Erica's Reception and Unveiling

Collective member Erica Sears was recently commissioned by the folks at the Chandler Center for the Arts to create large abstract paintings for the renovated Esther Mesh Room.  On Friday, April 21 the paintings were unveiled at a reception for the artist.

 Guests arrived to find the paintings dramatically draped (on left wall)

The audience listens as the hosts at Chandler describe the history of the room and the commission

Three generations

The big reveal!

Erica talks about her experience of doing the paintings, which she has dubbed "the girls"

The artist, the ladies of Chandler, and "the girls"

The audience flocks to see the work up close

Next time you're upstairs at the Chandler Center for the Arts, spend some time with these paintings!

Congratulations, Erica, on creating beautiful, versatile pieces (they are designed to work as one unit or separately) that bring color and interest to the elegant room.  May they add another lively dimension to many an event in the Esther Mesh room!

Barry Vermont at the Crafty Cafe, May 2012

Here is an appetizer-sized taste of Barry's delicious last performance at the Craft Center (short due to the size of the memory card, not by design).  The performance involved music-making with traditional and more unusual instruments, an homage to sculptor Elizabeth Catlett, the inspiration of Kandinsky's poetry, and, of course, audience participation.  Anyone wanting more can contact the Collective for contact info or updates on "BVM"...

May 2012 Meeting/Performance

Creative Collective Meeting 5/21/12, 6-8 PM

Alexis, Barry, Dave, Donna, Erica, Ken, Kevin, Malia, Susan

This was the last Collective meeting for Barry, who will be moving out of the state soon.  He shared with us his inimitable blend of music, poetry, and visual art.  Without a doubt, no one can fill his shoes, and we wish him all the best in his new adventures!

"Swimming Retriever" Screening, March 2012

Collective member Holly Sanders showed her new documentary video about Jim Sardonis's "Swimming Retriever" sculpture at the White River Craft Center on March 30, followed by Q&A with both the filmmaker and the artist.  The Kimball Gallery is a great space for a screening (see the space below) and a wonderful time was had by all!  Keep your eyes open for another opportunity to see this fascinating explanation of how a local artist's vision transforms a giant block of marble into a larger-than-life (yet amazingly lifelike) dog's head.

 Jim Sardonis, colleagues, and Collective at the Kimball House screening

The Kimball Gallery set up for video screening

Summer flashback: Stone Motion performances

At long last, here is a short video from the June opening of the Stone Motion exhibit, featuring John Mahan, Barry Miller, Spencer Lewis, and Eddie Freund (plus audience participation :).

Fall Show Opening Friday, 9/16/11

Stone Motion!

The weekend of June 25-26 was an especially creative one at the White River Craft Center, as people gathered to appreciate and share art, music, story, ritual and community in the gallery and on the grass.

Ian and Avery check out the art (and the refreshments ;)

Kathy demonstrates watercolor "stonescapes"

Holly talks to Erica about her video installation

Wink and Bonny watch the video

Barry chats with Mallie and her visiting friend

Tammy shows us how she weaves a basket around a stone

Alexis is in motion doing a graphite drawing

Jeanne, Nancy and Mallie return from viewing the Arts Bus and the labyrinth

Kathy and Spencer play the chimes while walking the labyrinth

John and Barry, getting ready to play

An appreciative audience

The clouds parted over the Craft Center during the outdoor performances on an otherwise rainy day

Storytelling and song with Eddie

Snacking, relaxing and playing guitar while Meredith gets ready on Sunday

Spencer's music is good enough to eat

Zain gets into the act

Meredith talked about the meaning of the labyrinth and made music with Barry (along with Zain and other helpers) while people walked among the stones.

Thank you to everyone who participated in whatever way, and especially to Barry for getting an idea and making it happen!

Check back for Stone Motion video, coming soon...

Closing Reception Highlights

The event was well attended by about 25-30 artists and friends.  Several new members shared their current work and creative path and answered numerous questions.

Remy Lary from Rochester discussed his passion for carving birds of prey and his techniques using tupelo wood.  He brought a Northern sowett owl as a sample (I hope I got the name correct!).

 Alexis Kyriak from Northfield shared her sculpting process using fimo clay, plus her fiber art.

Ted Danforth talked about her pastels and the evolution of her career in art.  She will also be showing her work this Spring at the Gifford Medical Center exhibit space, make sure to see it.

The show ended on a successful note for Gene Parent with a sale of one of his pieces.  The Collective will be meeting on the usual third Sunday of the month at WRCC from 2-4, join us.  We gather to share new work and cover any topics of interest to the group...  see you there.

GMCC in the Herald

This is the unedited text of the Randolph Herald article about the Green Mountain Creative Collective that ran on February 10.  Thank you Sally and Sandy for keeping the GMCC in the news!

Approximately a year ago, in an effort to make better use of its evolving space and facilitate creative connections, the White River Craft Center invited a group of people to brainstorm the needs of local artists.  

Initial meetings were exploratory.  Some of the interests and needs identified included a forum for getting to know one another, share work, motivate and support each other; and a venue for showing works.  Since that time, the group has met each month at the Craft Center and has recently chosen the name Green Mountain Creative Collective to create an inclusive identity and to provide ongoing support for artists in the community.

The Creative Collective is currently running its first show at the Craft Center, and will host a closing reception Sunday, Feb 20 from 2:00 to 4:00.  Shown is work by 17 artists – including oil and watercolor painters, sculptors, textile artists, potters, photographers and musicians.  Future events under consideration include informal hands-on sharing of talents, additional group shows, and community celebrations.

Kimball House, home to the WRCC, has enjoyed a long history of involvement with the town of Randolph, through its associations with VTC, RTCC, the Department of Labor, Orange County Parent Child Center, Prevention Partnership, Vermont Weavers’ Guild, and now the GMCC.  WRCC has long been home to artist and craft studios, first at its Westin Street location, and now also in Kimball House. 

Happy 2011!

The Green Mountain Creative Collective kicked off the new year on 01/01/11 with an event at the White River Craft Center.  Barry Vermont invited everyone to come share their creative work, from art to music to writing to storytelling to leading an activity.  There was a little bit of everything and a lot of great food packed into the first afternoon of 2011.

Bonny Willet provided these photos of some of the amazing music that was made that day by Barry Miller playing with John Mahan (both pictured), Chris Martin, Spencer Lewis and John Zuefle.

Malia Timmerman brought a candy sculpture project to share, and in collaboration with the Zimet family's mini-marshmallow building materials, it yielded some very creative structures (some more structurally sound than others!).  Malia built a spirit house for her brother, which she completed decorating at home and liberated in a bonfire the next day (click here for "liberation" photos).

 As it left the Craft Center

"Spirit House for Sean", completed on 1/2/11

Many thanks to Barry for a great inspiration, to the White River Craft Center for providing the space for it to blossom, and to everyone who participated in whatever way.  This may need to be an annual event!