Kasini House Announces the Release
of the 2009 First Friday Art Walk Print by Ciaran Brennan

Reception & Artist Talk: November 6th, 2009

Burlington, Vermont–Each year since 2006, Kasini House, the producers of Burlington’s First Friday Art Walk and publishers of Art Map Burlington, commissions a limited edition print from a Vermont artist to commemorate First Friday Art Walk and Burlington’s art community. The image of the print is used as the First Friday Art Walk poster for the season. An original print is on display at various venues around Burlington. Past artists are Ira Cummings (2006), Torrey Valyou (2007), and Colin-Patrick Charles (2008).

“The First Friday Art Walk Print Project is about using art to take a snapshot of the community at this particular place and time,” said Kasini House’s Ric Kadour. “We are well on our way of reaching our goal of having ten years of prints that serve as visual record of Burlington’s art community.”

The 2009 artist is Ciaran Brennan, a photographer whose work has appeared as part of the Art’s Alive Festival of Fine Art and the South End Art Hop in recent years, as well as in solo exhibitions at the galleries of Kasini House and Art’s Alive. He was also included in the New England Photographers Biennial Exhibition at the Danforth Museum in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Brennan’s photography heavily references art history. His series, “Re-enactments: Age of Reason,” draws inspiration from 17th and 18th century paintings. For God and Country shows a man holding a gun while three boys reach for it and salute. The photograph is a direct reference to Jacques-Louis David’s Oath of the Horati.

In First Friday Art Walk Print 2009, Brennan references the Renaissance and Baroque phenomenon of flying saints. Brennan explains, “I sought to use the imagery of ecstatic levitation to interpret the Burlington art scene.”

You can see the print online at: http://www.artmapburlington.com/ffawprint/2009.html

Brennan’s First Friday Art Walk print will be officially unveiled during November’s First Friday Art Walk during a reception at the Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts on November 6th from 6-7PM. The print will be exhibited at various locations in Burlington in the next year. An edition of thirty original prints is available for purchase.

For more information, contact Kasini House by calling 802-264-4839 or sending email to info@kasinihouse.com. Information is also available online at www.artmapburlington.com.

An exhibition of watercolors by Burlington artist Nini Crane is on view at Opportunities Credit Union now through November 2009.

Over seven years ago, Nini Crane took part in a workshop given by watercolorist Kathy Bergeron at Artist’s Mediums. Crane had always been interested in trying watercolors and after Bergeron’s workshop, she was hooked. She has been painting ever since. Crane paints Vermont: its seasons, its colors, its shapes. The ten watercolors in this exhibition are a sample of this work.

Artwork is curated by Kasini House Gallery. For additional information or to purchase a piece of art, contact Kasini House Gallery at 802-264-4839 or send email to info@kasinihouse.com or visit www.kasinihouse.com.

About Nini Crane
Nini Crane taught in the Chittenden South School District for 30 years and since retiring is happy to find painting as a creative outlet, She loves to pour herself into her paintings and spend hours on end immersed in them.

About Opportunities Credit Union
Opportunities shows work by local artists at their branch at 92 North Avenue on the corner of North Street and North Avenue, across from Burlington College. Past artists have included Elizabeth Cleary, Gillian Klein, and Karen Geiger. The branch is open Monday through Thursday from 9AM to 5PM and Friday from 9AM to 6PM. Opportunities Credit Union is Vermont’s only regulated financial institution dedicated to serving the emerging markets of low-wealth individuals. Opportunities brings a full range of financial services to all. We turn hope into opportunity while creating wealth and enriching lives and communities.

About Kasini House
Kasini House is a dynamic creative enterprise that seeks to make contemporary art and culture work. Kasini House Gallery presents work by a range of contemporary artists. They produce art events such as First Friday Art Walk in Burlington, Vermont. Kasini House Books publishes titles on contemporary art and culture. We also publishing three periodicals: Art Map Burlington, Vermont Contemporary Art Annual, and Vermont Art Guide, the state’s most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to contemporary art. Kasini House Artshop sells art, art products, and books in our online artshop, at events, and at our location in Montreal. Kasini House Printshop operates an on-demand printshop in Montreal that specializes in books, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and other products. Kasini House provides a range of consulting, media, and creative services to a variety of clients.

Susan Larkin
Opportunities Credit Union
92 North Avenue
June-August 2009

Susan Larkin’s “Lakeside Landscapes” is on view at Opportunities Credit Union in June through August 2009.

Susan Larkin makes oil and pastel paintings from her home and studio in Isle La Motte. Her subject is the lake and the land that defines this island community and her experience of it.

