boulder Colorado to paint a mural and while I was gone some creative genius decided to improve upon my mural by blackening out her eyes and giving her a Salvador Dali mustache. It was a great opportunity to repaint the entire thing. I was more pleased with it the second time around anyway, so I'm grateful.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? I didn't know they were. I came here because the rent was cheap and the hiking & canoing is great.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? I'm not really involved in any art organization here yet. Feel free to reach out!
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? I would have to say it was an event put on by Bianca Zanella called infinite lit. It was quite memorable because it was so freaking hot and yet all of the poets stayed; listened to each other and shared their work. It was quite good.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? More murals.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Mareva Millarc
Name: Mareva Millarc
Age: 65
Hometown: Middletown Springs, VT
How would you describe yourself in three words? Creative, sensitive, compassionate.
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I was born in Hollywood, California.
How do you start your day? I start my day by sitting on the love seat with Peter (coffee in hand) while we talk about the new day
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? Married at 17!
What’s your favorite food? Anything Italian.
Do you have a day job? Yes, making artwork.
What medium do you work in? Oil, acrylic, ink, charcoal
Why this medium? Oil is my favorite and I love it because of its depth of color, buttery consistency and...oh it smells so good!
What inspired you / how did it start? My father was a painter. When I was a kid, and throughout my life I used to look at one of my dad's pieces hanging on the wall. I wanted to paint like him. One day my mom asked when I was going to start painting. That was it!
Do you have a process for creating? Yes. If it’s a blank canvas, I dip my brush in dark paint and make initial marks with a long handle brush, covering the entire surface. If I’m painting over an old piece, I turn it upside down, keep the interesting shapes, obliterate the rest and continue from there.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? I’m mostly inspired once the painting is under way; when its shapes, colors and feel begin to emerge. My favorite time is late afternoon and nighttime.
Which artists inspire you? Arshile Gorky, William Millarc (my father)
What do you listen to when you work? I begin with Classical music, then Jazz or Blues as the painting mood dictates.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? There’s always something going on in the Rutland art scene. If there isn’t an exhibit at the time, there are buildings available to hang work for all to see.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? I moved to Vermont in 2007 and the earliest memories are of my first solo show at Art and Antiques on Center; plus another show with Peter called Oil and Water at The Chaffee Art Center.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? Rutland is a vibrant city that offers different artistic opportunities for painters, sculptors, etc, to exhibit their work. Rutland's location is also ideal.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? I have participated in Art in the Park, and exhibited at Castleton University, 77 Gallery and several other art shows.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? Art in the Park, and the Alley Gallery exhibits.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? I’d like to see a printing (not the gel type) workshop.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Bill Ramage
Name: Bill Ramage
Age: 78
Hometown: My family moved a lot. I’m not from anywhere in particular.
How would you describe yourself in three words? Quixotic, quixotic, quixotic
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I am a dour introvert
How do you start your day? I usually get up before 3:00am and with a cup of coffee, I sit in the dark for about two hour and think, allowing the thoughts to wander, then scrutinize any ideas those thoughts encountered. I actually call it ‘the think thing.’
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? I spent the entire summer (three months) of 1970 on a motorcycle. I rode my BMW R60 zig-zagging the map to Seattle, then to LA, and back again.
What’s your favorite food? pizza
Do you have a day job? I’m retired, meaning, at long last, I’m a full-time artist
What medium do you work in? mostly I draw
Why this medium? I can’t paint
What inspired you / how did it start? I never wanted to do anything else
Do you have a process for creating? I just make things
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? The morning
Which artists inspire you? all of them (art history)
What do you listen to when you work? VPR Classical
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? It works for me
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? Movieland
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? I don’t know. I came to Rutland in ‘71’ because there were no fast-food restaurants in Rutland in 1971.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? I used to be involved it ART 77
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? The 70+ exhibition at the 77 Gallery at 77 Grove Street
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? To become an inland Provincetown.
Scroll down to meet more Vermont Creatives as they answer 22 QUESTIONS with writer, Janelle Faignant.
