Author Archives: Eve Ogden Schaub

Popular Outdoor Art Exhibit to Close; New Exhibit Soon

16 Friday Apr 2021

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Monuments to Now, a popular outdoor art exhibit in a hayfield in Pawlet, Vermont will be closing on May 1. Conceived of in response to safety concerns of the pandemic, the exhibit features five monumental artworks which may be safely viewed by car, but viewers are also welcome to park in the adjacent gallery parking lot and walk the mown path connecting the artworks.

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The outdoor art gallery is the creation of EveNSteve, the husband and wife team of author Eve O. Schaub and artist Stephen Schaub. The first artwork “My Heart is Very Big” was installed in the hayfield across the street from their home and art studio last May, as “a gift to our friends, neighbors, and community.”

“Art helps us to make sense of the world,” Eve Schaub said. “We both felt strongly that during times of uncertainty we need art more than ever.”

Since then four more artworks have been added, including one that reaches thirteen feet in height and another that is thirty-four feet long. Photographs taken by Stephen are hand-painted with text written by Eve, and then attached to outdoor scaffolding to withstand the Vermont elements as best they can.

“In fact, they’ve defied our expectations and held up remarkably well,” Stephen says. “There has been some fading and color shift, but we take that as all part of the life of the piece.”

What began as a temporary solution to reach viewers during quarantine and isolation has evolved for these artists into a creative way to reach new audiences, bringing their art out of the gallery and into everyday life.

“Folks would make a point to stop and thank us for creating this, or to tell us they drove from two hours away just to see it,” Eve said. “It’s extremely humbling and gratifying.”

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Because of the overwhelmingly positive response to the outdoor exhibit they have plans to continue it.

“We’re at work right now on the next exhibit for the outdoor gallery.” Stephen explains. “We plan to have it installed by June.” The theme of the new exhibit has yet to be announced.

The free outdoor art gallery has enjoyed attention as a positive news story during a year that has held more than its share of tragedy. The Hayfield Art Gallery has been the subject of news stories on NBC Boston News at Ten, New England Cable News, WTEN Albany ABC, and WCAX Burlington CBS, as well as articles in Seven Days, the Rutland Herald, and the Times Argus.

EveNSteve’s outdoor art gallery is free and open to the public; it is located at 671 River Road in Pawlet Vermont. For more information visit their website at http://www.evensteve.com.

Monuments to Now

06 Monday Jul 2020

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EveNSteve are very excited to announce that our hayfield art exhibit in Pawlet has been receiving outstanding regional and national media attention! We are now featuring four monumental works of art on River Road, perfect for drive-by viewing. Additionally, we have a parking area and a walking path for those who would like to walk the field and see the works up close. Free and open to the public, this temporary art exhibit is on display as a gift to our community during this challenging time.

To see what people are making of Pawlet’s hayfield art exhibit, check out the three news clips below…

The hayfield exhibition has now grown to be part of a larger series of monumental, outdoor works which we are calling Monuments to Now. The most recent piece, a thirteen-foot tall artwork, has just been installed on the front lawn of the Bennington Museum as part of the NoBoss Sculpture exhibition which will be on display till November. Check out the 2+ minute video below to see the installation process last week!

Selections for current TV media:

 

 

Recent installation at the Bennington Museum, Vermont as part of the NoBoss sculpture exhibition.

https://vimeo.com/manage/435358951/general

For more information please visit: http://www.evensteve.com

 

Drive By Art Expands in Pawlet

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Drive down River Road and you can see the latest version of the Hayfield Art Gallery now featuring three monumental works by Pawlet residents EveNSteve.

Artwork number three has just been installed and stands an impressive 13 feet high by 42″ wide. Entitled Two Strong Girls, it features a black and white image of two girls by a lake, with handwritten text in cobalt blue. In compliance with pandemic safety protocol, the artwork is fully visible for viewing by car, but visitors are also welcome to park in the adjacent gallery parking lot and walk the mown path which connects the three outdoor artworks.

EveNSteve is delighted and gratified that the hayfield exhibition, which is free and open to the public, has been getting lots of attention in the media. We were very excited to be interviewed by Cassie Hudson of WTEN Albany ABC TV, (Above) as well as the subject of recent feature articles in Seven Days, The Rutland Herald, and The Times Argus. Stay safe and stay tuned!

For more information about EveNSteve visit EveNSteve.com

For additional video info please click:
news10.com/off-the-beaten-path/off-the-beaten-path-drive-by-art/

Pawlet Hayfield Becomes a Quarantine Art Gallery

19 Tuesday May 2020

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We all need art and creativity to help make sense of the world, especially during a time of crisis. But so many things are online by necessity now. How can people experience art without the involvement of a screen?

Because my husband Steve and I create art together, we’ve been thinking about this issue a lot.

Then recently we thought: drive-by artwork. Yes!