Larkin moved to Isle La Motte in 2007. Located in a semi-isolated corner of Lake Champlain, the small island community has a rich and complex history. It was the first place Samuel de Champlain landed when he came to what is now the United States and the site of a 17th century French fort dedicated to St. Anne which is now a religious site. With fewer than five hundred people living on eight square miles of land, the island retains its rural character and extraordinary natural beauty.

Larkin’s paintings are the result of her dialogue with the natural world. As she goes about her life on the island—walking the dog or running errands—the beauty of the land and her mood come together in a visceral moment that she documents with a quick sketch or a photograph. In her studio, she recreates these moments with a Cézannist approach to painting: a playful use of color and an application of natural abstraction that speaks to human visual perception. Her goal is not accurate rendition, but to capture the veracity of the moment. The ten paintings in this exhibition are a sampling of this work.

CLICK HERE….to preview the work online

About Opportunities Credit Union
Opportunities shows work by local artists at their branch at 92 North Avenue on the corner of North Street and North Avenue, across from Burlington College. Past artists have included Elizabeth Cleary, Gillian Klein, and Karen Geiger. The branch is open Monday through Thursday from 9AM to 5PM and Friday from 9AM to 6PM. Opportunities Credit Union is Vermont’s only regulated financial institution dedicated to serving the emerging markets of low-wealth individuals. Opportunities brings a full range of financial services to all. We turn hope into opportunity while creating wealth and enriching lives and communities.

About Kasini House
Kasini House is a dynamic creative enterprise that seeks to make contemporary art and culture work. Kasini House Gallery presents work by a range of contemporary artists. They produce art events such as First Friday Art Walk in Burlington, Vermont. Kasini House Books publishes titles on contemporary art and culture. We also publishing three periodicals: Art Map Burlington, Vermont Contemporary Art Annual, and Vermont Art Guide, the state’s most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to contemporary art. Kasini House Artshop sells art, art products, and books in our online artshop, at events, and (starting in 2009) at our location in Montreal. Kasini House Printshop operates an on-demand printshop in Montreal that specialize in books, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and other products. Kasini House provides a range of consulting, media, and creative services to a variety of clients.

 The booklet can be purchased at:

Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center
85 Church Street

The Bryan Memorial Gallery
180 Main St, Jeffersonville, VT

Online at Kasini House Artshop
www.kasinihouseartshop.com

Kasini House Books is pleased to announce the publication of The History of the Northern Vermont Artist Association by Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.

"To encourage the study, improve the practice, elevate the standards and advance the cause of creative art." That was the mission of the Northern Vermont Artist Association when it was founded in 1931. For most of the twentieth century, this organization fostered and supported artists in northern Vermont and held an annual exhibition of their art work. Maxfield Parrish, Francis Colburn, Stan Marc Wright, Alden Bryan Sr. and his wife Mary Bryan are just a few of their notable members. Artist and historian Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr. offers this history of the organization. Brunelle has been president of the NVAA since 1995 and studied under former NVAA president, and renowned art professor, Roy Kennedy. This is the definitive history of this important art organization.

Title: The History of the Northern Vermont Artist Association
By Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Trim Size: 7.5" x 5.5"
Binding: Paperback, saddle-stitched
Page Count: 24 pages
Cover: Full Color
Illustrations: 6 images
Publisher: Kasini House Books
Release Date: April 2009
Price: $12.00

ABOUT ROBERT WALDO BRUNELLE, JR.
The phrase “Vermont Artist” fits no one better than Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr. He is a seventh-generation Vermonter, with roots dating back to the 1750’s. He counts among his artistic ancestors a great-grandfather, great-grandmother and great-great-grandfather, all of whom were painters. Brunelle was born in Rutland, Vermont in 1958. As he puts it, ”I learned to draw before I learned to write!” Although he drew incessantly as a child, he received no formal art training until attending St. Michael’s College in 1976. There he fell under the influence of former NVAA president, and renowned art professor, Roy Kennedy, well-known painter Lance Richbourg, and the namesake of the Sloane Art Center, Sy Sloane. Brunelle graduated in 1980 with a double degree in History and Fine Arts, and went on to earn a Master’s in Art Education at Castleton State College. Since 1981 he has been the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School, in Underhill–a post once held by Roy Kennedy in the 1950’s! Brunelle has been exhibiting his paintings in Vermont since 1975, and has served as the president of the NVAA since 1995. He is also a political cartoonist, whose strip “Mr. Brunelle Explains It All” may be seen in the humor magazine Funny Times.

