Wood Block Relief Print by Janet Cathey: Ice on the Third Branch River
March 20 - May 8, 2021
The Tonic of Wildness
Wood Block Relief Prints by Janet Cathey
On display at the CVMC Art Gallery until May 8, 2021
THE GALLERY at Central Vermont Medical Center is currently not open to visitors without a medical appointment. This may change as Covid cases become fewer in our area and as the vaccination becomes more available. Please call 371-4100 to inquire.
Artist Statement
We Need the Tonic of Wildness….
Henry David Thoreau
I take walks almost every day in natural places around my home in Vermont. Patterns and shapes made by the interplay of sun, water, and wildlife nudge me out of my everyday worries. Immersing myself in the practices of carving, mixing sticky ink colors, and rolling them out in smooth layers also does the trick. I hope my creations provide a tonic to viewers.
I grew up in a town called Lake Forest, in Illinois. The Lake was Lake Michigan, a short bike ride from my home. The Forest was small patches of woods, everywhere, including in my back yard. I spent lots of time exploring the lake shore and woods, so it was a natural transition when I made Vermont my new home in the early 80’s. I live in Randolph and continue to explore the woods and shores of rivers and lakes. I especially enjoy the Connecticut River, the Green River Reservoir, and the shores of Lake Champlain.
I have always enjoyed making things and dabble in many different art media: fabric, embroidery, wool, pastels, colored pencils, and paint, and I share these and more with children in my profession
as an elementary school art teacher. A current ongoing art obsession is printmaking. I learned printmaking by participating in many workshops over the years at Two Rivers Printmaking Studio in White River Junction, a fully- equipped community studio of artists and learners.
A few summers ago I had the opportunity to travel to the coast of Devon, England, to learn from Merlyn Chesterman, R. E., an amazingly accomplished woodblock printmaker who shares my interest in depicting light on water. My time in Devon with Merlyn profoundly influenced my printmaking. All the prints in this exhibition speak to that influence.
For more information about THE GALLERY at CVMC please email Maureen O’Connor Burgess, Curator, at moetown52@comcast.net.