NEWFANE-The Crowell Art Gallery at Moore Free Library is now showing "Volunteers' Choice," a show featuring a variety of artwork created by volunteers, as well as some by local artists, through Saturday, Nov. 29.
A reception will be held Sunday, Nov. 16, at 3 p.m.
This show focuses on thanking gallery volunteers and allowing them to display their favorite pieces they possess or have made.
"I think it's a great idea to get everyone who may not have a whole collection or consider themselves an artist who can exhibit, but we all get to kind of participate," artist Jaye Settle says.
This is the first volunteer art show at the library and gallery.
"The idea came up that since we're all art lovers, that it would be fun to have an exhibit of art that we've chosen, either art that we've collected from other artists, or art that we've created ourselves." says Beckley Gaudette, the library and gallery director.
Gaudette talks about how there is a lot of art in the area and how the show provides an opportunity for artists to hang their work.
"Some of us have enjoyed artwork from southern Vermont artists ourselves, and have some of those pieces in our home, and it's very exciting to be able to bring it to our gallery and share it with the community," Gaudette says.
'Making everyone feel like an artist'
Settle, whose painting appears in the show, explains that this will be her first time displaying artwork, other than on Facebook.
"I was really excited when Beckley announced this," she says. "I thought that it was really lovely to make everyone feel like they were an artist."
Settle has been creating art her whole life, ranging from pastels to crazy sculptures. "I love just trying something new all the time," she says.
She has advice for beginning artists.
"Do art. Just do art all the time. You're an artist if you make art. And so that's all that you have to do, is do it," she says.
She says that "the sky's the limit, especially here in Vermont, for being able to get the word out about your stuff."
"I really like going to the library classes and the free programs, because I feel like there's always an enthusiastic expert who wants to teach you, and you get kind of a taste of it," Settle explains.
Joining the Crowell Community
Settle describes why a show highlighting volunteers is important to the community.
"I feel like it makes us feel included ... to feel like we're important people, too, is really great," she says. "Plus, I feel like we're going to get a lot more people from the community to come into the art gallery, because all of us are going to drag our friends and family there.
"I think it's a great idea to get everyone who may not have a whole collection or consider themselves an artist who can exhibit, but we all get to kind of participate." Settle says.
For Gaudette, the show is also a form of appreciation.
"We have a lot of volunteers who are involved with the library, and I think this is a way to thank them for their time, because they love art," she says.
And for volunteers, "it's quite a community of people here. And also people learn things."
"So even if they're retired and have left their professional jobs, there's things always to learn here at the library," Gaudette explains.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities, email moorefreelibrary@gmail.com or call 802-365-7948.
This Arts item by Alyssa Grosso was written for The Commons.