When we repainted the taproom, part of the idea was to create more space for the countless, talented local artists that we have around our Brave Little State.
Leah Barranco kicked things off with our first exhibition. Now the walls are changing again, this time with work from Ellen Montgomery.
Ellen is an artist and art teacher whose work is rooted in the Vermont landscape. Mountains, flowers, changing light and the small, but profound Green State moments that make you stop in your tracks.
Her show “Living in the Light” at 70 Main is acrylic on canvas works inspired by the places around Vermont that keep pulling her back.
We asked Ellen a few questions about where she came from, why she keeps returning to the Green Mountains and what she hopes people feel when they spend a little time with her work.Where are you from? Are you a native Vermonter?
I was born in Westerly, Rhode Island and raised in Stonington, Connecticut. Though I grew up by the ocean and love the water, I’ve always been drawn to the mountains.
I moved to Burlington in 2006 because living by the lake perfectly combines both of those passions.When did you start painting, and what drew you to it?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember.
In elementary school, I won a bicycle in an art contest, and I continued to receive awards throughout high school and college. While the external recognition kept me motivated, the true draw has always been the creative process itself.
Entering a flow state is a magical, almost spiritual experience.What inspired the pieces hanging at Four Quarters?
Nature is a spiritual and therapeutic escape for me. Painting the landscapes I love is deeply healing.
The pieces on display here are small snapshots of Vermont that hold a special place in my heart. From a flower to a mountain peak, every canvas captures a moment when I was captivated by the light, color, and raw energy of the outdoors.
Camels Hump \ Acrylic on Canvas | 2024
Are there any themes, places or ideas you find yourself returning to?
I constantly return to the Green Mountains, especially Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump.
They are iconic Vermont symbols, but more than that, their majesty is humbling. I think we all need a little more humility.What do you hope people notice or feel when they see your work?
I want people to feel the peace of being immersed in nature, but also the dynamic energy shifting within it.
I try to bring that alive through deliberate contrasts in light, color, and texture.
My deeper hope is that it reminds people that we are connected to nature and that we need to cherish and respect the natural spaces we have around us.Where can people find more of your work or follow along?
You can find a portfolio of my work here.