News Release -- Catamount Arts
Jan. 13, 2015
Contact:
Jody Fried, Executive Director
802-748-2600 x105 (phone)
www.catamountarts.org
Katherine French has been appointed to fill the newly created position of Gallery Director at Catamount Arts in St. Johnsbury, beginning February 1. French, who recently retired as executive director of Danforth Art in Framingham, MA, is an acclaimed New England curator who was named “Best Curator of Locally Made Art” at the Boston Art Awards. As Catamount Art’s new Gallery Director, she will not only curate exhibitions, but also work to expand professional opportunities for area artists.
“We are thrilled to welcome Katherine as a member of our team at Catamount Arts,” said Executive Director Jody Fried. “Her curatorial expertise and past involvement with community organizing for the arts will lead us in exciting new directions as we clebrate our 40th Anniversary Year.”
As Gallery Director, French will work closely with Executive Director Jody Fried and Artistic Director Jerry Aldredge to fully integrate the visual arts into Catamount’s strong film and performance programming. French’s first exhibition Matt Bracket: Dark Waters/Grateful Daughters will open February 20 and on March 27 she will open Jon Imber: Curious Narrative, followed by a screening of Imber’s Left Hand as part of Catamount Art’s participation in the Green Mountain Film Festival.
“I can’t wait to begin at Catamount Arts and become better acquainted with artists living in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom,” said French. “Having so enjoyed my work with a community art museum, I feel privileged to be affiliated with an organization that cultivates the arts as an integral part of community. This is really a perfect fit.”
Gallery Director Katherine French retired in January 2015 as Executive Director of Danforth Art, Museum\School in Framingham, MA, in order to relocate to Vermont. She has been acclaimed for numerous exhibitions on historical and contemporary expressionism, as well as featured in both Art New England and Boston Globe profiles. Recipient of awards for curatorial excellence from the New England chapter of the International Association of Art Critics, French was also named Best Curator of Locally Made Art at the Boston Art Awards. Twice recognized as one of the Worcester Business Journal’s Ten to Watch, she has been designated a Distinguished Alumna by Boston University. Under her direction, Danforth Art was named an Outstanding Cultural Organization by the Massachusetts Arts Education Collaborative. French will reside both in Barton, Vermont, and Cambridge, Massachusetts along with her husband Tim Hamilton, a conservator of antique keyboard instruments.
Future visual arts programs under French’s direction will include master classes and portfolio reviews for member artists, professional development workshops for teachers, and exhibiting artist talks for the general public. A new initiative French will oversee is ArtConnect@CatamountArts, funded in part by a grant from the Fay Slover Fund, which will expand opportunities for artists through creation of an online catalog for its Annual Juried Members Show and placement of work in area non-profits through collaboration with The Art Connection. An international organization, The Art Connection has affiliates in various cities across the United States and in South Africa.
“ArtConnect@CatamountArts will have a powerful effect on our community,” observed Executive Director Fried. It not only supports area artists, but also creates additional opportunities to see original art in non-profit venues. This kind of innovative programming has the potential to enrich and transform lives, and one that we proudly embrace here at Catamount Arts.”
For more information on all upcoming art exhibits and programs at Catamount Arts, please visit www.catamountarts.org.