The Worst That Can Happen Is They Reject Me

Just finished applying to be a part of the The Art of Action project sponsored by the Vermont Arts Council:

The Arts Council is collaborating with Vermont entrepreneur and philanthropist Lyman Orton on a unique project:  The Art of Action - Shaping Vermont's Future Through Art.

Ten visual artists will be commissioned to create two-dimensional works of art that address issues shaping Vermont’s social, political, environmental, and economic future.  Informed by the work conducted by the Council on the Future of Vermont, "The Art of Action" project is designed to inspire people to take action to realize their vision for the future of our state. 

Commissions will range from $10,000 to $40,000 and average $25,000.

I had to provide 9 images of example art, my resume and an "artist statement" of fewer than 4000 characters.  Figured I might as well share it with you:

Vermont: Far Away Close

I’ve never applied for any type of grant before, let alone an artistic one but since I am currently on an Amtrak train returning to Vermont from Washington, DC, I thought I might as well use the time to try something new.

I grew up in Ohio and moved to Vermont in 1991 after graduating from college in Maine.  My grandparents lived in New England so we usually spent at least a couple weeks up this way every year, and often drove through Vermont.  The contrast between a literal flatland and the Green Mountains is obviously stark and I always found this state’s landscape to be welcoming, friendly and cozy, which is the main reason I came here after school.

I got a job that had me travel all over the country and while I enjoyed going to new places, particularly cities, nothing was better than coming back to the cool mountains of home.  I’ve owned a camp in the Northeast Kingdom for 10 years and one day I realized I didn’t get to spend enough time there, nor in my state exploring, so I started going on 251 Club jaunts, which I document online (www.251club.org).  Part of the sensibility that informs my photographs in general comes from an exhibit I saw in Denver, CO, several years ago called Colorado Then & Now, featuring pictures William Henry Jackson took of the state in the 19th century and John Fielder replicating them in 20th to show how the landscape changed.

I live in cow country and have seen the living, working landscape evolve as farmers subdivide, new bedroom communities are established when industry and business move in, etc.  I wonder about the inevitable changes brought about global warming: will we see more patchwork quilts of agriculture spring up as local food production becomes more important, with forest or developed land reclaimed for such use; will family farms be able to recover if petroleum-based fertilizers and gas-powered equipment become even more expensive; will barns and covered bridges and old churches be maintained when communities cut back on “luxuries”?

A lot of what draws people to Vermont is the Bob Newhart, picture postcard mythos, and it will be a challenge to maintain that character we and our visitors cherish whilst creating a sustainable economy and environment.  My eye is usually drawn to balance and contrast between agriculture, forest and the invasion of modern life, all of which are impacted and have impact on our tax base, infrastructure and ability to teach our children how to survive and thrive in a new world.

I’d like to spend the year more rigorously documenting the unique and the mundane aspects of Vermont life in all 251 towns photographically and try to capture both the picturesque, idealized landscape and the close-up details that you can only see if you come here and get off the paved roads, to show how things are changing for better or worse, falling apart or being sustained. I hope these images are representative of how I look at and present our state.

Shed – sheds, shacks and barns in various states of upkeep are a good indicator of Vermont’s cultural and agricultural “health”

Southern Vermont – from a train this week, a stereotypical farm community beyond cell service

Pumpkin Harbor – a few miles from my house we have the ski industry in the background and a farm in the fore split by a paved road

Cows – the other direction from my house, such scenes are common because roads necessary for non-farmers like me have divided farm land

Day Ranch – zoning, what zoning?  Guests are usually astounded to see horses and other livestock in residential areas

Fletcher Garage – the old garage retains character that our new one lacks

Swing – Tilley Farm, recently subdivided for development by Pizzagalli

Windsor-Cornish Bridge – how people might see Vermont from Amtrak

Randall Bridge – details oft missed as you ride by

Thanks to Ericka for first discovering this was even going on and for encouraging me to actually try for it.

ntodd