Artist Reception for “Birds and Myth: meanings, metaphors, and guides”

"Galway Shawl, Cardinal" painting by Dara Theodora. Red cardinals encircle a woman in a blue hood. Her face is visible through clouds. Shown with the artist's permission.

Visitors are invited to our low-key informal welcome reception for our 2025 show, Birds and Myth: meanings, metaphors and guides, on the afternoon of July 24.

Explore visual and written art at your own pace, meet creators, be inspired, ask questions, and browse through the book of artists’ statements.  Examine art, thoughts, or discuss meanings with other visitors and artists. What myths with and about birds inform you, challenge you, guide you?

You are welcome to come early to the Museum and stay for the reception; come at the time of the reception; or just drop in part way through.

Included with Museum admission, but donations welcome. Please register! If we know how many people are coming , we will have enough refreshments, chairs, and so on. Call the museum at 802 434-2167.

Artists, Photographers and Poets :

Alice C (Burlington)
Alison Forrest (Huntington)
Alyssa B (Colchester)
Amanda Makepeace (Watkinsville, GA)
Anita Michele (Swanton)
Annette Goyne (Richford)
Aprille Soons Palmer (South Hero)
Cat McKeen (Essex Junction)
Chris Selin (South Burlington)
Dara Theodora (Fairfax)
Deana Allgaier (Huntington)
Deb Runge (Williston)
Denise Letendre (Castleton)
Elisabeth Mazzilli (Moretown)
Elodie Parthenay (Longueuil, QC)
Greg Didyoung (Wilmington)
Hannah Mahar (Grand Isle)
Heather Rusch Zelonis (Bristol)
Henry S (Jericho)
Jamie Quint (Richmond)
Jennefer Jolls (Williamstown)
Jessica Wilson (Saint Albans)
Jo Marsan (Johnson)
JoAnne Wazny (Enosburg Falls)
Judy Crocker (Burlington)
Julia S C (South Hero)
Julie Dunigan (South Hero)
Karla Van Vliet (Bristol)
Katrina Meyers (Colchester)
Kay Johnson (Hinesburg)
Kristen Donegan (Essex)
Kristin Dexter (Essex Junction)
Lily Hinrichsen (Bristol)
Lisa Acerbo (Trumbull, CT)
Marcia Vogler (Charlotte)
Miriam Adams (Hinesburg)
Nancy Leeman (Huntington)
Nancy Stone (Williston)
Nicole Gadouas (Swanton)
Olin P (Middlebury)
Patrick McAllister (Burlington)
Pedro Salas (Starksboro )
Peter Aldrich (Essex Junction)
Richard Crocker (Burlington)
Sandra Morris (East Middlebury)
Sandra VanVooren (East Hartford, CT)
Sarah Rosedahl (North Hero)
Steven Farrar (Richmond)
Theo Chang Andreu (South Burlington)
Todd Kiel (Bolton)
Tonya Whitney (Williston)
Tricia Knoll (Williston)
Viviane P (Richmond)
William Chaiken (posthumous)

Although the art is indoors, the reception will be generally outdoors, weather permitting.

Read more about the show elsewhere on our website.

Image is “Galway Shawl, Cardinal” painting by Dara Theodora. Shown with the artist’s permission.

Birds and Myth art show continues (July)

Art by Jamie Quint. Watercolor /mixed media. A bald eagle (visible from shoulders up) looks at the viewer. A yellow circle frames its head; words beneath it say "Follow" "the guide" "Magnificent" "The Power" "Warrior". Shown with permission.

Birds and Myth continues in July! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

Birds are some of our teachers, not only through our senses and observations, but also through our stories about them. These stories can be factual accounts, broader myths, or something in between. Legends, beliefs, representations, truth, insight, guidance, metaphors, meanings, and understandings all play a part.

