Q : Vermont has always been a sanctuary of innovation in every sense , and its music scene is certainly no exception . As you mentioned , there are a lot of talented people here . As someone who has successfully taken their creative gifts to the global stage , what do you think is the best way to help other Vermont creatives bring their art and music to a wider audience ?
Grace dancing in her woodland Godess cap ( Made here in Vermont ).
A : When I started Grand Point North at Waterfront Park in Burlington , my aim was to show the whole world just how amazing Vermont really is . Yes , Vermont is charming in a classic sense — it has cows , pastures , delicious ice cream , maple syrup , and cheese — but Vermont is also propelling multiple generations of creative and innovative people , and they don ’ t necessarily have an immediate access point in Vermont . It is harder to make a splash in a big city than it is in a small town . But , if you really want to reach people on a global scale , you do need to not be afraid to step into those larger places like Chicago , Nashville , Austin , and New York . The tiny corners that Vermont provides serve as seed pods for creative development , like the Bread Loaf School . There are many places like that in Vermont where people incubate unimaginably big concepts before they bring them out to the world . I think there ’ s a need to go beyond the mountains and hidden driveways , take our creativity beyond our brave little state , and become brave individuals who understand that the metaphoric womb that we grew up in here is just the beginning . It ’ s a great gift to have that protection , peace , and tranquility to grow these big , wild ideas , but there is a moment where we need to take it beyond that .
Q : You ’ ve done just that in your career , and it ’ s inspiring to say the least . You and your husband , Eric Valentine , have also constructed a gorgeous artistic sanctuary of your own here in Vermont with a multi-purpose studio space , which you dubbed the “ Sonic Forest .” What was the primary inspiration behind its construction , and what was the vision for the space that you wanted to create there ?
VTMAG . COM FALL 2023 21