T. Breeze Verdant is a Vermont Artist who started woodworking by building log cabins using found materials from the landscape. Even when building, T. Breeze was focused on reusing material from demolished buildings and harvesting selectively to avoid clear cutting. At 47 years old, T Breeze discovered his natural gifts when directed to two careers, artist/entertainer, when taking an employment interest survey at the Brattleboro career office. Although he had been doing art for 10 years, it was this defining moment that pushed T. Breeze to focus full time on his art. T. Breeze is never at a loss for creative ideas and has worked in the field as a successful VT artist for 35 years.

T. Breeze creates majestic boxes, jewelry, musical instruments, furniture and wall hangings out of recycled materials such as chunks of shipwreck ebony, brazilian bloodwood, copper wire, piano strings, ebony flat keys from pianos, swordfish bills, brazilian tulipwood, and more. According to T. Breeze, “Nothing is sacred, material wise! The local outhouse seat has gone into some great earrings!” T. Breeze mostly focuses on jewelry at this stage of his career for he feels it allows him freer artistic rein than other mediums. Reflecting on his practice, T. Breeze speaks about his childhood and tendency to express his artistry in cabins, houses and even as a kid mowing the law in diagonals and circles to create visual images. T. Breeze also holds workshops on “The Basics of Inlay.”

States T. Breeze, “In a world that is so fragmented and contains so many threats to balance, it is not easy for me, or anyone to figure out what to do. One has to figure out what activity and purpose in life brings us to a wholeness , keeps our core intact. For me that is being creative with my artwork and music.”

Additional Info:

https://tbreezeverdant.com/

Youtube @tbreezeverdant397

Angela Siebrecht, a Colombian artist with a deep connection to nature and a flair for creativity. Angela's passion for art first took root while studying industrial design in Colombia. However, it was her 20 year history in Vermont that truly developed her artistic spirit.

In 1999, Angela visited Vermont for the first time and was instantly captivated by its stunning natural beauty and thriving art scene. The woods became her sanctuary, a place where she could hike, explore, and draw inspiration from the world around her. It was during these moments of serenity that Angela began experimenting with unconventional materials like bark, feathers, flowers, and even animal hair and fur. She fearlessly incorporated these elements into her artwork, along with recycled materials, ink, paint, and anything else that caught her eye.

In 2019, Angela and her family made the life-changing decision to permanently relocate to Vermont. Alongside running a restaurant and supporting her son's snowboarding dreams, Angela reignited her artistic career by establishing her own work studio. This allowed her to fully immerse herself in her art, creating pieces that beautifully capture the essence of Vermont's natural wonders.

Throughout her artistic journey, Angela has been fortunate to showcase her work at prestigious venues such as the Southern Vermont Art Center (SVAC), ArtHouse, and The Hermitage Inn. Her art has found homes in various locations, from Connecticut and Vermont to New York, California, London, and even Scotland.

Angela is immensely grateful for the support and encouragement she has received from the local community. She invites you to connect with her on social media to explore more of her captivating artwork and stay updated on her latest creations. Thank you for joining Angela on her artistic adventure!

Additional Info:

- Instagram: @angelasiebrechtartwork

- Website: https://www.angelasiebrecht.com

Hugh Joudry came to Vermont in 1968 to work for the US Forest Service as a Fire Watcher atop Stratton Mountain. Although Hugh was stationed to spot fires, he spotted much more in the beautiful Vermont landscape and became inspired to start carving and enjoying the forms of things unknown, which is still, to this day, his passion. Hugh is a self-taught carver who works off of the inspiration of the environment around him. Hugh credits VT and his 50 plus years in the state as connecting him to his art form. Hugh is not only a prominent VT artist, but a dedicated community member who took on the role of caring for VT Long Trail Hikers for 50 years with his wife, Jeanne Joudry.

Hugh has created inspirational pieces with both marble and wood. Hugh also uses charcoal on paper to capture the forms of things unknown in similar ways to his sculptures. During his career, Hugh earned a fellowship to learn the process of bronze casting and a certificate in mold making from Johnson Atelier in Princeton, NJ. These experiences not only expanded Hugh’s repertoire, but provided him the opportunity to work with many world-famous estates, such as Henry Moore’s.

After camping with a friend who chiseled small blocks of wood with a mallet, Hugh was inspired. As Hugh states, “It was amazing! From that time, I felt that I too could successfully manifest presences that I sensed and perceived in the dense and wild forest around me in nature.”

