In addition to helping recognize and celebrate Craftsbury’s uniqueness, the project’s purpose is to help promote a community wide consideration of our sense of place in way that is accessible to a spectrum of ages. Its second purpose is to work collaboratively with and raise funds for three of Craftsbury’s cultural institutions: the Art House, the Babcock House of the Craftsbury Historical Society, and the Craftsbury Public Library (an ABC of its own!).
The third goal is simply: to have FUN.
In the summer and fall of 2012, we placed fill -in- the blank lists, ("A is for ______; B is for ______") at the Art House, the Babcock House of the Craftsbury Historical Society, and the Craftsbury Public Library for the public to write in their ideas.
In November, former New Hampshire Poet Laureate and author, Marie Harris read from G is for Granite, A New Hampshire Alphabet Book, then shared ideas for Craftsbury's own Alphabet Project — an a-to-z list of things unique to area (to see a short slideshow of the reading please click here.)
In February 2013, local artists, Kristin Urie, Viola Reil and participants of the Art House home-school art class illustrated some of these contributed ideas.
Sarah Mutrux, executive director of the Art House digitized the images and designed an interactive poster (some letters have intentionally been left blank for others to color in their ideas).
The poster made its debut at the Craftbury Town Meeting in March 2013, and is available by donation from each of the three contributing institutions.The Art House
The Babcock House of the Craftsbury Historical Society
The Craftsbury Library
Future plans for the Craftsbury Alphabet project include a picture book and a community mural, for which the the Art House is hosting two events this spring:
Tuesdays, April 9, 16, and 23
3:30 - 6:00 pm • $10 per day. Drop ins welcome.
Put your mark on this community mural project. We need your help to create a three-panel traveling mural inspired by Juilia Shipley’s Craftsbury Alphabet and designed by Burlington artist Tara Goreau. This collaboration can be paired with Heather Stearns’ tile making workshop to create tiles that will fit into the design and onto the surface of the mural. When finished, this mural will tour Craftsbury and beyond, and will coincide with the release of the Craftsbury Alphabet book that is in the works.
Saturday, April 13
10:00 am - 12:30 pm • $50
Heather Stearns of Muddy Creek Pottery in Wolcott welcomes students into her beautiful studio in the woods to create their own glazed clay tiles. Students may work with her to create 26 alphabet tiles as part of the community mural project, or work on their own set of tiles for their homes. Heather will teach carving, shaping, and glazing techniques. Tiles will be fired after they have dried and will be ready for pick up at The Art House within two weeks
For more information please visit http://www.vermontarthouse.com/
