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.