These banners are my contribution to a three-part public arts project involving three distinct public art installations by three Vermont artists for the town of Bethel, Vermont. The project, Art on the River, was organized and coordinated by the Bethel Revitalization Initiative and funded thanks to an Animating Infrastructure Grant from the Vermont Arts Council. Each banner celebrates a unique aspect of Bethel's culture and identity as a community, and each topic was selected based on feedback from the community itself.
While the White River is in the heart of Bethel, it's hard to see it from Main Street. The three art projects in Art on the River focus on bringing the essence of the river to Main Street. The trout on the mural by Mary Lacy, depictions of Peavine Park and river views on select banners, and natural, curving shapes of the benches crafted by Lindley Brainard all evoke the beauty of the river.
The banner subjects are, in the order shown here: Bethel, Vermont, on the Map; Family Farms; The Bethel Bandshell: Community Entertainment; Peavine Park: River Recreation; Bethel White Granite; Bethel Town Hall: Community Engagement; Bethel Artisans; The Bethel Apple. The eight banners will be hung on lampposts in downtown Bethel in the Spring of 2018.
Scroll down to view a selection of illustrations for Regifts, a collection of poetry by Robert D. Grappel. The collection features art and photographs by myself and two other artists. For this reason I was allowed to freestyle the illustrations, responding to each poem individually. The result is a diverse collection of works.
Cover Illustration based on the poem "Manzanar." Translated from Spanish as "Apple Orchard," Manzanar was the site of a Japanese internment camp built in California during WWII. The plan of the camp is overlaid with apple, tree branches, and cherry blossoms. One of my favorite in the book, the poem reveals the dark places our twisted misconceptions about identity and concepts of belonging have lead us again and again. Among other poignant ironies explored in the poem is the fact that apples are no more native to America than cherries are to Japan.
Illustration for "Baggage Charges" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for "Raw Materials" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for "Bay of Naples" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for "Finding the Third Way" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for "Dot the Dragon's Eyes" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for "The Plastic Christmas Tree" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for "Death Without a Casserole" by Robert Grappel.
Illustration for “Blenheim Cemetery” by Robert Grappel.
Cover illustration and a selection of illustrations for poems by Robert D. Grappel in his first collection titled "Gifts."
The creators of the Wanderfull.be concept wanted some artwork to give as gifts for donations to their startup. The following images riff off of their playful concept of escaping everyday gravity by achieving lightness of being through easy access to yoga practice.