BRATTLEBORO — A heartfelt thank-you to the hundreds of people who have supported me and contributed to my fire fund and recovery after my artist studio and decades of paintings suddenly burned to the ground.
There are too many individuals to list here - I'll write to them personally - but groups and businesses deserve special mention as well.
Brattleboro-West Arts essentially insisted I step aside as members planned, promoted, organized, and ran a magnificent, successful benefit auction. BWA members and friends worked countless hours and managed all aspects of the auction.
Thanks to Sharon Myers for her usual incredible edibles; Rentals Plus for tables and linens, delivery and pick-up; River Gallery School for easels and printed bid sheets; Putney School for tables and easels; the Humane Society for easels; Brattleboro Food Co-op for cheeses; and Dante Corsano and his incredible Moondogs for music that animated the entire occasion.
Thanks to the local journalists who covered the entire saga in depth and with grace, to the more than 95 (!) amazing artist friends who donated major works to be sold for my cause, to Duo Restaurant, and to 118 Elliot.
Just as meaningful to me are the good wishes, encouragement, cards, visits and anonymous donations from acquaintances and strangers who have been moved by my story. They suggest that, yes, as an arts town we share an identity based on a search for a quality of life that might include an appreciation of handmade, home-grown, personally cared-for, respected art, whether understood or not.
I look forward to a new studio in the near future. I'm forever indebted to you all. The rebuild certainly wouldn't be possible without your collective and selfless guidance, friendship, sensitivity, and generosity, and you have changed the way I see my community and my world.