Chicken Art in Brandon

It is a tradition in Brandon, VT to get attention as an art community by the visual impact created by generous volunteers and members of the juried cooperative group of artists exhibiting at the Brandon Artists Guild. I am very proud to be a part of this group. It is a lot of fun to interact with these talented people as we gather together for painting projects. This year we are asking the question,

 "What's Hatching in Brandon?".

 It will be a big visual impact in the town and a lot of colorful FUN!!

In addition to decorating the town, the Brandon Artists Guild will be showing and selling themed art work by the members in a variety of media. The following pictures show the progression of my piece. It started last year, when I purchased 16 baby chicks. They are my models and inspiration.

A Barred Rock and Rhode Island Red.

I named all of them, but eventually it became difficult to tell them apart.

We ordered 3 Silver Laced Wyandotte hens. I named them Barbie, Joanie, and Patty, after my sisters. When I finally figured out why they had fancy tails and crowed, I renamed them Buddy, Joey, and Patrick, and then called them the "brothers". We kept Joey, the gentlest, and found homes for the others.

I desided to use the composition of the first photo but switch the Red for Joey, keeping the chickens black and white with a contrast of "kaleido-flowers" in random spontaneous patterns.

I used all Bullseye glass that I recently purchased.

Dichroic glass has the unique characteristic of totally different color based on transmitted or reflected light.

For example a single piece of glass may be turquoise when light passes through it, and then a shimmering red when light bounces off it. Another is bright purple with light going through it, then becomes metallic gold in reflected light.


The opening for this show is May 25th at the Brandon Artists Guild

7 Center Street Brandon, VT 05733
802-247-4956

A Brief Vermont Winter

"Ski Run Dream"

In the spirit of giving to a cause of great personal passion, I created this panel for the 2012 Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sport's Ski Challenge Auction. A square of white/clear swirly glass is painted and fired, with a layer of 3 soldered pieces behind it to add more color. The beveled border makes a prismatic brilliance. I observed a Tiffany window at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC where layers of glass were placed behind the panel to create enhanced color affects and softened lines. Tiffany studios created special glass with actual textures and colors specific for a project and painted details were used sparingly.

The stand was made by my friend Dick Kirby of Brandon. Dick volunteered on the Pico Mtn. Ski Patrol for many years, possibly starting some time in the 50's into the 80's. He is over 80 now and is very active creating fine metal work sold at the Brandon Artists Guild.

I typically volunteer at Pico Mountain, and occasionally at Killington, 2 or more days a week from Christmas to April. So it was very sad that the March heat wave melted away the remaining snow, bringing the season to a grinding halt.

It is hard to imagine how it would feel to live with a disability. Some of our children have lived with it their entire lives, but many of our adults have had to transition into difficult challenges and acceptance of becoming disabled. I worked with a partially blind young woman ex-Marine this winter from Nevada. Her vision impairment is recent and possibly related to serving in the military. She was very happy to learn to ski! Our clients get great joy and satisfaction in their skiing experiences. This is a gift we can give to them.

So now Vermont Adaptive has plans to build a permanent building for offices, equipment, volunteers, and clients at Pico. You can help with a donation through www.firstgiving.com, then specify "Vermont Adaptive". Thank you.