Additional Info:

http://www.hughjoudry.com/

www.greenmountainclub.org/hugh-and-jeanne/

Hugh has shown in both solo shows and group shows throughout VT:

Gallery in the Woods, Brattleboro, VT.

Yoga Wanderlust Festival, Stratton, VT.

Retrospective show at the Southern Vermont Art Center, Wilson Museum, with painter Terry Hauptman.

The Bennington Museum, “Peace, Love and Harmony, The 70s in Vermont”

The Bennington Museum “Haunted Vermont.”

Dover Movie Theater, Dover VT

Jeanne Joudry came to Vermont in 1968 from Buffalo, NY to work for the U.S. Forest Service as a Fire Watcher. She later worked for the Green Mountain Club until 2022, making herself a permanent figure in Vermont culture. Jeanne gives credit to the fantastically varied landscapes of Vermont, which have inspired her work since her relocation. Jeanne not only is a prominent artist within the Vermont art scene, but she has also given back to the Vermont community; she has dedicated 50 years as one of the caretakers of the tiny cabin atop Stratton Mountain, while caring for Long Trail Hikers with her husband Hugh Joudry.

Jeanne has a B.F.A. in painting and graphics from SUNYAB, Buffalo, NY. Jeanne worked as a graphic designer for many years, specializing in book design both in Vermont and New York. While in New York, she worked as an Art Director at Dover Publications during the 70’s and 80’s. However, Jeanne always felt her true passion was to paint. Moving to Vermont and immersing herself in the culture and connecting with people allowed her to experiment freely with painting. Jeanne uses oil and acrylics to find the essence of landscapes and other forms around her.

As Jeanne states about the VT landscape, “Never a dull moment, the views are always in a state of change.” Jeanne also speaks to the benefit of working atop Stratton Mountain, “It was a wild and beautiful place to be for six months of the year. As a painter, being in such a remote place gave me much inspiration.”

Additional Info:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Che-7-aMEXw/

www.greenmountainclub.org/hugh-and-jeanne/

Jeanne has shown in both solo shows and group shows throughout VT:

The Parsonage, Stratton, VT.

Southern Vermont Arts Center, Yester House, Solo Show. Manchester, VT.

Bennington Museum. “Peace, Love & Harmony. The 60s in Vermont.”

Spiral Press Cafe, Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, VT.

Catherine Dianich Gallery, Brattleboro, VT.

Gallery in the Woods, Brattleboro, VT

Zacchio Fine Arts Gallery, Manchester, VT.

Dover Movie Theater, Dover, VT

Judy Hawkins is a Vermont Artist who uses the inspiration of Vermont landscapes to capture the mood and feelings of dramatic skies, marshy setbacks and water reflections to enchant viewers. Judy was born in Brooklyn, NY and grew up on Long Island. Judy developed a passion for drawing at the early age of six, inspired by her uncle who was an artist and encouraged by her parents who built her a studio in the basement of their home. During high school, Judy spent her spare time drawing, painting and taking private art lessons. She attended Boston University School of Fine Arts for one year and the Brooklyn Museum School, where she was able to work under the nationally-renowned artist Peter Forakis. Judy spent time painting in Soho where she made artistic connections that influenced her work and provided her with lifelong friends. She returned to school at Windham College in Putney, Vermont where she received her B.A in art and geology, and fell in love with the VT landscape. Being an artist means that one understands the aesthetics of many things around oneself. Judy spent years obtaining degrees to teach young Vermont students. She taught art at Windham College under celebrated watercolorist David Rohn and later created a dedicated studio space for her to paint and to provide private art lessons to high school students. Judy also worked as a special educator for 30 years at public elementary schools to help students develop strategies for their success.

Judy’s oil paintings use gestural brushwork and unexpected color to create mixtures of expression. Judy allows the paint to guide her inspiration; drips and accidental color combinations all guide her vision as well as her recollections of the landscapes she sees. Loose interpretation helps Judy to convey passion, excitement and moments of calm. Judy has given talks and painting demonstrations in Vermont and New Hampshire to help encourage artistic expression and understanding .

Judy has traveled throughout Mexico, Central America and Chile. However, it is the Vermont landscape that has taken a hold of her heart. As Judy states, “I fell in love with the beauty and peace of rural life and settled in the Putney area which had a vibrant art community.”

