Solo Show “From Up Here”

“From Up Here”

Vermont Mountainscape Paintings by Gretchen G. Alexander

At the Emile Gruppe Gallery, June 12 – July 20, 2025

The Emile A. Gruppe Gallery is pleased to present “From Up Here”, a collection of acrylic paintings by Gretchen G. Alexander inspired by her experiences hiking in the mountains of Vermont.  Gretchen’s impressionistic style captures sprawling vistas, mossy forests, tumbling streams and vibrant fungi in energetic brushstrokes and vivid colors and exudes a deep appreciation for Vermont’s wild places.  While facing a mental health crisis, Gretchen stepped away from a long career as a river ecologist to pursue painting full time.  The show features 40 paintings chronicling the soul searching and healing she sought in the mountains during her transition from scientist to professional artist.  Gretchen authored a book to accompany the show that combines her artwork with a memoir of her artistic journey that explores ideas around mountains as spiritual gateways, mental health and its relationship to creative expression, and commonalities between science and painting as modalities of “seeing”. 

An opening reception will be held Saturday, June 14th from 3 – 5 pm.  Gretchen will present an artist talk on Sunday June 29th from 1-2 pm where she will discuss the inspiration behind the work as well as her painting process.  She will also be giving informal painting demonstrations on three Sundays (6/22, 7/6, and 7/13) from 1-3 pm where the public is invited to drop-in and watch, ask questions and visit with the artist.  The show hangs through July 20th at the Emile A. Gruppe Gallery at 22 Barber Farm Road in Jericho, VT.  For more information call 802-899-3211 or go to https://www.emilegruppegallery.com/current-show .