FROM VERMONT ART GUIDE #5
Cooperative space in Bristol Village Builds Artist Community
In Bristol Village, a community of artists has formed. ARTSight is the brainchild of Karla Van Vliet. A few years ago, she and Lily Hinrichsen were looking for studio space. Hinrichsen wanted to recreate the communal atmosphere she experienced while working at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson. “I always loved how it took the isolation away from the artistic process, and nurtured a spirit of collaboration,” said Hinrichsen. Van Vliet discovered the building that used to house the Bristol Police Department had a variety of rooms for rent.
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Each issue of Vermont Art Guide has over a hundred places to see art around the state. The full-color, printed magazine has artist and venue profiles as well as articles and news about Vermont Art. Our goal is to document and share the state’s incredible art scene.
“After visiting it we immediately saw potential as the collaborative artist space we had wanted. The landlord was thrilled to bring in artists as tenants as it required little to no prep of each room for her,” recalled Hinrichsen. “And she has made the rent very affordable.” It was slow at first, but now all the spaces are taken. “While we love having our own private spaces, we also have a communal gallery space and ample south porch which we have used for community events like poetry readings, live music, and workshops.” Poet, painter, and jewelry maker Van Vliet and painting, collage, and monotype maker Hinrichsen are joined by Basha Miles, Rachel Baird, Reagh Greenleaf and Annie Perkins, who manages Art on Main at the other end of the village. On view in the fall in the Front Gallery, “Wall of Words” is mixed media pieces including repurposed books, collage paintings, collage pastels, as well as poems from the South Street Writers Collective, who meet at ARTSight twice a month. Reagh Greenleaf, Jr’s Vermont Celtic Co. and studio are at the back of the building. Greenleaf offers Celtic knotwork versions of Vermont natural/cultural icons and T-shirts, stickers and stainless steel pint cups.
Each issue of Vermont Art Guide has over a hundred places to see art around the state. The full-color, printed magazine has artist and venue profiles as well as articles and news about Vermont Art. Our goal is to document and share the state’s incredible art scene.
ArtSight is located at 6 South Street in Bristol. Call (802) 989-1333 or look for ArtSight Studios and Gallery on Facebook for more information.
SPECIAL NOTE: Vermont Art Guide is a quarterly, printed magazine about contemporary art in Vermont. We have three goals: 1) To connect the entire state’s art community by sharing information about exhibitions and events. 2) To present a picture of Vermont art and art in Vermont, to tell our story. 3) To build an audience for Vermont art inside the state and out. We hope you will join us by subscribing to the print edition today!