First, a huge thank you for the kind, supportive comments and emails so many of you sent after my last post. I am so very appreciative.

A tiny portion of Janet Van Fleet’s exhibition “DEI: All Kinds of People”, offset by glorious gladiolas from her garden

One thing I know to be true (or which is at least true for me): art is a through line. Like friends, it is a constant that is steadfastly supportive and often distracting at just the right moment. I have been reminded of this fact often over the past weeks and have been leaning on it accordingly.

© Janet Van Fleet  Be sure to zoom in on all images in this post  to see the full character of these wonderful figures

There hasn’t been time for me to make much of my own work lately, other than the brief sketch here and there. But I have made a point of grabbing what moments I can to view the work of others — in books, online and, most importantly, in person. And doing so has been tremendously restorative.

© Janet Van Fleet

Sunday, I visited Janet Van Fleet’s 2-day exhibit “DEI: All Kinds of People” at Towle Hill Studio in Corinth, VT. Especially at this point in time, it was both an important reminder and, beyond that, a reassurance of our collective connection regardless of our differences.

© Janet Van Fleet   Never one to shy away from hard truths, Van Fleet addresses issues head-on

© Janet Van Fleet

I am a huge fan of Janet’s work, especially her ability to create a magically inventive world out of what, to the average eye, are throw-away odds and ends. She is a modern day alchemist who, through the mirror of her art, guides us to see the various layers of our humanity without taking ourselves too seriously.

©Janet Van Fleet

This latest assembly of quirky and fantastical figures spans a spectrum of poignancy, humor, endearment, relatability, enlightenment and depth; these works have a soul. In other words, she has created a gathering that is essentially just like all of us.

The Alchemist ©2023 Elizabeth Fram, Watercolor, buttons & embroidery on paper, 11.5 x 8.5 inches

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Another fun distraction I recently discovered is The Art Detectives on Amazon Prime. You may be able to stream it, or alternate versions of it, on other platforms. It’s all sorts of nerdy, arty historical goodness. Enjoy!