The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Secluded illustrations

Sarah Kinsella Waite’s exhibit at Burlington’s Frog Hollow Craft Center is a compilation of striking pen and ink illustrations. Her rustic montages contain factually relevant depictions of nature and creatures. These productions are unique impressions of Sarah’s immersive lifestyle and intimate observations from her rural residence in Burke Hollow. Inspired by her experiences in the northwestern and western United States, the drawings highlight her passion for the environment and nature cycles.Waite has been an artist since childhood. “I did a lot of drawings of horses. We had a lot of horses growing up, and so…a lot of horses,” Waite said. Always connected with her surroundings, Waite gathers from her environmentalist convictions when crafting illustrations. Currently residing in rural Burke Hollow, Waite allows herself complete saturation with nature. Living in a place, which Waite refers to as “the opposite of Burlington,” makes for intense closeness to animals.”A lot of people don’t know what I do, but I kind of like that,” Waite said. Because of the isolation, Waite is provided with an intimate view of Vermont’s fauna and vegetation.Waite’s deviating lifestyle broke up her educational experience. She lived in Utah briefly, then went to school in Alaska and finally moved to Vermont, where she eventually received her degree from Castleton State College. Waite’s pen-and-ink illustrations are a product of her previous work. At first, Waite made her living as a draftsman. The pen and ink drawings began as a side project; she did them for fun rather than for food. Eventually, she developed her doodles into a hobby and a couple years of passionate work led her to create these montages. With a strong pursuit in respecting the environment, Waite not only displays these representations in attractive art forms, but she also extensively researches them.Included in the montages are the “prey and their food supply and all the vegetation they’d be associated within the natural habitat,” Waite said. The bold, colorless illustrations are due to the desire for “simplicity, clean lines.” Having spent many years working at various Kinko’s, Waite was exposed to black and white frequently, which would later influence her desire for a lack of color. The combination of her diverse background and interests translates to powerful etchings.

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