The Magnificent Chester Art Loop

Vermont Crafts Council Spring Open Studio offers the Chester Art Loop in Southern Windsor County again this Memorial Day Weekend, Sat. & Sun., May 23 & 24. Working together for years to present its varied and talented group of painters and special artisans, our 20-mile gang attempts to create a beacon to visit Chester and its surrounding towns of Andover, Springfield and Ludlow.

Following the familiar yellow numbered wayfarer signs, get off Interstate 91 at Springfield on Route 11 West will bring you first to the Gallery at the VAULT, #21 at 68 Main Street, an official Vermont State Craft Center, featuring just over 100 artists in all mediums. One of the photographers here is Richard Confrancesco whose studio is #22 on 100 Massey Road in Springfield. "I am excited to find compositions where all elements come together to form images of beauty or questions to the viewer," states Richard who began his photography career during his first Vietnam tour in 1967.

Chester is next in sequence. Head west on 11 toward Route 103, turning right on Elm Street before the train tracks. DaVallia Art and Accents, #25, is its North Street studio. Jessie Alon's Fiddlehead Jewelry is made here, complimenting husband Michael's furniture, home dècor and garden accents.

Just up the from DaVallia on North Street is Bonnie's Bundles Dolls, #24, where you can meet the personality-filled cloth dolls of doll maker Bonnie Watters, all with magical faces, layered calico outfits and fancy hairdos, celebrating her 47th year of doll making.

Take a left onto Church Street, head to Main Street and Route 11 and turn left again. Here you can visit DaVallia's Main Street presence at #25 on the Chester Common. You can also stop by to see the paintings of Suzanne Nielson at Art Equine at her Rose Arbour studio on School Street, especially if you love horses. Now head west to Tsuga Studios, #23 Goldthwaite Road, and a right off Route 11 just past the Armory. Nick Kekic is a remarkable blown glass artist who offers demonstrations and a showroom full of beautiful decorative and functional blown glass.

Your next visit would be Robert Sydorowich, #30 and his Vermont landscape paintings on East Hill Road featuring transparent watercolors and oils displayed in a restored nineteenth century barn. Just over the town line toward Ludlow from Sydorowich's place, Rich DeTrano, #29, will be demonstrating and offering his unique woodturnings and hollow vessels highlighting the natural features of wood, including its imperfections and peculiarities, creating a form that allows nature's beauty to be seen and enjoyed.

At our tour's end is Janie Marie Dumas, owner of Little Cricket Photography, #28, is located at 22 Smith St. in Ludlow, and here she features her fine art photography. Her offerings are bold, dramatic, and varied photographs.

All these artists' works are featured in this display through May at the Guilford Vermont Welcome Center where you can pick up the VCC map booklet or go online to www.bonniesbundlesdolls.com to download the Chester art loop map showing all the artists' locations. Some studios will have demonstrations and even a storyboard.