Neighbors and strangers alike visit artists in their studios By SARAH HINCKLEY
Toolbox
Staff Writer - Published: May 24, 2009
MONTPELIER – Joan Poulin of Montpelier leaned in while stained glass artist Fred Varney explained how he cuts glass for his pieces.
An easel in Varney's second-floor studio at his home in Calais held a drawing of a scene in New Hampshire he was looking to duplicate in glass.
It was the first time Poulin and her husband had ventured out to take a peek at the local art scene though this weekend marks the 17th year of the annual Open Studio event for artists and galleries throughout Vermont.
"I've known Fred for years and kind of wanted to see what he's done," said Poulin with her husband Armand, an oil painter, at her side.
Varney's reputation was also the reason Barbara Bendix of Marshfield decided to visit his studio.
"I've been hearing of him forever, it just seemed reasonable (to stop in) since he's my neighbor," she said, adding that she had not come out during Open Studio weekend in the past. "This is the first and I've lived here 25 years."
Lily and Ted Bogosian of Watertown, Mass., were indulging in Vermont art for the second year in a row, not necessarily on purpose.
"We just got lucky," said Lily Borgosian, explaining how they had seen one of Varney's works at a local bed and breakfast, which inspired them to stop by his place on Marshfield Road.
Traffic for Open Studio typically becomes steadier in the afternoons, according to sculptor Alan Paschell at his home studio just past Maple Corner in Calais.
"I really enjoy meeting people and I really feel the connections you make result in sales you may not even know about," said Paschell surrounded by clay, life-size faces full of emotion. "I like to create a lot of shadow, so I accentuate features."
Paschell earned a bachelor's degree at Goddard in the late 1970s and moved to Calais, building a house and studio. Throughout the property are his creations, like characters in a movie standing under a tree, perched among the clover and grass on a knoll and next to the woodshed.
"It's like a little hobbitville," said Carol Ray, one of three women from Woodbury visiting Paschell's studio.
Each of Paschell's sculptures is made with coils of clay, measures approximately a half-inch thick and are built from the bottom to the top. One of his large pieces, typically a four-foot sculpture, takes 24 hours to make and is fired in a kiln on the property at 2,300 degrees for 14 hours.
"I work entirely by eye," said Paschell, pointing to a photo from which he is working on his current creation. "I actually seldom end up with what I think I set out to do. … I always feel the best pieces are the ones that sort of build themselves."
Last year at least 80 people came out to Paschell's studio throughout the weekend. Both he and Varney explained they prefered a few people at a time, that way they had time to talk with visitors. Their artwork is also featured in area galleries for those not looking to traverse the back roads to find the artists.
Despite the gray clouds hovering in the sky most of Saturday, the spring flowers and green hills of central Vermont were a work of art, making it worth the drive.
"We have a lot of talented artists in this area – in the state really," said Poulin.
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