Brattleboro-West Arts Spring Exhibit at the Crowell Art Gallery

NEWFANE, Vt.: As we wake from the torpor of winter, our landscape is transformed by the return of the song birds and emergence of new growth all around us. In a celebration of those new beginnings, the Crowell Art Gallery at the Moore Free Library will be flush next month with a bloom of artwork by members of Brattleboro-West Arts.

The group exhibit, appropriately titled “Spring!,” will run from May 2 through 30 and features many media, such as paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor (including on tea bags) encaustic, alcohol ink and pastel, as well as ceramics, fiber art, collage, printmaking and more.

Brattleboro-West Arts was founded in 2009 by artist neighbors who recognized the vibrant creative community that exists in the watershed of the Whetstone Brook. Since then, membership has grown to include dozens of professional artists and craftspeople, who come together to explore ways to enrich the artistic life of southern Vermont.

“Spring!” will include two- and three-dimensional works by 16 members of BWA: Beth Aten, Maisie Crowther, Kay Curtis, John Dorsey, Cyndi Ferrante, Lesley Heathcote, Naomi Lindenfeld, Steve Lloyd, Heidi Mario, Kris McDermet, Greg Moschetti, Sharon Myers, Gene Parulis, Jack Pombriant, Carol Violanda and Jen Wiechers.

Heathcote says her new series of songbirds in the medium of soft pastel was spurred by the change of seasons.

“The return of species like the Phoebe, the brightening feathers of the goldfinch and an increase of singing and nest building mark the return of spring in Vermont,” she said. “As the days get longer and warmer, this increase of visibility, activity and vocalization brightens my spirit.”

K. Curtis, who helped organize the exhibit from the beginning, put it more succinctly, with an exclamation echoing her painting that shares its title with the exhibit:

“Springing up! Flowers galore and so much greenness! So delicious because winter was so l-o-n-g!”

Come and shake off the chill at a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. May 16, where you will have the chance to meet the artists and share some refreshments.

Crowell Art Gallery is located at 23 West St. in Newfane. The gallery is open from 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 1 to 6 p.m. on Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

For details about Brattleboro-West Arts, including profiles of these and other member artists, image galleries of their work and information about past and upcoming events, please visit brattleboro-west-arts.com.