Additional Info:

https://www.judyhawkinspaintings.com/

Judy is a founding member of:

The Windham Art Gallery in Brattleboro

The Putney Craft Tour, which started 45 years ago

Judy has shown solo and group shows as well as has corporate and business sales:

Shows and Galleries:

One Person show at West Village Meeting House, Brattleboro, VT

One-person show at Crowell Gallery, Newfane, VT

Group show at Diana Felber Gallery, West Stockbridge, MA

(3) One-person shows at Furchgott Sourdiff Gallery, Shelburne, VT

Year-round Exhibitor at Four Columns Inn, Newfane, VT

Corporate and Business Sales:

Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro, Vermont, 2014: purchase of four paintings

Evanston Hospital, IL, 03/2015: twelve very large limited edition Giclee prints were purchased for the main lobby

Meditch Corporation, Massachusetts: purchase of Giclee print to hang next to Astronaut James Lovell paraphernalia

ER Waiting Room, Chicago, IL, 2013: purchase of large Giclee print

NuMark Credit Union, Tinley, Illinois, 2013: purchase of large Giclee prints

Collectors in Connecticut: purchase of fourteen oil paintings for their collection

Collectors who live in Israel, 2014-2021: purchase of five oil paintings

Baltimore, MD collector: purchase of seven paintings for her collection

Judy Hawkins’ paintings are in private collections throughout the United States

Random House bought rights to one of Hawkins’ River series paintings published in a book written by Benedict Carey, science writer for the New York times, September, 2014

Judy has donated paintings to benefit Youth Services and Early Essential Education, Westminster Cares and Westminster West Congregational Church

Richard Foye first came to Vermont in 1962 and attended the Putney School. While at the Putney school, Richard was introduced to painting, woodcuts, engraving and etching. Richard was drawn to etching and the creation of two-dimensional art. Richard’s mother was a graduate from Massachusetts College of Arts in Boston in the 20’s. Having a love for art, she encouraged Richard's work by taking him to the Gardiner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston many times as a child. Richard attended U.V.M and graduated with a degree in philosophy, but spent most of his final year in college working with silver jewelry, etching, engraving, and finding magic in the pottery workshop. Richard returned to Putney and attended Antioch Graduate school graduating with an M.A. in teaching but continued to make poetry the entire time. Richard began to sell his poetry at outdoor craft shows in the summer and teach at Fletcher Farm Craft School in Ludlow during July and August, all through the 70’s. Richard has always enjoyed teaching the craft of pottery as well as making poetry and, for this reason, participates in the New Hampshire League of Craftsman where he mentors artists. Richard continues to sell his pots at craft shows in New England and New York, and from his own workshop.

Richard currently creates “Raku” pottery. The Japanese word “Raku” is loosely translated by Richard to indicate “a hopeful expectation of an unknown and delightful outcome from his humble exertions.” Richard knows surprises do come that are not always delightful, but enjoys using a technique in which the medium uses its voice to influence creation. Richard uses traditional methods of clear, crackled glaze used over different colored clays which render whatever color the clay was to the glaze. Richard employs straw, pine cones, moose dung and pine shavings to develop the various glaze effects seen on his pots.

Continuing to mentor those in the community, Richard speaks about the program with the New Hampshire League of Craftsmen, “I mentored a very talented potter whose previous incarnations were dancing with Alvin Ailey Dance troupe and as a dancer in Lion King. This proved to be a delightful experience, and reminded me of how much teaching at Fletcher Farm meant to me in my twenties.”

Additional Info:

https://rockriverartists.com/artist/richard-foye/

Cell: 802-348-7927

Studio: 802-380-2592

Ann Coleman is a local celebrity in the Deerfield Valley who not only creates, but supports the arts by participating in Community Arts Fundraiser projects when possible. A resident and painter of the Mount Snow Valley for over 45 years, Ann started to develop her creative talents as a child, doing commissioned works even before graduating high school in Amherst, NY. Her secondary education included study in Austria at Salzburg College and the Salzburg Art Academy, graduating from Skidmore College with a BS in Studio Art. Ann came to Vermont to teach skiing, which she did for 36 years, as well as coaching alpine and nordic ski racing. In 2022 she completed skiing the length of Vermont on the 310 mile Catamount Backcountry Ski Trail. For the last 3+ decades, Ann has lived on a dirt road along the southern border of Vermont where she nurtures flowers and veggie plants, feeds birds, glides on snow, peddles over countless hills, sails, gazes at stars and creates beautiful images that have been exhibited throughout the eastern U.S. and are found in homes around the globe. In August of 2007, she fulfilled a long time dream and opened her own gallery in historic downtown Wilmington, Vermont. In December of 2009, she bought a derelict building on Main St, Wilmington and moved in. With renovations only millimeters from completion, Tropical Storm Irene's floodwaters of August 2011 picked up the entire structure and deposited it into Lake Whitingham. She lost 44 of her original works and over 400 prints. Ann continues the search for a more permanent home to house her forever growing collection of masterpieces. In the meantime her work can be seen in various locations of the Southern Vermont Deerfield Valley, the Vermont Pastel Society and, even more conveniently, online.