Driving down River Road, residents of the area will now notice the result of our efforts: a ten foot by 42 inch artwork placed in the hayfield across from our house. Entitled My Heart is Very Big, it is intended as a gift to our friends, neighbors, and community, a work of art that people can enjoy while still following quarantine regulations and being safe.

The work is meant to be legible from the road, and depicts an image of a woman in a field carrying a basket. Around her are painted the words: My heart is very big. Sometimes I wonder if it is big enough.

We hope to make more artworks to display in the field; people are welcome to park in the parking lot of Indian Hill Gallery (671 River Road) if they would like to approach the works on foot. We hope the works bring a positive art experience to folks during this unusual and challenging time.

Come see it!

For more information about My Heart is Very Big or other artworks by EveNSteve, please visit EveNSteve.com.

Article One Defeated- So What Next?

06 Friday Mar 2020

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The results of the vote came in Tuesday night and Article One did not pass. Out of 494 residents who voted on the issue, 205 voted in favor and 289 voted against. If you’ve read my blog before you’ll know that I think this a good thing- the right decision.

Official results of the Pawlet March 2020 Vote

But I think it would be wrong to say I’m “happy” about it. I can’t be happy about it, when clearly problems at the library exist, and a way forward to fix them has yet to be identified. The most pressing problems being:

  • falling snow and ice on all sides of the building, both in front where cars are parked, and in back where the handicapped access ramp is
  • the concrete front steps are crumbling and need to be replaced

Lastly, we know the handicapped access at the library is currently in compliance. But recent conversations have raised the very important, and more complicated question: is the existing handicapped access at the library sufficient?

In historic buildings like the library, where handicapped access is always going to be a compromise with issues of preservation, it is common for a handicapped access expert to be brought in to make an assessment.

This should have been done at the beginning, of course, before an architect was hired by the Select Board and thousands of dollars spent on a plan that will, in all likelihood, never be used. But it’s never too late to do things right. It is what we, as a community owe to anyone who ever has or ever will need handicapped access- and as we all know that could be any one of us.

If you think this is a good idea, please send a note to the Select Board via the town clerk – pawletclerk@vermontel.net- and tell them we need a handicapped accessibility assessment of the library done- as soon as is possible. Or call: 325-3309, ext.301. Or tell a selectman in person when you see them. This is, I think, the best way to show our love for the library, and our fellow townspeople, and get back on the right track after going down a dead end for far too long.

Library Project Vote On Tuesday

02 Monday Mar 2020

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By now I hope everyone has heard about Pawlet’s proposed library elevator project, aka: Article One on the town ballot.

For the last few weeks I’ve argued that this project has been poorly conceived, inadequately researched, and at an estimated cost of $295,000, it is inappropriate for Pawlet to take on at this time. Specifically:

  • We’ve seen no breakdown of construction budget.
  • The Select Board has never voted to endorse the project.
  • There have been no accessibility experts consulted.
  • By the library’s own projections, it will cost individual taxpayers between $165 and $765, and that’s if there are no unexpected costs.
  • There are always unexpected costs.

I’d like everyone to recall that the current incarnation of the library in the former schoolhouse was funded 100% without taxpayer dollars, at a lower total cost than this proposed elevator.

I’d like to remind everyone that the library already has fully-compliant handicapped access, without which they could not open their doors, including a radiant-heated ramp and two handicapped accessible bathrooms.

A recent mailing to town residents puts forth an alternative plan that proposes to fix existing problems by:

  • Replacing the crumbling front steps (desperately needed, yet not a part of the currently proposed plan and budget)
  • Install snow guards
  • Install a push plate, automatic door opener to handicapped entrance
  • Use the existing radiant heat in the ramp, which currently is turned off

The estimated cost for this alternative plan is $45,000. If we can fix existing problems at a fraction of the cost, this should be seriously considered.

A vote against Article One is not a vote against handicapped accessibility, nor is it a vote against the library or fixing problems at the library. Rather, voting against Article One is a vote in favor of doing things properly, with experts, with budgets, and with transparency.

I hope anyone who still has questions about the proposal will attend Town Meeting tonight: 7PM Monday, March 2 at the Mettawee Community School.

And I REALLY hope everyone comes out to vote on Tuesday March 3rd at the Pawlet Town Hall between 9AM and 7PM.

This is the not-at-all-confusing way it will be worded on the ballot.

NOTE: When you go to vote, please note that the library project is listed FIRST on the ballot: it is Article One. Often in past years the town budget was Article One, so it is extremely important voters read the ballot closely. Be aware too, that it is worded so as to be almost incomprehensible. Seventy-nine words, no less.

Don’t you just love politics?

No matter what your views, please come out and vote.  More important than any single issue is the participation of every resident in the decision making of our town. No idea or project is the enemy- apathy is the enemy. I truly believe that.