As part of the weekend of festivities surrounding the launch of my new book, Beloved Burlington: Featuring businesses you knew and loved!, several Burlington artists got into the spirit by painting photos of some of these historic businesses.
My inspiration for including artists came from Burlington artist Margaret Ertz. When my first book, Sutter’s Sodas Satisfy: A memoir of 90 years of Sutter Drug Co., came out, I was delighted to find that Margaret had done a painting of Sutter Drug as it looked at some point in the 1930s. The painting was on display at the Art Center of Burlington, next door to Burlington By The Book, which was holding a book signing for me.
My good friend Jill Arnone saw the painting and purchased it for me. I proudly have it displayed in my home in Rochester, N.Y.
Forward almost four years later, and as I’m thinking about how to celebrate my book launch in Burlington, I wondered if any artists would be interested in painting some of the businesses included in Beloved Burlington.
I was already in conversation with Tammy McCoy, executive director of the Art Center, about having a reception there, as a way to honor all the local entrepreneurs and their families included in the book. Tammy loved the idea of seeing if any artists wanted to participate, and Art Center Communications Director Hillaurie Fritz-Bonar put out the word. Soon I was getting email from artists asking me if I could email them some photos of various businesses.
I was bowled over by what these artists created. Their beautiful artwork was displayed at the reception and through the month of December. (Sorry I was too busy to get around to posting a blog before the exhibit came down. Some of these artworks may still be available for sale, and you can contact the Art Center at 319-754-8069 to put you in touch with the artist.)
A big thank you to Cathryn Layer for taking most of these photos for this blog. Scroll down and enjoy the rest of the art!
Beloved Burlington Blog 