Last month I was an artist in residence at Vermont Studio Center. Every month a new batch of exceptional artists make their way to Johnson VT to work in studios, eat meals together, discuss and make art in the green mountains. Being there is like artist heaven. Friendships were formed quickly and no one wanted to leave. Although we didn't know each other before September, we quickly found our home away from home there. Each resident is provided with modest shared housing. My lovely abode had a kitchen, bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and comfortable furnishings. In lieu of the last open studios night, I put together a group show of five artists (myself included) who each created a piece to be grafted into a part of this dwelling space. As everyone was walking from studio building to studio building, many took a detour and were invited to view art in this home context.

Joyce Nojima Tap Chan Jaynie Crimmins Kirsten Lund Melissa Browder Beck

Blue and Cheese by Melissa Browder Beck

Handmade ceramic cups and plates for crackers, cheese, grapes and wine. People were welcome to keep the plates and cups after enjoying.

Morsel by Jaynie Crimmins

Plastic spoon with lipstick remains, artist’s receipts. Jaynie uses her receipts and junk mail to create dynamic sculptures that look far different than what they are made from.

Untitled by Kirsten Lund

Felt and toilet paper bar. Kirsten delicately sews and knits fabric and threads into sculptures that form their way onto found objects or pieces of familiar ready mades.

Have a Nice Day by Joyce Nojima

Plastic bag. Joyce carefully soders small openings into plastic bags and paper, sometimes adding graphite drawings to create installations and sculptures transforming the simple materials.

In a Certain Mode of Lucid Dream by Tap Chan

Video projection. The video shows familiar spaces and objects within a home space but as seen through a shot glass, thus distorting what we typically understand we are looking at. Click image for video.

artists Melissa Browder Beck, Joyce Nojima, Tap Chan

Uncomfortably Comfortable by Melissa Browder Beck

Found chair. Melissa replicated the back of the chair three times repeated into the negative sitting space of the chair, making it no longer functional. A video played of the artist attempting various positions of which to relax in the chair in her studio, outdoors among people and in the featured living room. Click image for video.

Art, laughing, and singing (yes there was that) ...just a few of the things that happen when you get a bunch of artists in one place.