A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
Although the story behind For the Love of Vermont : the Lyman Orton Collection is closely intertwined with Orton ’ s autobiographical reflections , the greater scope of Vermont ’ s overarching artistic trajectory is also woven into the exhibition . In 1936 , the famed New York Times art critic , Edward Alden Jewell , came to Vermont to attend a little-known art show at the Burr & Burton Academy Gymnasium . Upon arriving in Manchester , he was amazed by the talent that he found in the foothills of Southern Vermont . It was the tenth annual show held by the Southern Vermont Artists , the emergent band of talented Vermont creatives who would eventually play a direct role in establishing the Southern Vermont Arts Center nonprofit in 1952 .
Jewell was taken aback by the technique and brilliance of the artist pool in Vermont . He also noted that the Vermont landscape lent itself nicely to artistic interpretation , largely due to the fact that it was “ superlatively rich in natural beauty .” Indeed , Vermont ’ s phenomenal scenery inspired legions of artists throughout the early and mid-20th century to move out of the city , flock to the Green Mountains , and savor a taste of muchneeded creative rejuvenation . Mead Schaeffer , Luigi Lucioni , Rockwell Kent , Bernadine Custer , Kyra Markham , Marion Huse , Cecil Bell and Arthur Jones , all made their mark on Vermont ’ s arts scene , along with many other renowned painters who are featured in For the Love of Vermont : the Lyman Orton Collection . recorder on and we just talked for a few minutes at a time while he told stories . Eventually , he elaborated on his stories some more , and I corroborated them with database research . We pulled it all together in less than a year .” Orton adds : “ Anita is a fantastic journalist and writer . It was great to work with her . She didn ’ t just sit there passively while we were talking and stick to the script . She kept plying me with additional questions , which kept the conversation going naturally . It was great fun , and I love the way that it all came together .”
Orton and Rafael ’ s book will be sold at both Bennington Museum and SVAC for the duration of the exhibition . In addition , Orton and Rafael will host an informative Q & A at SVAC with SVAC ’ s Artistic Director , Anne Corso on July 22 . “ We will have a public opening reception on July 22 on the opening day of the exibition ,” says Corso . “ The public is invited , and we want everyone to come out . We will have a Q & A with Lyman , Anita , and myself about the stories in the book . It will be a great way to kick off the exhibition !”
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words
The story of Vermont ’ s evolving arts community is also chronicled beautifully in an accompanying book by Orton and his journalistic collaborator , Anita Rafael , which bears the same title as the exhibition . Orton and Rafael worked together in a collaborative capacity to put the book together , which features richly-detailed histories of the Vermont arts scene , Lyman ’ s early years in Weston , and his process of repatriating the artworks . Before writing the book , Rafael embarked on an exhaustive online research campaign and conducted an extensive series of phone interviews with gallery owners and art historians .
Rafael shares that her interview process with Orton was very organic and conversational . “ I clicked the phone manchester life magazine 2023 35