To learn more about the NVAA, visit their website at www.northernvtartists.org.

ABOUT KASINI HOUSE BOOKS
Since 2005, Kasini House Books publishes trade and limited edition artist books, booklets, art catalogs and folios.We are interested in contemporary art and literature. Books are available in bookstores, art centers, and online at kasinihouseartshop.com. Check www.kasinihouse.com for a list of retailers.
 

Main Street Landing has hired Kasini House to take an inventory of the art collection at their waterfront properties: Union Station, the CornerStone Building, Lake & College, and the Wing Building. The collection, which includes work by Vermont artists, has been acquired over the years and is now permanently installed at Main Street Landing.

The collection contains a number of public art pieces such as Lars-Erik Fisk’s Train Ball and Christopher Curtis’s Venus, as well as murals by Kate Hodges and Ron Hernandez. Smaller, interior pieces include work by Sean Dye, Carol MacDonald, Jennifer Koch, Sally Linder, Bill Davison, Reed Prescott, and many others. On the third floor of Union Station, Peter Miller’s Vermont Farm Women, a portfolio of ten photographs, is permanently installed. At Lake & College, Richard Moulton has curated a permanent exhibit of images that document the history of the Waterfront. Sue Miller and Katharine Montstream maintain working studios at Main Street Landing, which is also the home of three art venues: Art’s Alive Gallery, Artpath Gallery, and Skinny Pancake, a restaurant that exhibits local artwork.

"This is a remarkable opportunity to document a significant collection of artwork by Vermont and Chittenden County artists," said Kasini House’s Ric Kasini Kadour. Once the project is completed, a guide to the work will be published on Main Street Landing’s website.

Starting in May, the venues are included in Art Map Burlington. CLICK HERE…to read more about them.

Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Opportunities Credit Union
92 North Avenue, Burlington
April and May 2009

An exhibition of paintings by Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr. is on view at Opportunities Credit Union in April and May 2009.

Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr. paints Vermont the way David Hockney painted California or Peter Hurd painted New Mexico: a blend of place and style. Brunelle, who is also a cartoonist, brings a comic-inspired illustrative quality into his painting. These scenes have a before and after, even if those are not in the paintings themselves. The moments in the paintings are not necessarily the pinnacle moments. They are not scenes of Vermont at the height of its glory. Old houses are worn down. His paintings of downtown Rutland or Brattleboro are not postcards, nor are they romantically gritty. They are matter of fact. If there is a love affair in these paintings, it is between the artist and the light. However, Brunelle, who worked as a curator for the Rutland Historical Society is keenly aware of Vermont’s grandiose Victorian past. “Underneath the skeleton of our modern Vermont towns and cities, there’s the Victorian world and little bits and pieces of it are still sticking out. If you know where to look, where to dig, so to speak….I’m interested in time and the effect that time has on people and how things are always receding into the past,” he said.

The phrase “Vermont Artist” fits no one better than Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr. He is a seventh generation Vermonter, with roots dating back to the 1750’s. He counts among his artistic ancestors a great-grandfather, great-grandmother and great-great grandfather, all of whom were painters. Brunelle was born in Rutland, Vermont, in 1958, and, as he puts it, “learned to draw before I learned to write!" Although he drew incessantly as a child, he received no formal art training until attending St. Michael’s College in 1976.  There he fell under the influence of former NVAA president, and renowned art professor, Roy Kennedy, well-known painter Lance Richbourg, and the namesake of the Sloane Art Center, Sy Sloane. Brunelle graduated in 1980 with a double degree in History and Fine Arts, and went on to earn a Master’s in Art Education at Castleton State College. Since 1981 he has been the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School in Underhill. Brunelle has been exhibiting his paintings in Vermont since 1975, and has served as the president of the NVAA since 1995. He is also a political cartoonist, whose strip “Mr. Brunelle Explains It All” may be seen in the humor magazine Funny Times.

CLICK HERE…to preview the work online.

About Opportunities Credit Union
Opportunities shows work by local artists at their branch at 92 North Avenue on the corner of North Street and North Avenue, across from Burlington College. Past artists have included Elizabeth Cleary, Gillian Klein, and Karen Geiger. The branch is open Monday through Thursday from 9AM to 5PM and Friday from 9AM to 6PM. Opportunities Credit Union is Vermont’s only regulated financial institution dedicated to serving the emerging markets of low-wealth individuals. Opportunities brings a full range of financial services to all. We turn hope into opportunity while creating wealth and enriching lives and communities.