Ann Coleman, an accomplished watercolorist and photographer, presently focuses on pastels. Her passion for vibrant color shows up in a wide array of Vermont scenes and other various subjects of joy. Her works include Vermont landscapes, garden images and an impressive array of finely detailed portraitures done in pastel. Ann is always open to discussing new ideas for commissioned works when it comes to your favorite scene.

Ann has always felt that art is her calling. As she states, "God must have painted my genes - the artist in me has always been there."

Additional Info:

www.AnnColemanGallery.com

www.instagram.com/AnnColemanArt

www.facebook.com/Anncolemangallery

​Ann's work can be found at the following locations:

Bartleby's Books, second floor, 17 W.Main, Wilmington, VT

River Valley Market, 661 Rt. 100 N, Wilmington, VT

Vermont Distillers, 7755 Route 9 E, West Marlboro, VT

Trail 87 Restaurant, 271 RT 100, West Dover, VT

Mount Snow Grand Summit Hotel, 89 Grand Summit Way, West Dover, VT

The Wilmington Inn, 41 West Main Street, Wilmington, VT

Member of: VermontPastelSociety.org

Kate Follett was born and raised in Vermont. Kate is a seventh generation Vermonter from Proctor, the center of the state’s marble quarrying industry. Kate’s ancestors labored in the bones of the Green Mountains and she grew up free to roam in the woods and fields in a town where everyone knew each other. Kate began painting while living in Salem, Massachusetts after she left Vermont to attend college and work in Boston. Kate took classes with local artist Debra Highberger and, through these experiences, realized she would be painting for the rest of her life. Kate came back to Vermont to be in the mountains again, purchasing a converted sugar house with a purpose-built art studio.

Kate works to capture the wildness of the landscape in her painting. She seeks inspiration from mid-20th-century “expressionist landscape” painters such as Rockwell Kent’s New England works; Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings of Lake George and the Southwest; and especially the Group of Seven and Emily Carr, artists who first planted the flag of modernism in the wilds of Canada. Kate's oil paintings represent the timelessness of the natural world. Within her paintings, bright colors, extreme angles, flattened forms, and distorted views express her inner feelings and ideas to others. Kate’s work is influenced by the wilderness she inhabits. Her travels through the American West can be seen in her desert, prairie and mountain landscapes. Since moving to the Deerfield Valley, kayaking drew Kate to water which has become a common theme of her work.

Although Kate enjoyed her time outside of Vermont, she states, “Though I enjoyed working and living in a city, surrounded by friends and nightlife, I never felt at home outside Vermont, even a state right nextdoor. I always planned to return to the Green Mountains; though it didn’t end up happening for twenty years.“

Additional Info:

www.katefollettfineart.com

Instagram: @kefollett

Kate has shown group shows:

The Salem Art Association in Salem, Massachusetts;

The Anchor House of Artists in Northampton, Massachusetts

Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, Vermont

Fischer Arts in Chester, Vermont

Juried shows around the Northeast.

Robert Burch moved to Vermont in 1969 from a ranch in Iowa where he raised black Angus cattle, to be part of a Vermont commune. Robert has been working in blown glass since 1971, while maintaining a broad production line. He is increasing his focus on one-of-a-kind and commission work. Since 1977, Robert’s works have been shown in numerous shows across the country. Robert had a dramatic introduction with glassblowing in the late 1960′s when glassblowing was still known as a re-emerging craft. While visiting at Penland School of Arts and Crafts, he came across a cabin in the woods and peered through the door to see a guy blowing glass. Entranced by the sensuality and movement of the glass, Robert knew this was to be his craft. He attended Goddard College and, by 1978, Burch had his first glassblowing studio in Plainfield, Vermont. Robert’s company, Brandywine Glassworks, now supplies over 200 shops and galleries nationwide with exquisite vases, perfume bottles, paperweights, and sculptures - each handblown by Burch. Robert is an experienced teacher who guides learners through their first glassblowing attempts. Making your own piece of handblown glass can be an adventure that Robert enjoys making possible to others.

Robert’s glasswork consists of vases, perfume bottles, paperweights and sculptural pieces, with his current specialty being worlds that incorporate veiled silver glass with delicate bubble patterns. Intimate in his relationships with each piece, Burch can easily identify his work from years past.

