"Of Land and Local" Brings Artists to Several Vermont State Parks

By Rebecca Shwarz

Burlington City Arts (BCA), in conjunction with Vermont State Parks, Shelburne Farms and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, are pleased to announce Of Land & Local 2015, the 3rd annual statewide exploration of contemporary art. Of Land & Local is an annual multidisciplinary, statewide project designed to initiate a dialogue about issues surrounding art and the environment. New this year is a partnership with Vermont State Parks, which allows artists to be in summer residencies in select parks through August, as well as at Shelburne Farms and Marsh Billings.

Artists will be in residence at these locations making new work that responds directly to their specific location. This work created in the parks, along with additional work from 14 artists total, will be exhibited at Shelburne Farms from October 1 - 18, 2015, and at The BCA Center on Church Street in Burlington from September 25 - November 14, 2015. Click here for full details about the residencies and exhibitions.

By Alyssa Oxley

“We are so pleased to be part of the Of Land and Local partnership. State Parks have always been perfect places for nature inspired art of all kinds and this program allows us a chance to really showcase that value,” said Craig Whipple, Director of Vermont State Parks.

Artists will be in residence at Vermont State Park locations from late June through August. Many artists will be available to visit with while they are working. Visit the project website or the park office to determine whether an artist is currently on site. Project Curatorial Assistant Xian Chiang-Waren will be visiting the artists in residency and posting weekly updates from each location on the project blog.


ARTIST RESIDENCIES

By Wendy Copp

Button Bay State Park
Artist in residence:

Alyssa Oxley - from Vergennes, VT - Kiln formed glass inspired by nature

Rebecca Schwarz - from Burlington, VT - Participatory, post-consumer plastic sculpture

Residency Schedule: Alyssa Oxley has been sketching on site during June and early July and will be constructing her kiln formed glass panels in her studio in Vergennes. Alyssa’s onsite schedule will be updated on the project website. 

Rebecca Schwarz will be conducting two open studio weekends at the Nature Center in August. Please join Rebecca on August 7-9, and August 14-16. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the creation of Rebecca’s sculpture that embodies visions and revisions of the land, and dreams, nightmares and questions of the Earth. The materials come from discarded things we have on hand collectively and individually: plastics, trash, packaging, and other discarded and found materials.

Kingsland Bay State Park

Artist in residence: Alyssa Oxley

Alyssa Oxley has been sketching on site during June and early July and will be constructing her kiln formed glass panels in her studio in Vergennes. Alyssa’s onsite schedule will be updated on the project website.

By Elizabeth Nelson

Grand Isle State Park
Artist in residence: Riki Moss - from Grand Isle, VT - Imaginative mixed media creatures with an environmental focus

Residency Schedule: Riki Moss will be working at the Nature Center at Grand Isle State Park from 10am – 2pm on Sundays and Mondays, July 12 through August 17.

Elmore State Park
Artist in residence: Elizabeth Nelson - from West Glover, VT - Plein air painting in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom

Residency Schedule: Elizabeth Nelson will paint outdoors at Elmore State Park or in the Nature Center at the Park Tuesdays and Thursdays during the months of July and August. As her residency is weather dependent, we will update her schedule weekly on the project website.

By Lynn Sullivan

Groton Nature Center
Artist in residence: Lynn Sullivan - from Adamant, VT - A study of language in juxtaposition with the natural world

Residency Schedule: Lynn Sullivan will install her work in the landscape at Groton Nature Center during early August. We will post the installation dates and artwork locations on the project website once they have been determined.

Shelburne Farms
Artist in residence: Wendy Copp, Angelo Arnold, and Susan Raber Bray - from Burlington & Charlotte, VT - Functional forms constructed from grape vines

Residency Schedule: Wendy Copp and Susan Raber Bray will continue their project at Shelburne Farms mid- August from 9:00 am -1:00 pm Monday through Friday. The specific schedule for August will be on the project website once determined. Their first finished sculpture is currently visible, situated on a tree covered knoll by the Farm Road and walking path and can be viewed when heading west toward the lake.

By Lyal Michel

Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park
Artist in residence: Lyal Michel - from Tunbridge, VT - Contemporary narrative paintings in dialogue with the Marsh Billings Rockefeller collection

Residency Schedule: Lyal Michel will be in residence at the Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park from August 15th to September 15th. Lyal’s painting studio will be based in the rehabilitated Rockefeller Horse Shed and he plans to paint plein air within the park grounds as well. Lyal will set up an art related activity for the public at The Marsh Billings Community Day, taking place on August 22nd, 2015.




ALSO INVOLVED - EXHIBITIONS AT THE BCA CENTER AND SHELBURNE FARMS

Stella Marrs from Burlington, VT

A performative exploration of feminism, the environment, and community

Olga Koumoundouros from Los Angeles, CA
A Coast to Coast examination of class and labor within a precarious economy

Jeroen Jongeleen from Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Pushing the human body to its limits, while considering its impact on our surroundings

Kaylynn Sullivan TwoTrees from Hinesburg, VT
An installation drawing attention to Vermont’s often marginalized past

Jim Westphalen from Shelburne, VT
Capturing the decay of the built landscape in rural America

BCA Contact: Eric Ford 802-865-5355 or eford@burlingtoncityarts.org
Vermont State Parks contact: Rochelle Skinner 802-522-0841 or rochelle.skinner@state.vt.us

By Jeroen Jongeleen

Of Land & Local 2015 is sponsored by Seven Days and the Vermont Department of Tourism, and produced in conjunction with Vermont State Parks, Shelburne Farms and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Of Land & Local is part of Vermont Arts 2015, a project of the Vermont Arts Council, and is funded in part by a grant from the Vermont Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Farrell Distributing, Harpoon Brewery, Fluid Bar Service, Aqua Vitea and Bluebird Tavern are proud sponsors of BCA Center exhibitions and events. Of Land and Local 2015 is an important part of Burlington City Arts, celebrating over 30 years of supporting the arts, which is dedicated to the promotion of excellence, experimentation, and education in all forms of contemporary art. For more information about gallery exhibitions, special events, classes and workshops, please call 802.865.7166 or visit BURLINGTONCITYARTS.ORG.