I live in a house built in 1914
as a wedding present for the artist Georgia Balch, and I work in a gallery,
built in 1984 as a memorial by the artist Alden Bryan for his wife, the painter
Mary Bryan.
Riding to work every day, I
pass the Vermont Studio Center, where
working artists enjoy the opportunity for focused, independent work, with
support of their peers. In another mile, I pass the birthplace of Julian
Scott, whose career in the military was overshadowed by his career as a
Civil War artist. My daily journey covers 162 years of Vermont art
history, and is a reminder of why I have chosen to live here.
Everywhere I turn in "my Vermont," the
arts are supported by the people, whether by historical markers or living monuments,
the process of making art, which can be lonely, challenging and complex, is
appreciated and fostered here.
There is something about the
support of the people that steers me, like the stars in the sky, through the
journey in my own studio. It encourages
me to embrace the adventure of creativity with confidence, knowing I live in a
community that knows when to leave you alone, and when to
applaud.