DONNA DODSON ARTIST

Images, announcements and recent news about my upcoming, current and ongoing art exhibitions and sculpture events

The Transcendental Landscape Art Panel and Discussion

Landscape holds a special place in the hearts of many New Englanders, and as such, has often found its way into the art, poetry and literature of this region as a defining spirit. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and the transcendentalists found a spiritual home in the great outdoors. In much the same way that nature spoke to them, landscape has taken on new possibilities of meaning for contemporary artists as an inspiration for responsive, site specific, monumental sculpture.

The panel discussion will be hosted by Dr. Mike Volmar, Curator of Fruitlands Museum and moderated by the architect and artist William Turville. Notable speakers include Donna Hassler, Director of Chesterwood; Sharon Bates, Director of Art and Culture program at Albany International Airport; Charlet Hird Davenport, artist, Curator of SculptureFest, Director of Exhibitions, King Farm Woodstock, Vt.; and Debbie Hagan, New England art critic and former editor-in-chief at Art New England. New England artists Dillon Bustin, Amy Ragus, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein will round out the discussion with their experiences.

Among the many questions being asked during this lively and informative discussion will be: beyond these private venues, where art appreciators congregate, what does the public demand from a public art program such as the Albany International airport? How does the natural experience change the artist and/or art studio practice? How does the placement of art in non-traditional settings change the work and inspire an audience? How is the historic King Farm in rural Vermont enhanced by a public contemporary sculpture program? How do you include the public in this conversation?

Sharon Bates – Director of Art & Culture Program, Albany International Airport

Dillon Bustin – Folklorist, singer, song writer, filmmaker and playwright with a lifelong passion for Ralph Waldo Emerson’s work

Charlet Hird Davenport – Artist, Director and Curator of SculptureFest, Co-Founder and Director of Exhibitions, King Farm Woodstock, Vt.

Donna Dodson – International sculptor, arts journalist, participant – Verbier 3D Foundation Switzerland, blogger

Debbie Hagan – Director of Marketing Danforth Museum of Art, arts journalist for three decades. Former editor-in-chief of both Preview and Art New England.

Donna Hassler – Director of Chesterwood, a Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and former country home, studio and gardens of Daniel Chester French

Andy Moerlein – Artist in Residence at Fruitlands Museum, international sculptor, Derryfield School Arts educator, participant – Verbier 3D Foundation Switzerland

Amy Ragus – Photographer, collage artist, educator, with particular interest in Henry David Thoreau’s Walden and the Transcendental movement

FRUITLANDS MUSEUM | 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard, Massachusetts 01451

Prior to the start of the panel discussion, Moerlein will lead guided tour of his installations about the Fruitlands landscape at 11:00 a.m. Guests on his tour will see these large scale sculptures up close and hear the stories of their conception.

This event is open to the public and FREE with museum admission.

For more information about “Art and The Transcendental Landscape,” call (978) 456-3924 ext. 292

A group exhibition curated by June LaCombe

Bob Keyes wrote about ‘On the Wing’ for the Portland Press Herald. Read the article: Wild Times

To see IMAGES OF this SCULPTURE EXHIBITION at Maine Audubon click here

Culture Vulture II, 40″ tall, locust wood & paint, 2012 by Donna Dodson

Save the Date: Sunday September 16th, 1p The Transcendental Landscape Art Panel and Discussion at the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, Massachusetts.

The panel discussion will be hosted by Dr. Mike Volmar, Curator of Fruitlands Museum and moderated by the architect and artist William Turville. Notable speakers include Donna Hassler, Director of Chesterwood; Sharon Bates, Director of Art and Culture program at Albany International Airport; Charlet Hird Davenport, artist, Curator of SculptureFest, Director of Exhibitions, King Farm Woodstock, Vt.; and Debbie Hagan, New England art critic and former editor-in-chief at Art New England. New England artists Dillon Bustin , Amy Ragus , Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein will round out the discussion with their experiences.

Save the Date: Saturday & Sunday, September 22nd and 23rd, 11a-6p, Jamaica Plain Open Studios . Andy Moerlein & I will exhibit our work at my studio which is located at 93 Forest Hills St #3, on the corner of Green St and Forest Hills St in JP.

Save the Date: Saturday September 29th at 8pm, Waterfire in Providence, Rhode Island. Myth Makers : Andy Moerlein and Donna Dodson will build and set alight a Vessel of Fire at the Confluence at 8pm. If you have never been to Waterfire or seen the Myth Makers fire sculptures, this is a great opportunity to see us in action.

July 22 – Aug 19, 2012

Artists in the show include David Corsini, Jay Dimick, Donna Dodson, Jennifer Ell French, Sabrina Marques, Gage Prentiss, Marcella Anna Stasa and Kim Van Aelst.

The show will be up until Sunday, Aug. 19. Regular gallery hours are Thursday 4 to 8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Lilac Rhino, 26″ tall, wood, pigment, paint 2003 by Donna Dodson Photo Credit: Cliff Pfeiffer

Lilac Rhino was inspired by the colors on the Morton Salt Girl. She strides nonchalantly through life, singing in the rain, open hearted and stepping out to greet, life, come what may.