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on the ideas of birds, myth, meanings, metaphors, and guides. We called for art that brings birds and their meanings to retell an old story, weaves several together, represents beliefs, and/or creates a myth for the future.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Alice C (Burlington )
Alison Forrest (Huntington)
Alyssa B (Colchester)
Amanda Makepeace (Watkinsville, GA)
Anita Michele (Swanton)
Annette Goyne (Richford)
Aprille Soons Palmer (South Hero)
Cat McKeen (Essex Junction)
Chris Selin (South Burlington)
Dara Theodora (Fairfax)
Deana Allgaier (Huntington)
Deb Runge (Williston)
Denise Letendre (Castleton)
Elisabeth Mazzilli (Moretown)
Elodie Parthenay (Longueuil, QC)
Greg Didyoung (Wilmington)
Hannah Mahar (Grand Isle)
Heather Rusch Zelonis (Bristol)
Henry S (Jericho)
Jamie Quint (Richmond)
Jennefer Jolls (Williamstown)
Jessica Wilson (Saint Albans)
Jo Marsan (Johnson)
JoAnne Wazny (Enosburg Falls)
Judy Crocker (Burlington )
Julia S C (South Hero)
Julie Dunigan (South Hero)
Karla Van Vliet (Bristol)
Katrina Meyers (Colchester)
Kay Johnson (Hinesburg)
Kristen Donegan (Essex)
Kristin Dexter (Essex Junction)
Lily Hinrichsen (Bristol)
Lisa Acerbo (Trumbull, CT)
Marcia Vogler (Charlotte)
Miriam Adams (Hinesburg)
Nancy Leeman (Huntington)
Nancy Stone (Williston)
Nicole Gadouas (Swanton)
Olin P (Middlebury)
Patrick McAllister (Burlington )
Pedro Salas (Starksboro )
Peter Aldrich (Essex Junction)
Richard Crocker (Burlington )
Sandra Morris (East Middlebury)
Sandra VanVooren (East Hartford, CT)
Sarah Rosedahl (North Hero)
Steven Farrar (Richmond)
Theo Chang Andreu (South Burlington)
Todd Kiel (Bolton)
Tonya Whitney (Williston)
Tricia Knoll (Williston)
Viviane P (Richmond)
William Chaiken

 

Text over a sepia-toned photograph. Text reads Birds and Myth / meanings metaphors and guides. The background is the bristle-ends of 7 paint brushes, radiating out from the center.

Birds and Myth art show continues (June)

Art by Cat McKeen: Democracy Phoenix Egg, rising from ashes - 24" left to right, 12" frnt to back, 12" tall. It's flatter in back so it can sit against a wall. It is made of scavenged sticks, branches, grasses, Papermache egg, embossed paper outer shell, base is recycled trophy base and 1800's barnboard. I've used an old metal wreath ring to help stabilize the branches. Acrylic paint, paper strips with words attached to inside of egg shell. Hand-painted parrot feathers, glue, Sage & Cinnamon added as Phoenix nest were supposed to have been made with fragrant wood.

Birds and Myth continues in June! Visit often, as some works are for sale and may go to new homes during the season.

Birds are some of our teachers, not only through our senses and observations, but also through our stories about them. These stories can be factual accounts, broader myths, or something in between. Legends, beliefs, representations, truth, insight, guidance, metaphors, meanings, and understandings all play a part.

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on the ideas of birds, myth, meanings, metaphors, and guides. We called for art that brings birds and their meanings to retell an old story, weaves several together, represents beliefs, and/or creates a myth for the future.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Alice C (Burlington )
Alison Forrest (Huntington)
Alyssa B (Colchester)
Amanda Makepeace (Watkinsville, GA)
Anita Michele (Swanton)
Annette Goyne (Richford)
Aprille Soons Palmer (South Hero)
Cat McKeen (Essex Junction)
Chris Selin (South Burlington)
Dara Theodora (Fairfax)
Deana Allgaier (Huntington)
Deb Runge (Williston)
Denise Letendre (Castleton)
Elisabeth Mazzilli (Moretown)
Elodie Parthenay (Longueuil, QC)
Greg Didyoung (Wilmington)
Hannah Mahar (Grand Isle)
Heather Rusch Zelonis (Bristol)
Henry S (Jericho)
Jamie Quint (Richmond)
Jennefer Jolls (Williamstown)
Jessica Wilson (Saint Albans)
Jo Marsan (Johnson)
JoAnne Wazny (Enosburg Falls)
Judy Crocker (Burlington )
Julia S C (South Hero)
Julie Dunigan (South Hero)
Karla Van Vliet (Bristol)
Katrina Meyers (Colchester)
Kay Johnson (Hinesburg)
Kristen Donegan (Essex)
Kristin Dexter (Essex Junction)
Lily Hinrichsen (Bristol)
Lisa Acerbo (Trumbull, CT)
Marcia Vogler (Charlotte)
Miriam Adams (Hinesburg)
Nancy Leeman (Huntington)
Nancy Stone (Williston)
Nicole Gadouas (Swanton)
Olin P (Middlebury)
Patrick McAllister (Burlington )
Pedro Salas (Starksboro )
Peter Aldrich (Essex Junction)
Richard Crocker (Burlington )
Sandra Morris (East Middlebury)
Sandra VanVooren (East Hartford, CT)
Sarah Rosedahl (North Hero)
Steven Farrar (Richmond)
Theo Chang Andreu (South Burlington)
Todd Kiel (Bolton)
Tonya Whitney (Williston)
Tricia Knoll (Williston)
Viviane P (Richmond)
William Chaiken

 

Text over a sepia-toned photograph. Text reads Birds and Myth / meanings metaphors and guides. The background is the bristle-ends of 7 paint brushes, radiating out from the center.

