New Exhibits at River Arts: New Beginnings, The Vermont Water Color Society at River Arts

Blue Fins of Freedom by Asheley Kapelewski

Blue Fins of Freedom by Asheley Kapelewski

New Beginnings
The Vermont Watercolor Society at River Arts

River Arts presents the annual juried spring show for the Vermont Watercolor Society.  This year’s theme prompted member artists to reflect on new beginnings. Members interpreted this theme to depict the transition from winter to spring, budding spring fauna and flora, a new year, a new life or a new outlook on life. New Beginnings displays an exemplar celebration of the watercolor and is on display in both the Folley Hall Gallery and the Copley Common Room.

The Vermont Watercolor Society was founded by a small group of painters in 1995 and today we are well over 240 members strong, offering three levels of membership. We are dedicated to promoting the awareness and appreciation of watercolor to our membership of all levels of ability and to the community by providing opportunities and avenues for participation, education, fellowship, and exhibitions. We are a member-driven organization. VWS is thriving because of the personal commitment of our members to be involved and participate in opportunities. We welcome public participation in most events, including open meetings, workshops, and lectures.

New Beginnings will be on display from April 15th through July 13th. An artists reception is planned for Thursday, June 10th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Capacity restrictions and details TBD.

Previous Exhibitions
Solace Unfolding
Nov 10
Solace Unfolding

November 10th, 2022 - February 1st, 2023
Paintings by Mareva Millarc, Folley Hall Gallery
Paintings and Prints by Cathy Osman, Copley Studio Gallery

Action/Reaction
Jul 21
Action/Reaction

Cameron Schmitz, Jessica Hughes, and Matt Larson
Folley Hall & Copley Studio Galleries
July 21st - October 28th, 2022

Art in a Time of Crisis
Apr 21
Art in a Time of Crisis

Rebecca Schwarz, Caroline Loftus, Kate Arslambakova, and Martha Dunbar
Copley Studio Gallery
April 21st - July 9th, 2022

I Give You Mountains and Rivers Without End
Apr 21
I Give You Mountains and Rivers Without End

Works by Dan Gottsegen
Folley Hall Gallery
April 21st - July 9th, 2022

Women and Girls
Jan 20
Women and Girls

Works by Kathy Black
Copley Studio Gallery
January 20 - April 9, 2022

Can we think about female power without clashing with expectations of motherhood and femininity? This is the question posed by Kathy Black in her latest body of work. Women and Girls is inspired by two related threads: the experience of changing perspectives and exploring the connections that run between women at different points of life. These paintings look at roles women and girls take on to explore and think about how they might be or what they might do. Maybe it looks at changing lives and changing bodies with each age. Or maybe the shifts over time reveal the ordinary yet important moments of similarities.

Listening Outside the Lines
Jan 20
Listening Outside the Lines

An Oral History Project part of the Lamoille Art & Justice Project
Folley Hall Gallery
January 20 - April 9, 2022

Oral history is the oldest form of historical study, and art is the oldest tool for appealing to human emotion. Listening Outside the Lines is a multimedia group exhibition exploring what it means to be a Person of the Global Majority (PGM; Black, Indigenous, or other Person of Color) in Vermont using oral history and inspired art. The exhibit will feature oral histories from PGM in Lamoille County as well as visual art and poetry from Vermont-based PGM artists Sarah Audsley, Alexa Herrera Condry, Harlan Mack, Crystal Stokes, Isadora Snapp, and Madeleine Ziminsky.

Listening Outside The Lines is part of the Lamoille Art & Justice Project, which merges public art, oral histories, podcasting and literature to foster connection and community for People of the Global Majority (PGM) in Vermont across generations.

Call and Response
Nov 8
Call and Response

Works by the Photographer’s Workroom
Copley Studio Gallery
November 8th - January 15th, 2022

Exhibition Reception and Artist Talk
Thursday, November 11th
5:30pm to 7:30pm

Tradition/Improvisation
Nov 8
Tradition/Improvisation

Fiber Arts by Kristina Snook
Folley Hall Gallery
November 8th - January 15th, 2022

Exhibition Reception and Artist Talk
Thursday, November 11th
5:30pm to 7:30pm

Of Openness and Closeness
Jul 22
Of Openness and Closeness

Paintings by Nitya Brighenti
Copley Studio Gallery
July 22nd, 2021 - October 29th, 2021

Of Openness and Closeness is a contemplation of muse, the closeness of studying a master's work, and the expanding perspective it inspires. Brighenti provides a written guide for each of the works, expanding the experience for viewers. Poetry weaves its way through each piece, sometimes framing an inanimate piece simply and other times casting shadows and exploring drama and depth.

Self: Reflection
Jul 22
Self: Reflection

Works by James Rauchman
Folley Hall Gallery
July 22nd, 2021 - October 29th, 2021

James Rauchman has been painting self-portraits for nearly 40 years in an attempt to grapple with being an outsider—a gay man and an artist—and reflect on identity within the context of a society not quite able (or ready) to accept him. The works push at the boundaries of portraiture, from unapologetically realistic to playfully abstract. After decades in New York City and other urban climates, James is delighted to be showing these works together for the first time, in Vermont where he feels he has finally come home.

ExhibitsLisa Wolfgang