...Karen Wingard Seward
Name: Karen Wingard Seward
Age: 76
Hometown: Rutland but I grew up in Clarendon
How would you describe yourself in three words? Creative, inquisitive, helpful
What’s something not a lot of people know about you? I’m a synesthete - I see letters and numbers in color, and they’ve always been the same colors. It’s something I grew up with and I assumed everybody else had that characteristic and somewhere along the line I realized that not everybody did. (Editor's note: 4% of the population has synesthesia).
How do you start your day? With a nutritious breakfast and positive affirmations. I cook some greens and add on top of it a cooked egg, a little shredded cheese and arugula.The positive affirmations give me a little boost and at my age I need all the boosts I can get.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve done in your life? I’d have to say I’m not a wild person, I’m not a race car driver but I took a trip to Quebec white water rafting by myself. I planned to do it with my sons and they weren’t able to go so I ended up going by myself. It was something I’d always wanted to do, like a bucket list thing, and I felt good I had done it and added it to my repertoire of life experiences.
What’s your favorite food? A good Greek salad, or a hot Italian grinder.
Do you have a day job? Painting would be my day job because I work at the restaurant at night. (Editor's note: Her family’s restaurant, Sewards on Route 7 in Rutland)
What medium do you work in? Primarily oil, but I do watercolor and I love pastel.
Why this medium? Most of my artwork is in oil because I like that I can re-work it. The oil stays open as they say, so I can re-do as I contemplate my work. It’s not so immediate, I take my time.
What inspired you / how did it start? I’ve always loved creating art from my earliest memories coloring as a child, and I was introduced to oil many years ago through a friend who was taking an oil class. I joined her and it continued from there. But if I wasn’t painting early on I was thinking about it.
Do you have a process for creating? Mine is a thought process. I spend a lot of time organizing my thoughts and my technique in my head way before I touch a brush to a canvas. That’s my process, a planning process and then as I start I work in layers. But I’m open to new processes and I’m looking forward to continually learning, and as Covid ends taking new workshops and developing new styles.
When are you the most inspired / what’s your favorite time of day to work? When I’m painting with others, drawing from the energy in the room, I love workshops and classes and I love to teach others and paint with others.
Which artists inspire you? I’ve been inspired very much by Wayne Thibaud, Charles Sovek, Kevin McPhersen, and all three I’ve taken workshops with. I’m also inspired by the impressionists, particularly Paul Cezanne.
What do you listen to when you work? I might listen to a podcast or a novel. Even with a group of people, complete stillness inspires me. I’m not a music person.
What are your thoughts on being an artist in Rutland? Because we’re a small city with lots of art energy, especially in the past few years, it gives an artist a lot of exposure. As opposed to being in a larger city, I think garnering exposure there would be more difficult. I think Bill Ramage has had a lot to do with recent art energy.
What’s your earliest memory of making art in Rutland? I was introduced by my husband to his very good friend Art Crowley and his wife Mary Crowley who has become one of my best friends. And Mary knew that I loved art and she signed me up for a class at the Chaffee. We went to a watercolor class, had a wonderful time with a wonderful instructor who was the executive director, Lynne DeBeer, and I remember Peter Huntoon was in the class, too.
Why do you think artists are attracted to Rutland? We have a multitude of art outlets here compared to any other small city. I think we are very fortunate. And because we have such beautiful scenery and opportunities for painting, selling, and exhibits.
Which arts organizations in town are you involved with and how has it impacted you? The Alley Gallery, the Bank Gallery, the 77 Gallery, Timco Gallery, and the Chaffee which is a mainstay for art in the region. Right now my art is in the Chaffee and Timco and a few in City Hall.
What’s your favorite art exhibit/project you’ve seen in Rutland? At 77 Gallery Bill Ramage had a beautiful statewide exhibit I was proud to be part of, it was for over 70s, and people came from far and wide for it. The others were the train exhibit and the hearts project. Those brightened the art scene in Rutland. You’d come around a corner and there would be an art installation.
What would you like to see for the future of the arts in Rutland? I’m hoping we can do something in the future along those lines (of the hearts project) because I think it brings everybody together. Perhaps another region-wide street art project. And greater continued support of our arts organizations. I think a community with great arts organizations and great support for them makes a vibrant, healthy community with healthy growth.