Opening Day for Birds and Myth art show

Rainbow Crow: art by Aprille Soons Palmer of a rainbow-hued crow seen from underneath. It is flying up and left toward a sun-like object, bearing a flaming object in its beak.

Birds are some of our teachers, not only through our senses and observations, but also through our stories about them. These stories can be factual accounts, broader myths, or something in between. Legends, beliefs, representations, truth, insight, guidance, metaphors, meanings, and understandings all play a part.

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on the ideas of birds, myth, meanings, metaphors, and guides. We called for art that brings birds and their meanings to retell an old story, weaves several together, represents beliefs, and/or creates a myth for the future.

The show is open when the Museum is (Wednesday – Sundays, May 1 – October 31) and is included with admission. Admission is free for members.

Exhibiting artists and writers:

Alice C (Burlington )
Alison Forrest (Huntington)
Alyssa B (Colchester)
Amanda Makepeace (Watkinsville, GA)
Anita Michele (Swanton)
Annette Goyne (Richford)
Aprille Soons Palmer (South Hero)
Cat McKeen (Essex Junction)
Chris Selin (South Burlington)
Dara Theodora (Fairfax)
Deana Allgaier (Huntington)
Deb Runge (Williston)
Denise Letendre (Castleton)
Elisabeth Mazzilli (Moretown)
Hannah Mahar (Grand Isle)
Heather Rusch Zelonis (Bristol)
Henry S (Jericho)
Jamie Quint (Richmond)
Jennefer Jolls (Williamstown)
Jessica Wilson (Saint Albans)
Jo Marsan (Johnson)
JoAnne Wazny (Enosburg Falls)
Judy Crocker (Burlington )
Julia S-C (South Hero)
Julie Dunigan (South Hero)
Karla Van Vliet (Bristol)
Katrina Meyers (Colchester)
Kay Johnson (Hinesburg)
Kristen Donegan (Essex)
Kristin Dexter (Essex Junction)
Lily Hinrichsen (Bristol)
Marcia Vogler (Charlotte)
Miriam Adams (Hinesburg)
Nancy Leeman (Huntington)
Nancy Stone (Williston)
Nicole Gadouas (Swanton)
Olin P (Middlebury)
Pedro Salas (Starksboro )
Peter Aldrich (Essex Junction)
Richard Crocker (Burlington )
Sandra Morris (East Middlebury)
Sandra VanVooren (East Hartford, CT)
Sarah Rosedahl (North Hero)
Steven Farrar (Richmond)
Theo Chang Andreu (South Burlington)
Todd Kiel (Bolton)
Tonya Whitney (Williston)
Viviane P (Richmond)
William Chaiken

Text over a sepia-toned photograph. Text reads Birds and Myth / meanings metaphors and guides. The background is the bristle-ends of 7 paint brushes, radiating out from the center.

May 2025 events

Young children peer through the glass of a double entrance door.

It’s a great month for getting outside (again, if you’ve been indoors for mud season). Check out our events for May, below.  Birds walks, new art show,  just sitting and more.

The trails are open from sunrise to sunset, every day—we recommend using the south trails (Spear, Discovery, Story) rather than Gale’s, Pop’s, or Bob’s, thanks to flooding last July. Trail maps and more information are available on our website, and are posted at the museum and at trail kiosks as well. (Let us know if the wind moved any!)

=== MAY EVENTS ===

Continue reading “May 2025 events”

“The Gift of Art” show continues (April)

Watercolor painting (excerpt): shows a white woman in a yellow shirt looking upward through binoculars. The point-of-view is from above, so only her head and arms are clear.

“The Gift of Art” is our off-season art show.

This often-changing exhibit displays varied works from previous shows, selections from our gift shop, and elements of our long-term collections. See how art weaves together myriad media, styles, and visions. What’s present in April may be quite different from what we had up in November, so consider a repeat visit!

