Check out these amazing Vermont artists:
Julia Zanes Cindy Blakeslee Rona Lee Cohen Valerie Hird Susan Jane Walp
The unifying thread between them is that I first encountered their work at the Kent Museum in Calais, VT. Along with apples, glorious foliage and good sleeping temperatures, fall in Vermont means it’s time again for Art at the Kent.
Passages 1 ©2006 Elizabeth Fram, Hand-dyed, hand & machine stitching on silk and cotton, 32″H x 33″W I will have 20 or so pieces in the show this year. In many ways, those selected represent a survey of my work. While they are all connected via the idea of memory, the lure of color and texture manifested through stitched, drawn and painted marks remains constant. The pieces shown here are a teaser. As many of you know, in the early days, art quilts were my main means of expression. It was a medium that allowed for the interruptions and inconsistent work hours that go hand in hand with raising a family.
For me, it’s always been a treat to see the work of friends, as well as artists I have followed from afar, appear on the Kent’s walls and on its surrounding grounds. But just as exciting is knowing that each show will introduce me to artists I was completely unaware of previously. This is the beauty of an exhibit that highlights only Vermont artists and, until this year, has never repeated any of them.
Taking Pause ©2014 Elizabeth Fram, Paint, stitched-resist dye & embroidery on silk, 21″H x 33″W This is one in a series of dog-walk shadow pieces that marked a time of upheaval and transition. Walking the pooch in the early morning hours was one piece of our routine that remained regular during those months.
A quick swing through the exhibit archives is a testament to Vermont’s incredibly rich creative sector. I’ve had to pinch myself over the past months, knowing how privileged I am to soon be among them.
Disparate Pair ©2014 Elizabeth Fram, Verithin pencil on mylar, 10″H x 8″W Also one in a series, these pieces tell a story through the shadows and seemingly distinct personalities of decades-old chairs on a cottage porch.
There will be 22 of us exhibiting this year. I’m intrigued to see how all the work will interact with each other and with the historic building which houses the exhibit. I have every confidence the experience will be as remarkable and unique as it has been every other year, thanks to the vision of curators Allyson Evans, Nel Emlen, and David Schutz.
Letters from Home: Mussel Memory ©2022 Elizabeth Fram, Stitched-resist dye & embroidery on silk, 12″H x 16″W As we were emerging from the pandemic, I wasn’t ready to give up on the house shape after spending months making my 3-D “Covid Houses”. One day I had the epiphany that the shape of an open envelope is the same as that of a house. With that, I began a number of “Letters from Home” pieces, most of them carrying memories of Maine.
In fact, one can’t help but wonder how they manage to pull together a show that hits it out of the park, year after year. As always, this year’s exhibit “Holding – Mementos Kept, Memories Kindled” will most certainly contain viewpoints that are diverse, thought-provoking, inspirational and, not least, a celebration of the act of making itself. What more could one ask?
Fleeting Reflections ©2025 Elizabeth Fram, Watercolor & knotless netting on paper, 6″H x 8″W On the heels of my Full Bloom series, I have become interested in knotless netting, incorporating it within paintings. As you can see from each of the pieces above, as new work develops, one element will invariably carry through from one series to the next – be it shadows, stitching, or portraits.
Have I piqued your interest? I hope so. Please come between September 12 and October 12 to see for yourself. I’ll be at the opening on Saturday; see you then?
And to further entice you, there are numerous accompanying events scheduled throughout the exhibition month, including:
