At Home
I’ve returned home and reflecting on my month in Vermont. And it seems that I brought the cool and rainy weather home with me. I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge that I gained. Stay tuned for updates in the http://edspaintings.blogspot.com/ site. A few final photos from Vermont.
Dining Hall, Studio and friends
Entertainment in Johnson, VT
Besides the interesting lectures and presentations provided by visiting artists and the VSC artists and writers, there is other entertainment here. I was completing work in my studio one evening last week. I heard music and followed it to a source down the hallway in “the Gym” discovering a dance party. How convenient…so close to my studio. I thank my dance partner, Erin, for sharing these photos.
Knowing that I don’t enjoy laundry, a few of my buddies asked me to join them. I was promised an interesting experience. Amazing how a group of artists can turn a mundane chore into entertainment. The adventure began when we made a collective decision to drive to the Laundromat. It is important to mention here for those not familiar with the metropolis of Johnson, VT that the Laundromat is only two blocks from VSC.
The return trip was a bit longer, since we traveled to Morrisville (10 miles one-way) for videos and stale Dunkin Doughnuts (I didn’t know they made them only in the morning…where’s a “HOT” sign at the Krispy Kreme when you need to fulfill a late night attack of the munchies). A near disaster was averted when Elizabeth used her alertness and good driving skills to dodge a skunk crossing the highway (I was more impressed by the skunk’s skill at getting the h*!!-out-of-the-way of our swift Volvo).
It was like a heat-wave today (I think it possibly made it to 80 degrees if one sat in a sunny spot). Sporting flip-flops and shorts, the residents of VSC made trips to rivers, creeks and swimming holes. Ivette and Erin directed me to this beautiful place less than 2 miles from VSC. Childhood experiences in the Blue Ridge Mts., taught me that the water temperature here would be like ice-water. Yet, not to be outdone by the girls, I succumbed to my inner macho and plunged into the water. I think I screamed like a little girl (and, to think, I was worried about letting them paint my toenails last week). 2 hours later, I regained the feeling in my feet. Below is our swimming hole...looks like fresh glacial water, doesn't it?
Painting Party at Pearl House
Not what you are thinking. Painters don’t always have to paint on canvas. The following photos show a few of my painting buddies, Erin, Ivette, and Elizabeth. We are in the sitting area above my room in Pearl. The first photo is them busy painting their toenails. In the second photo, they are thanking Roger for packing a bag of snacks for our 14 hour driving trip last week (guess he thought he could bribe me with sweets when I became too unruly...didn't work...I think he said something about tranquizers for the ride home).
Because the food has been so healthy, good and filling here at VSC, I’d not been tempted to raid the snack bag in my car. That is until Elizabeth said the pedicure party wasn’t complete...we needed junk food. No one really wanted to make a run to the store in the rain...then I remembered the snack bag. The party had been saved! The girls had originally threatened to paint my toenails…but thanks to the sweets, chocolate and Poppycock…everyone was fulfilled…and my toes were spared.
Saw the sun today.
For the first time since I've been here, the sun came out today. It happened just after lunch and stayed out for about 3 hours. It is raining now. The photo at left is of the main street in Johnson. The white churchlike building is another painting studio called 'Church' and the red brick building is a bookstore. The Chinese take-out restaurant is just out of the left side of the photo (behind the flag)...after Roger reads this I'd bet he calls in an order of Sweet and Sour Chicken wherever he is.I have been working on small, but more serious paintings. I am happy with the results and my progress at this stage. This setup is excellent for the way that I tend to work. I get to the studio after breakfast, work as much as I can until lunch. I help Louise in the gardens for a couple of hours (part of my work-study grant). And return to work in the studio for about 3 hours until supper. I work for another hour or more in the evening.This evening we went to the Lecture Hall (another converted church, photo below) and saw slides of 6 fellow artists' work. Maybe it was the church setting, or the 2 hours of weeding in the gardens, or most likely the second helping of bread at dinner...something caused me to nodd-off during the presentations...I hope the art god wasn't watching me.