About Kasini House
Kasini House is a dynamic creative enterprise that seeks to make contemporary art and culture work. Kasini House Gallery presents work by a range of contemporary artists. They produce art events such as First Friday Art Walk in Burlington, Vermont. Kasini House Books publishes titles on contemporary art and culture. We also publishing three periodicals: Art Map Burlington, Vermont Contemporary Art Annual, and Vermont Art Guide, the state’s most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to contemporary art. Kasini House Artshop sells art, art products, and books in our online artshop, at events, and (starting in 2009) at our location in Montreal. Kasini House Printshop operates an on-demand printshop in Montreal that specialize in books, greeting cards, posters, postcards, and other products. Kasini House provides a range of consulting, media, and creative services to a variety of clients.

On March 7th, 2009, West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park released two catalogs of art with essays by Kasini House’s Ric Kasini Kadour.

Craig Mooney: Works on Canvas features the essay "Craig Mooney and the Dramatic Moment" by art critic Ric Kasini Kadour in which he explores how Mooney applies a form of minimalism in his paintings to connect with the viewer.

Helen Shulman: A Catalog of Recent Paintings features Kadour’s essay "Helen Shulman’s Lyrical Abstrations" in which he documents the artist’s expert use of visual language to make deeply personal painting universally accessible. The essay also explores the the artist’s work as a contemporary expression of Lyrical Abstraction.

The catalogs are being published in conjunction with an exhibition of Mooney and Shulman’s work at West Branch Gallery, Stowe, Vermont, March 7-April 26, 2009. The catalogs were printed by Kasini House Printshop in Montreal, Quebec. They are available at West Branch Gallery [website] and through Kasini House Artshop [website].

ABOUT RIC KASINI KADOUR
Kadour is the former Vermont editor of Art New England and co-author of the Vermont Art Guide. Kadour has contributed writing for a number of books and catalogs; most recently: “Ethan Murrow’s America” in Ethan Murrow (Obsolete Gallery, 2008); introductory essay in John Matusz: Recent Work (West Branch Gallery, 2007) and “The Epic Journey: Paintings of Giovanna Cecchetti” in Giovanna Cecchetti (West Branch Gallery, 2007). His writing has appeared in a number of publications including Vermont Magazine, Seven Days, Seattle Weekly, The Stranger, and Salt Lake Metro. His poetry has appeared in publications such as Green Mountain Review, Limestone Circle, Bay Windows, Catalyst, and Taproot. In 2005, he released the chapbook of the poem/essay, “How to Price Your Art?” In 2006, Kadour released an artist book, Art Is Food. Kadour co-owns and operates Kasini House, a creative production company, art gallery, and book publisher in Burlington, Vermont and Montreal, Quebec.

ABOUT WEST BRANCH GALLERY & SCULPTURE PARK
West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park is an indoor/outdoor art venue representing the region’s finest contemporary artists.   The thoughtful selection and exhibition of art, and a respect for artists and collectors are gallery hallmarks. The gallery provides an inviting space for visitors to experience quality art in their own way. Located aside the West Branch of the Little River, the sculpture grounds and gallery are open to the public Wednesday through Sunday. The West Branch Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11-6 and by appointment. For information or inquiries, please contact Amy Rahn by email (amy@stowevt.net) or by phone (802.253.8943).

Opening Reception
Saturday, March 7th, 2009, 6-8PM
with comments by Ric Kasini Kadour, art critic, founder, and director of Kasini House

"Human Landscapes" pairs Craig Mooney’s evocative figurative works with the luminous earth-toned abstract paintings of Helen Shulman. This is the first two-person exhibition of these artists, each of whose works are increasingly recognizable in terms of imagery, palette, and style. please join us for an evening of art, music, and refreshment as we open this sensual exhibition on the cusp of spring.

"Human Landscapes" is on view at the West Branch Gallery & Sculpture Park March 7 through April 26, 2009. Works are available for sale, and catalogs of available works including essays by Ric Kasini Kadour will be available as of the opening date. The West Branch Gallery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11-6 and by appointment. For information or inquiries, please contact Amy Rahn by email (amy@stowevt.net) or by phone (802.253.8943).

FROM Seven Days, February 4, 2009

"From Montréal, Kasini House Continues Art Biz in Vermont"
By Pamela Polston

…..Ric Kasini Kadour and Christopher Byrne have quietly been pushing artists’ self-sufficiency for years. As noted here recently, in December the two closed up their Burlington gallery and shop, Kasini House, on North Street. They have been transitioning their art-dealing and publishing business to Montréal, where both live full-time.

Read the full article at: www.7dvt.com/2009montr-al-kasini-house-continues-art-biz-vermont