Robert says, “Most of my inspiration comes from my natural surrounding, and is further enhanced by the beauty of the glass in its molten state. I am fortunate to have found work that I love and that allows me to be creative.” Occasionally, the roles are reversed: “Sometimes I feel like a tool the glass is using.”

Additional Info:

www.robertburchglass.com

Putney Craft Tour Spotlight

www.facebook.com/robertburchglass

For the past 21 years, Patrice Schnieder has been an integral part of Vermont, dedicating herself to the revitalization of the Valley. Collaborating with the Mount Snow Chamber, she played a pivotal role in pioneering various local arts projects, showcasing her creative prowess in initiatives like the Bears in the Valley, Vermonsters, and the Chairs in the Valley, where she painted three chairs. As an on-air personality for The Snow Show at Mount Snow, Patrice not only hosted interviews but also advertised local information, providing information to both locals and visitors in the Valley. Patrice's journey in Vermont began with her employment at Bennington Tile, where her creativity and sales skills flourished. Her expertise assisted customers in selecting materials to enhance their homes, particularly in kitchens and baths. Drawing from a decade of experience as the owner of Demer Art, a ceramic business, Patrice's creations, spanning jewelry to home accents and sculptures, earned recognition at art and craft shows nationwide. Notably, her work found placements in esteemed retail outlets like Nordstroms and Jacobsons, with a featured TV appearance in Nashville, TN. The transition to Vermont served as a catalyst for Patrice's artistic evolution. Inspired by the region's luminosity, landscape, and vibrant community, she explored different mediums, ultimately finding her artistic expression in oil paint. Patrice's unwavering dedication to the arts stands as a testament to her transformative impact on the Valley's cultural landscape.

Patrice holds a BA in painting from The Catholic University of America, where she was honored with The Citation of Distinction. Her commitment to artistic education led her to study at The John Cass School of Art in London, The NY Studio School, the Philadelphia Art Academy, and the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. Accomplished in various mediums, including clay and porcelain, precious metal clay jewelry, printmaking, pencil and charcoal drawing, acrylics, and watercolors, Patrice has recently returned to oil painting. Despite putting her artistic dreams on hold while raising her daughter, it was her daughter who inspired Patrice to rediscover large-scale drawing and oil painting.

Originally from suburban Westfield, NJ, Patrice's artistic journey took her from Washington DC to various cities until a chance encounter with her now-husband in the Green Mountains changed the course of her life. Reflecting on her move to Vermont, she shares, "After visiting Vermont, I realized I was light-deprived - something no artist wants. I decided I needed a change of pace. The light and the landscape in Vermont spoke to me, and even before my chance encounter, I had made up my mind to make Vermont my home." Art has always been a part of her life, but it is Vermont that provided the life and inspiration Patrice needed to continue her creative work.

Additional Info:

Phone: 802-375-3610

patricegmon@yahoo.com

Patrice has participated in events throughout the Valley:

The Deerfield Valley Players

The Snow Show- on air host

Bright Lights Craft Show 2022

The Bears in the Valley Project

The Adirondack Chair Project

Ray Warren moved to Vermont in 2000. An avid supporter of the arts, Ray has bought and sold art from around the world through the 70’s. This spurred Ray to start creating art in the 80’s while attending acupuncture school, a healing art. In 1999, Ray earned his MFA in writing. During this time, Ray learned and taught ballroom dancing, which he considered a form of healing art through movement. Ray has written a number of poetry books, self-help books and a memoir. Although Ray has worn many hats, today Ray is dedicated full-time to his artistic endeavors.

Being an enjoyer of movement, Ray finds the variations of shapes within the burls to be enticing to work with. Ray works to clean them up, while also looking for what they might reveal. Often the shapes are just flowing abstracts but at times there are creatures that may present themselves. Ray has always been interested in creating art, whether with paint, or found items of wood, words, or movement.

As Ray states, “Life can provide so many opportunities for expressing oneself. Mostly, I’ve made art for myself; making art is something I've always enjoyed, along with other occupations. My inspirations come wholly from nature and my surroundings, and I love to share it.”

Additional Info:

ray@shallwedance.biz

Books:

"Taming Chronic Depression"

"How to Eliminate Stress"

Taming the 'Hour of the Wolf':Bedside Companion of Personal Affirmations

Poetry Healing series; 1, Lunch by the River of Life; 2, River of Souls; 3 Love and Live; 4 I Am F.I.N.E

Memoir: Windblown, Chasing the Dragon

Young Adult novel entitled "Sammy's Revenge"