Show catalog available- call (207) 967-0049

View the show online at http://maine-art.com/

Sculpture by: Andy Moerlein, Donna Dodson, Elizabeth Ostrander, Andreas Van Huene and Tacha Vosburgh

Little Red Riding Hood, 32″ tall, wood, paint by Donna Dodson

Little Red Riding Hood is anything but little. Her big feet threaten to stomp on any wolves, or predators that would dare to cross her path. Her big shoulders allude to her inner strength.

Red Tail Hawk, 41″ tall, wood, pigment, enamel by Donna Dodson

Red Tail Hawk is common presence in our midst. Like a Haida sculpture, or a totem of a school marm, the steely gaze of her watchful eyes mind her charges with protection and good care.

Tiger Mom, 22″ tall, wood, pigment by Donna Dodson

Tiger Mom longs to march her children to the beat of the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother yet inside she cannot bring herself to do it. She suffers from a softness of heart and a fragile nature.

The exhibition POETRY ON THE LAND is Sculpture Fest’s offering to Bookstock’s weekend ‘festival of words.’

This year the annual Sculpture Fest season begins early with an outdoor exhibit of site-specific work, sculpture installations, sound pieces and poetry displays at the Vermont Land Trust property at the King Farm on King Farm Road . On Saturday, July 28th from four to seven the community is invited to join artists and poets for the official opening of the Poet’s Trail. Naming the Poet’s trail is inspired by Martha Perkins’ students of poetry at Woodstock Union High School who have studied poetry along the trails and in the fields and meadows of the farm during Spring term. Poems are posted along the trails, paths and hilltops of the farm offering a unique experience of walking on the land. In addition these creative students made a digital movie which is part of the POETRY ON THE LAND exhibition.

Twenty three artists are included in the outdoor exhibition. There are site specific installations, sound pieces, sculptures created from material found in the farm buildings and on the land as well as a mini retrospective and new video and sound project in the farm’s old creamery by Dennis Grady. Grady is an artist who has been involved in Sculpture Fest for throughout its history. Examples of other visual art by Dennis will be displayed throughout the season in Davenport’s studio/gallery space at 509 Prosper Road.

The Vermont Land Trust invited Sculpture Fest directors Peter and Charlet Davenport onto the land three years ago. This is the third exhibition on the site offered to the community. Artists currently participating in the “Poetry on the Land” exhibition include Lynn Newcomb, Worcester, VT (selection of new and past work at both SF sites) Ethan Ames, Brooklyn, NY Gordon Auchinchloss, Hardwick, VT John Bieling, West Windsor, VT Seth Callendar, Woodstock, VT Charlet Davenport, Woodstock, VT (site specific installation) Peter Davenport, Woodstock, VT Murray Dewart, Brookline, MA Donna Dodson, Jamaica Plain, MA Herb Ferris, West Windsor, VT (work created from King Farm fallen tree) Dimitri Gerakaris, Canaan, NH Dennis Grady, Pomfret, VT (new video/sound installation and past work sited in new locations) Bruce Hathaway, Richmond, VT Andrew Hellmund, Massachusetts Henry Homeyer, Lebanon, NH Lela Keen Jaacks, Brownsville, VT (site specific installation) Barbara Kaufman, Woodstock, VT Wendy Klemperer, Brooklyn, NY Jay Mead, Hartland, VT ( site specific installtion) Jeffrey Porter, Tunbridge, VT Margaret Sheehan, Hanover, NH Li Shen, Thetford, VT Adrian Tans, Woodstock, VT Judith Taylor, Woodstock, VT Jamie Townsend, Springfield, VT (introducing a newcomer to sculpture fest) James Irving Westerman, Morrisville VT Kenneth Woodhead, Woodstock, VT.

The King Farm show has become an important part of the annual Sculpture Fest experience which traditionally begins on the Saturday of Labor Day week end. This year the opening at the Prosper Road location at the Davenport’s will add once again to the season of viewing art on the land when it opens on Saturday , September first with an exhibition titled “Living Art”. A special living sculpture by Bonnie Gale, nationally recognized living willow artist will be featured at that time. Meanwhile visitors are welcome to observe the changes and growth of the Bonnie Gale sculpture on the north side of 509 Prosper Road location. Both exhibitions will continue through foliage season. There is no admission charge , all are welcome dawn to dusk at both locations. For a list of artists, upcoming events, directions go to SCULPTUREFEST.ORG or call Charlet at 802 457 1178.

I will be exhibiting my sculpture, Elephant Oracle at the King Farm during Poetry on the Land.

The Elephant Oracle is the wise old one to whom we turn in times of confusion, doubt and indecision. The Elephant has a memory that never forgets. Perhaps it is a paradox that one who knows so much says so little. Yet, in its presence, we find the courage in ourselves to listen.

Image, courtesy of Sculpturefest: Elephant Oracle, 8 ft tall, styrofoam & cement, 2010 by Donna Dodson

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