In 2000, Grassroots Art & Community Effort, or GRACE as most people know it, took over the old firehouse in downtown Hardwick and turned it into an art center. The historic firehouse was built in 1885 and is located in the heart of Hardwick’s commercial district. GRACE always seems to be at the heart of it all. It began in 1975 at the St. Johnsbury Convalescent Center. Their mission is “the discovery, development, and promotion of self-taught art to elders and other underserved populations in Vermont.” Originally conceived as a program for instruction, founder Don Sunseri quickly realized that participants had a remarkable talent for creating narrative, sometimes autobiographical, imagery.

Considered folk or outsider art, the work of GRACE participants has been recognized with numerous exhibitions in Vermont and New York City and work has found its way to a number of public and private collections. Gayleen Aiken, a GRACE artist, was the subject of a film by Jay Craven and, in 1997, The Enchanted World of Gayleen Aiken was published by Harry Abrams, Inc. Artwork is for sale at GRACE in Hardwick and online at the organization’s website.

Grassroots Art & Community Effort (GRACE)
13 Mill Street (Vermont Route 15), Hardwick 05843
(802) 472-6857
WEBSITE

The GRACE Studio and Gallery is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10AM-4PM. Work by GRACE participants can also be seen in ongoing exhibitions at the Hardwick Area Health Center, Stoweflake Mountain Resort (Stowe) and Catamount Art Center (St. Johnsbury).