May 2026 in the Crowell Gallery
Brattleboro-West Arts
May 2 – 30, 2026
An artist’s reception will be held Friday, May 16, 2026 from 1:00 – 3:00pm. Come meet the artists and share some refreshments.
As we wake from the torpor of winter, our landscape is transformed by the return of the song birds and emergence of new growth all around us. In a celebration of those new beginnings, the Crowell Art Gallery at the Moore Free Library will be flush next month with a bloom of artwork by members of Brattleboro-West Arts.
The group exhibit features many media, such as paintings in oil, acrylic, watercolor (including on tea bags) encaustic, alcohol ink and pastel, as well as ceramics, fiber art, collage, printmaking and more.
Brattleboro-West Arts was founded in 2009 by artist neighbors who recognized the vibrant creative community that exists in the watershed of the Whetstone Brook. Since then, membership has grown to include dozens of professional artists and craftspeople, who come together to explore ways to enrich the artistic life of southern Vermont.
“Spring!” will include two- and three-dimensional works by 16 members of BWA: Beth Aten, Maisie Crowther, Kay Curtis, John Dorsey, Cyndi Ferrante, Lesley Heathcote, Naomi Lindenfeld, Steve Lloyd, Heidi Mario, Kris McDermet, Greg Moschetti, Sharon Myers, Gene Parulis, Jack Pombriant, Carol Violanda and Jen Wiechers.
Heathcote says her new series of songbirds in the medium of soft pastel was spurred by the change of seasons.
“The return of species like the Phoebe, the brightening feathers of the goldfinch and an increase of singing and nest building mark the return of spring in Vermont,” she said. “As the days get longer and warmer, this increase of visibility, activity and vocalization brightens my spirit.”
K. Curtis, who helped organize the exhibit from the beginning, put it more succinctly, with an exclamation echoing her painting that shares its title with the exhibit:
“Springing up! Flowers galore and so much greenness! So delicious because winter was so l-o-n-g!”
For details about Brattleboro-West Arts, including profiles of these and other member artists, image galleries of their work and information about past and upcoming events, please visit brattleboro-west-arts.com.
2026 Gallery Schedule
- January—Robert L. Crowell Art Collection
- February—Cathy Osman
- March—Julia Duke
- April—Children’s Exhibit
- May—Brattleboro-West Arts
- June—Gregg Wapner
- July—Maisie Crowther
- August—Sharon Myers, Erika Radich
- September—Diedre Scherer Family
- October—Kathleen Kemp
- November—Louise Zak
- December—Mohammed Daoudi
Interested in exhibiting your art at the Crowell Gallery? Email crowellartgallery@gmail.com for information.
Gallery History
The Crowell Gallery at the Moore Free Library in Newfane, VT was opened to the public on September 2, 2000. It houses an outstanding collection of contemporary Southern Vermont artists. The permanent collection is on view each winter (usually in January and/or February). For the rest of the year, the gallery hosts special monthly exhibits by local artists. The gallery also serves as a venue for public programs and meetings.
Robert and Muriel Crowell funded the renovation of the Moore family’s 1890 post and beam barn. The work was performed by local artisans Dan and Gary MacArthur. A gift in 2004 from the Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason Foundation provided tensor lighting for the gallery.
About Robert L. Crowell
Robert L. (Bob) Crowell, former head of the Thomas Y. Crowell Company (which later became part of Harper Collins Publishers), was the grandson of the company’s eponymous founder. Thomas Y. Crowell began publishing books in 1876 and was the first U.S. publisher of Tolstoy and Gogol. Bob joined the company as a salesman in 1931, was elected treasurer in 1937, and rose to head the company in 1938. Under his leadership, the company published Roget’s International Thesaurus, the Frank Heller detective series and numerous art and children’s books.
Bob served as a trustee of the Moore Free Library from 1976 to 2001 and was President of the board for five of those years. As the Moore Free Library’s primary benefactor, he funded scholarship programs, literary awards, and library renovations. He passed away June 29, 2001.