Flourish
April 7 - June 30, 2018
Six years ago, the Flynn exhibited VSA Vermont’s Engage, a juried show that introduced the work of 35 visual artists with disabilities. FLOURISH continues this work in partnership once again with VSA Vermont as well as Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. A statewide call garnered 46 submissions and 31 works in acrylic, oil, and watercolor; drawings in ink, pastel, crayon, and charcoal; photographs, ceramics, weaving, as well as mixed-media sculpture and assemblages were chosen by both new and established artists.
Artists include: Marguerite Adelman, Willow Bascom, Larry Bissonnette, Lindsay Bluto, Makayla Cota, Gwendolyn Evans, Dan Fisher, Robert Alan Gold, Katrina Hagen, Jef Hill, Annie Jackson, Todd Julius, Anna King, Alexis Kyriak, Carol Langstaff, Michael Leavitt, Karen J. Lloyd, Winnie Looby, Lennon, Justin McQuiston, Michelle Monroe, Lissa Nilsson, James Primm, Sasha Maglen Ross Becker, Eva Seyller, Kaelyn Shannon, Jonah P. Sprout, Melody Squires, Kathy Velon, Pamela Wagner, and Gail Wheeler.
Curatorial Statement on Flourish
Six years ago, the Flynn hosted an exhibition presented by VSA Vermont entitled Engage that featured 35 Vermont artists with disabilities. In this current exhibition, Flourish, the Flynn again collaborates with VSA Vermont as well as Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
I had the pleasure of curating this show. In the call for applicants, we did not ask the artists what their disabilities were, since society too often defines people by their disability. Here we want people to ‘flourish’ as artists. A statewide call garnered 46 submissions with 31 artists selected.
Works in acrylic, oil, and watercolor; drawings in ink, pastel, crayon, and charcoal; photographs, ceramics, weaving, as well as mixed-media sculpture and assemblages are featured by both new and established artists, demonstrating an extraordinary range of aesthetic expression.
Organizing the exhibition, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet many of the artists, their families, caregivers, and communication partners. Their backstories only amplify the majestic artistic accomplishments on view here. I hope you will be as delighted as I am.
John R. Killacky
Executive Director
- Exhibition sponsor Amy E. Tarrant
This exhibition is funded in part through support from Ford Foundation, Courtney and Victoria Buffum Family Foundation,Vermont Arts Council, Vermont Community Foundation, and Surdna Foundation.