Think of Vermont, and it may conjure images of bucolic hills dotted with fabled hamlets inhabited by eccentric intellectuals, passionate liberals, earth mothers and artists. This predominantly liberal-leaningtoward-radical state was not long ago staunchly republican, with a social fabric vastly different than that of today. Yet, many elements of Vermont’s traditional agrarian roots remain. Tolerance of opposing opinions, neighbor helping neighbor, a disdain for idle gossip and a love of the land are all hallmarks of the Vermont way of life. Vermonters are by and large good listeners, and will eschew the obvious for a more studied view of things, in politics and in life. The 1960s brought great change to Vermont, both demographically and politically. Phil Hoff was elected as the first Democratic governor since 1853. In 1965, the federal government ruled that Vermont must reapportion … [Read more...] about BACK TO THE GARDEN: FIELDS OF CHANGE AT BENNINGTON
modernism
ENDLESS INSPIRATION ON MAINE’S SEACOAST
By Meghan Richter Surrounded by the tremendous, lush greenery of its forests, that alternated with the boundless coastal views as the salted breezes permeated through the windows of my car as I drove through the state of Maine, I found myself engulfed by the passion and inspiration of many of its artists. From realists to modernists, these artists flourish in a bountiful cultural scene, up and down the Maine seacoast. With the newly opened Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) and Farnsworth Museum nearby, Main Street Rockland hosts a series of galleries, including Dowling Walsh and Carver Hill Gallery, where the local artists’ works provide a unique take on what it means to be an artist in Maine. One of 25 galleries in downtown Rockland, Landing Gallery, was filled with local seascapes and of colorful renderings of fields and forests. In contrast, Asymmetrick Gallery, … [Read more...] about ENDLESS INSPIRATION ON MAINE’S SEACOAST