West Brattleboro, Vt. — An exhibit by Brattleboro artist Kay Curtis now graces gallery spaces at All Souls Church through the end of July. One of Kay’s larger paintings, “Diversity,” from a series she based on themes in the All Souls Covenant spoken from time to time at worship services, hangs permanently in the church parlor.
“Say Something New!” is a collection of twenty-one other works of Kay’s art created over the past thirty years. “I had great fun placing new marks on earlier work, and revisiting who I used to be,” Kay shares. “I took photography in college but have never shown the photos I love to make. In the spirit of this, showing new things seemed possible.”
The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, June 22, from 2:30 to 4:30. Please take advantage of this special opportunity to speak with the artist about her work while enjoying bountiful refreshments. Otherwise, the exhibit is open to the public from 9 to 1 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, as well as during Sunday morning worship services and other public events in the building.
A whimsical and bold style resonates in the pieces in this exhibit, which Kay created using many different materials including gouache and India ink resist, oil paint, collage, drypoint monoprints, block print, and fabric, and which also include a few photographic prints. Each work has its own story told by the artist. Kay’s distinctive style is full of visual leitmotifs reflecting years, experiences, and time. She used this show to break free of the constraints of the usual and “say something new.”
Kay has been making art since she was seven. For thirty-six years she made this her daily routine, producing a line of block-printed cards and fabric mobiles. In 1990 she began creating art shows to explore themes in her life. In 2000 she relocated to the East Coast and created a Reggio Emilia-inspired school for children in Brattleboro, Vermont. Her work is influenced by Ben Shahn, Hundertwasser, Corita Kent, Stuart Davis, Paul Klee, and always the children. Kay says she is self-taught, having “never been good at taking instruction.” She believes her childhood growing up in the West Indies influenced her palette and design preferences.
All Souls Church, also known as West Village Meeting House, is located across from the village green at 29 South Street in West Brattleboro, just 1.2 miles west of Exit 2 off I-91. Situated across the road from the fire station, the church driveway leads up through the woods to a large parking area.
For further information, call the church office at (802) 254-9377.
