Our New England Wax (N.E.W.) exhibition in the Wilson Museum at the Southern Vermont Art Center in Manchester, VT. was a great success! Visitors were introduced to a wide array of contemporary approaches to an ancient medium. The following is an interview by N.E.W. member Deborah Pressman conducted during her visit to the show. 

Interviewer – Deborah Pressman (DP)

Question #1 What are your impressions of the “Relationships” exhibit? 

Visitor1: I thought the exhibit was extraordinarily well done – the variety of works in both encaustic and cold wax were a real pleasure. It was fascinating to see how people used the mediums in so many different ways – from the billowing hanging sheets of Japanese  paper to linens that were sculpted to the sculptures that were covered in wax in a way to make it look like marble.

V2: I was impressed with the variety of approaches employed all using wax. I have a limited knowledge of  the technical aspects of the medium but realized that working with wax is extraordinary. I appreciated learning about hot and cold wax methods. 

V3: I liked that all the pieces were of such high quality.  The pieces triggered questions about what the artist had in mind – why the shapes, colors, or images were chosen.  I liked understanding the meaning behind the forms that the artist used. This is a very thoughtful group of artists and a very penetrating exhibit. 

Question #2:  The topic “relationships” – what was your reaction to each artists’ interpretation of the theme?

V1: there is a fascinating range – from concerns about the pandemic, one’s own physicality presenting personal challenges, to environmental concerns. It was a joy to read the placards accompanying each work – the statements added great depth to the understanding and appreciation of each piece. All so thoughtful.

V2: I was struck by the prevalence of environmental concerns and concerns about the world around us.

V3: I found the written placards added so much to my understanding and appreciation of each piece. There was a deep personal connection to each work. 

Lastly, there were other visitors in the galleries who I did not know but with whom we engaged in an explanation of the processes involved in working with both hot and cold wax. They were very appreciative of this information and felt it added greatly to their enjoyment of the exhibition.

To see more work by our members, go to www.newenglandwax.com. When you click on one of the thumbnail images, you can read about the artist and visit their website at the bottom of the page.