Friday, May 7 at 5 p.m.—BRANDON— It’s spring! And the Brandon Artists Guild is showing Signs of Life — the name of its latest exhibition. Signs of Life features works by printmaker Jeannie Podolak and painter Dan Brett. The exhibit runs from May 7-July 5.
“Tenacity,” acrylic on wood
A free opening reception will be held Friday, May 7 from 5-7 p.m. at the gallery at 7 Center Street, Brandon.
In Signs of Life, Jeannie Podolak of North Chittenden, and Dan Brett of Whiting, have created bodies of work that reflect their emotional and creative journeys through 2020.
Dan Brett, a mostly self-taught, multimedia artist, draws his inspiration from nature, both bright and dark. For Signs of Life, he has chosen beetles — real and imagined — as symbols of what’s required to deal with the challenges of the pandemic and upheaval.
“For me, beetles embody a delicate, beautiful strength and quiet resilience in the face of adversity,” Brett explains. “I’ve named the beetles after qualities that got us through lockdown: Pugnacity, Whimsy, Tenacity, and so forth.”
“Hope,” a monoprint
Jeannie Podolak earned her degree in art education and studio work in printmaking from the University of Massachusetts.
“Printmaking becomes a physical conversation,” Jeannie Podolak said. “Rolling out ink, the touch of paper, the pressure of the press, and the nudging of accidents into purpose, are what inspire me.”
Her scroll images, with titles including “Patience,” “Surfacing,” “Hope” and “Passage,” take their names from the emotional stages of life under Covid.
“I hope the viewer may find one image kindred to their own personal journey,” she explained.
The Brandon Artists Guild is an artist-run gallery with approximately 30 exhibiting artists and additional supporting members. As a nonprofit cultural organization, the gallery supports the visual arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations, and educational programs.
The gallery is located at 7 Center St. in Brandon, and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit BrandonArtistsGuild.org.
