In a nutshell: Author Sy Montgomery published What the Chicken Knows - her third new book THIS YEAR, interdisciplinary artist Jo Dery launched a podcast on adoption and foster care issues, wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson just completed a series of new illustrations for an upcoming book about a snapping turtle, and mini grantee Alison Scott sold a painting!
author sy montgomery publishes a new book
I've got a new book out this month--WHAT THE CHICKEN KNOWS: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird--starring people and chickens of our Monadnock area! This is the third new book of mine out this year. Next up: with wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson, a book on our favorite 42 pound wild snapping turtle, Fire Chief; a commemorative edition of The Photo Ark with Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore; and a book for younger readers on my September expedition scuba diving with giant oceanic manta rays in Ecuador!
interdisciplinary artist jo dery launches a podcast
I actually launched a podcast recently at https://adoptionstoriesvt.com/. You can also listen on the Podbean website or app at https://adoptionstories.podbean.com/.
Adoption Stories is a series of audio interviews with foster/adoptive families, adult adoptees, and adoption-support professionals in Windham County, VT. Children in foster care should be of concern to every Vermonter. There are 1,300 children in foster care across Vermont – 150 of them are in Windham County. In the past decade, our state’s child welfare system has been, and remains, under great stress. The themes touched on in these interviews include trauma, grief, resilience, celebration, and community – as well as the role that race, class, gender, and the opioid and housing crises play in why children end up in foster care in Vermont. Through centering foster/adoptive children’s and family’s memories of the past and dreams for the future, Adoption Stories paints a picture of the complex experience of these kids and families – full of love, loss, beauty, and pain. The Adoption Stories interviews are collected on the web at www.adoptionstoriesvt.com, and available to listen to on the Podbean app. Adoption Stories was funded in part by a Brattleboro Town Arts Fund grant.
Join creators and foster/adoptive parents Jo Dery (artist and educator) and Tamara Evanson (licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist) at the Putney Library to learn about the project and hear from some of the participants.
artist Matt Patterson completes illustrations for a new book
I recently finished the illustrations for a new book about a snapping turtle titled THE TRUE AND LUCKY STORY OF A TURTLE! I did over 30 illustrations for this book which is being published by HarperCollins and will be out in a year. It chronicles the life of FIRE CHIEF the snapping turtle from when he hatched to current day. He also is a major character in the NY Times bestselling book OF TIME AND TURTLES.
mini grantee Alison Scott sells a painting
Photo of ‘Emergent Pines’ and Alison Scott by Diana Place
My “biggest piece“, my 16“ x 20“ photo called Emergent Pines, sold, before the 11/23 Opening Reception at the Jaffrey Civic Center had begun.
This show, called “Emergence” is held by the Monadnock Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for the Arts. During the Reception, a fellow Women’s Caucus artist expressed interest in purchasing a copy of this print, as well. The frame is wood, painted silver, and as it cost $50, the mini-grant I received from ArtsAlive! and its sponsors was most helpful!