Explore previous themes, find a gift for someone, and celebrate art in our lives.

Open when the Museum is : From Nov 1 – April 30, that’s by appointment and for special events. Art shows are included with admission.

Past Exhibits

2024: The Power of Perspective
2023: Spark! fueling a love of birds
2022: Fine Feathers: at play with structure and function
2021: Expanding Voices: perspectives on birding
2020: Borders: illusions that constrain us
2019: Pollinate This!
2018: Common Grounds
2017: B1rding by the Numb3rs
2016: In Layers: the art of the egg
2015: Birds of a Fiber
2014: Perilous Passages

 

“The Gift of Art” show continues (March)

Ink drawing of patterns , a bird in flight, and insects

“The Gift of Art” is our off-season art show.

This often-changing exhibit displays varied works from previous shows, selections from our gift shop, and elements of our long-term collections. See how art weaves together myriad media, styles, and visions. What’s present in March may be quite different from what we placed in November, so consider a repeat visit!

Interested in our next show, Birds and Myth? Check out the call to artists (deadline March 18, 2024 ): https://birdsofvermont.org/2025/01/02/call-to-artists-birds-and-myth/

Explore previous themes, find a gift for someone, and celebrate art in our lives.

Open when the Museum is : From Nov 1 – April 30, that’s by appointment and for special events. Included with admission.

Past Exhibits

2024: The Power of Perspective
2023: Spark! fueling a love of birds
2022: Fine Feathers: at play with structure and function
2021: Expanding Voices: perspectives on birding
2020: Borders: illusions that constrain us
2019: Pollinate This!
2018: Common Grounds
2017: B1rding by the Numb3rs
2016: In Layers: the art of the egg
2015: Birds of a Fiber
2014: Perilous Passages

 

Deadline for submissions to Birds and Myth

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on the ideas of birds, myth, meanings, metaphors, and guides. We invite art submissions that bring birds and their meanings into your art to retell an old story, weave several together, represent your beliefs, and/or create a myth for the future.

The entire Call to Artists with all details is at https://birdsofvermont.org/call-to-artists-birds-and-myth/

TODAY is the last day to submit artworks in any media, by new or returning artists, of any age, to the Birds and Myth art show by 11:59 PM! Continue reading “Deadline for submissions to Birds and Myth

“The Gift of Art” show continues (February)

"Details" by Miriam Adams. Graphite and watercolor on paper. A pale brown heart-shaped leaf with a long petiole, two feathers, and a gray and white stone.

“The Gift of Art” is our off-season art show.

This often-changing exhibit displays varied works from previous shows, selections from our gift shop, and elements of our long-term collections. See how art weaves together myriad media, styles, and visions. What’s present in March may be quite different from what we place in November, so consider a repeat visit!

Interested in our next show, Birds and Myth? Check out the call to artists (deadline March 24, 2025 ): https://birdsofvermont.org/2025/01/02/call-to-artists-birds-and-myth/

Explore previous themes, find a gift for someone, and celebrate art in our lives.

Open when the Museum is : From Nov 1 – April 30, that’s by appointment and for special events. Included with admission.

Past Exhibits

2024: The Power of Perspective
2023: Spark! fueling a love of birds
2022: Fine Feathers: at play with structure and function
2021: Expanding Voices: perspectives on birding
2020: Borders: illusions that constrain us
2019: Pollinate This!
2018: Common Grounds
2017: B1rding by the Numb3rs
2016: In Layers: the art of the egg
2015: Birds of a Fiber
2014: Perilous Passages

 

Call to Artists: Birds and Myth

Text over a sepia-toned photograph. Text reads Birds and Myth / meanings metaphors and guides / a call to artists. The background is the bristle-ends of 7 paint brushes, radiating out from the center.

Birds and Myth: meanings, metaphors, & guides

We seek to understand the world. Birds are some of our teachers, not only through our senses and observations, but also through our stories about them. These stories can be factual accounts, broader myths, or something in between. A myth might be a traditional legend, a widely-held-but-false belief, or a representation (or misrepresentation) of something true. A myth can offer insight into who we are, individually or collectively. A myth can offer us ways to behave and ideals to live by. What understanding of birds and humans have you gained through myths you have heard, told, or invented?

The Birds of Vermont Museum’s 2025 art show is centered on these ideas. We invite art submissions that bring birds and their meanings into art to retell an old story, weave several together, represent your beliefs, and/or create a myth for the future.
Continue reading “Call to Artists: Birds and Myth”