In the interest of celebrating the nation’s 243rd birthday, we could do worse than look at art that reflects the nation in one way or another.
The Upper Valley is unusual in that its two national parks feature substantial collections of American art. The Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish displays work that is fundamental to American art, and the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Woodstock holds paintings by members of the Hudson River School, most notably Albert Bierstadt. Both parks are open for the holiday, and Marsh-Billings holds an art tour from 2 to 3:15.
In addition, there are living artists who celebrate the American landscape, and the national parks in particular. In the Upper Valley, the redoubtable Joan Hoffmann, who lives in South Royalton, is probably chief among them.
Hoffmann is holding an open studio in her barn, at 1389 Route 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Among the works on display are more than 30 paintings of national parks. Hoffmann has been an artist-in-residence at both Marsh-Billings and at Yosemite National Park and will serve in that capacity at Zion National Park this fall.
For more information, Hoffmann’s website is www.joanhoffmann.com.
While you’re in the neighborhood, White River Gallery in South Royalton exhibits “Scattered Geometry,” ceramics by Jenny Swanson and Holly Walker. Swanson is the director of the ceramics studio at Dartmouth College. Walker was the executive director of the Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, in Maine. A reception, at which the artists will speak, is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. on July 13, and the show is up through Sept. 6. The gallery is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but it’s best to call first: 802-498-8438.
Scavenger Gallery, in White River Junction, opens “Skywriting,” an exhibition of recent work by Norwich artist Luciana Frigerio, with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 on Friday evening, part of the monthly First Friday celebration. There will also be a wine tasting hosted by Artisanal Cellars. Through Sept. 6.
Two Rivers Printmaking Studio, in White River Junction, opens “Land on Paper,” an exhibition of landscape prints, on Friday. A mid-show reception is planned for 5 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 2. Through Aug. 31.
Long River Gallery also will participate in White River Junction’s First Friday, showing “Landscape Meditations: Pattern, Texture, and Line,” ceramics by Sheilagh Flynn, through Sept. 2, as well as paintings by Kathy Detzer. There will be live music from 6 to 8 p.m. by singer-songwriter Frank Kelecy.
The main body of Sculpture Fest, the annual celebration of three-dimensional art, opens with a reception from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Prosper Road home of Charlet and Peter Davenport in Woodstock. Stefania Urist and Roger Goldenberg are this year’s featured artists. This show is open to the public — year-round, dusk to dawn — and the opening day, or any pleasant day this summer or fall, is also open to picnicking. Just be tidy.
In addition, Sculpture Fest includes a “Vermont Carvers & Sculptors Exhibition,” which features work by 15 Vermont sculptors, at the Woodstock History Center.
Collective — the Art of Craft, in Woodstock holds a reception from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday for the cooperative gallery’s newest member, Andrea Trzaskos, who operates a ceramics studio and showroom, Frog Song Designs, in Bethel. Also on view through September are works by jeweler T. Breeze Verdant, glass sculptor Alissa Faber. and fiber artist Jennifer Johnson.
BigTown Gallery, Rochester, Vt. Recent work by landscape painter Rob Fish.; “The Vermont Paintings,” a series by part-time Strafford artist Celia Reisman, and “The Geometric Exercises of Helen Matteson,” works by the late Thetford artist. A reception for Reisman is planned for 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Norwich Public Library. “Catching the Eye,” photographs by Rosamond Orford, is on view through August. A reception is planned for 4 to 6 p.m. on Aug. 2.
ArtisTree Gallery, South Pomfret. “TRIO: Exploring Dementia” features work by Betsy Goldsborough (1929-2018), of Woodstock, Brenda Phillips (1956-2018), of Plainfield, and Margaret McCracken (1952-2019), of Bridgewater, all of whom continued to make art despite the onset of dementia. Through Saturday.
White River Craft Center, Randolph. The Vermont Pastel Society’s Annual Juried Exhibition is on view through Sunday.
Aidron Duckworth Art Museum, Meriden. “Bugs About/Diagonal Science,” sculpture by Langdon Graves; “If Ever,” mixed media work by Glenn Goldberg; and “Duckworth XXXIII — Abstraction and the Infinite Plane.” Through July 21. “TACTICS/BEING CLOSE” a site-specific, interactive sculptural collaboration by Lucy Pullen and Tom Butter, and “TREE and VESSEL,” an exploration of traditional Bonsai by Norwich native Kyle Morrison. Through Sept. 8.
Center for the Arts, New London. The New London Inn hosts a group photography show; Blue Loon Bakery shows watercolors by Mary Belecz and Bar Harbor Bank and Trust on Main Street shows work by Kearsarge Middle and High School students. Through July 31.
Chelsea Public Library. “Sadie’s Fancy Work,” embroidery by Sadie Kennedy, of Chelsea, Through August.
Cider Hill Gardens and Gallery, Windsor. Outdoor sculpture by William Ballantyne and paintings in egg tempera and gold leaf by gallery co-owner Gary Milek.
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon. Spring exhibitions include work by painter Collin Leech; photographers Joan Crimlisk and John Lehet; watercolorists Nick Mayer and Marion Blodgett; multi-media artist Stacy Harshman; and the hospital’s employees and volunteers.
Hall Art Foundation, in Reading, Vt. Shows include “Made in Vermont,” works by Vermont artists; exhibitions by Richard Artschwager and the super-realist artist Malcolm Morley. On the grounds: “English Sculptors in New England.” Admission is $10, except on the first Friday of the month, when it’s free.
Kilton Public Library, West Lebanon. Lebanon native Sam Wiebkin is the current artist-in-residence at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. An exhibition of her work is on view through September.
Ledyard Gallery, Howe Library, Hanover. “Art in Wood: the White Mountains, Mt. Monadnock, and Acadia,” marquetry by Peterborough, N.H., woodworker and artist Craig Altobello. Through July 31.
Library Arts Center, Newport. “ROY G BIV: a community art exhibit,” and “Doll Houses: Obsession on a small scale,” dollhouses collected and created by Newport resident Mindy Thorpe. Through July 25.
Main Street Museum, White River Junction. “Jack Rowell, Cultural Documentarian: Portraits of Vermont People and Other Wildlife.”
Matt Brown Fine Art, Lyme. “Sculpture and Pottery by Amanda Ann Palmer.” Through Aug. 10.
The Roth Center for Jewish Life at Dartmouth College, Hanover. “Antigua Revisited,” photographs by Mort Wise. Through Sept. 6.
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Cornish. Works by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. In the Picture Gallery: “Fresco,” recent paintings by Ruby Sky Stiler. Admission to the park is $10 per person age 16 and above, but it’s free if you attend the reception.
Steven Thomas Inc. Fine Arts & Antiques, White River Junction. Work by Upper Valley “vintage” artists, such as Alice Standish Buell, John Semple, Horace Brown, Neil Drevitson and Robert Caulfield.
Tunbridge Public Library. “The Tunbrige Fair,” paintings by Bridgewater Corners artist Rae Newell. A reception is planned for 2 to 4 p.m. July 21 and the show is on view through Sept. 5.
Alex Hanson can be reached at ahanson@vnews.com or 603-727-3207. Send visual art news to artnotes@vnews.com.
