Executive director Sage Tucker-Ketcham says the project came about after Felix Wai, co-owner/co-founder of ArtsRiot, saw one of her paintings on Instagram. “Love it,” Wai commented on an image posted on March 7. “We’re looking for new murals at ArtsRiot. Hit us up if you are into it!”
And hit them up she did. But instead of asking a fee for her work, Tucker-Ketcham proposed a trade. Her staff would create the mural for free (minus the cost of materials, which ArtsRiot covered), and in turn Wai’s team would host two events for the craft school in the coming year.
“[The craft school] wants to share our energy with Burlington and expand our reach,” she says. “We wouldn’t necessarily be able to afford events [here], so it’s a good opportunity for us.”
That energy is apparent in the vivacious, jellyfish-like blobs that Tucker-Ketcham’s team has added to the walls this week. According to the petite artist’s recent Facebook post, the blobs are “spewing rays of color inspired by music, art and life at ArtsRiot.” The new mural intersects with and plays off of another one painted by Burlington artists Wylie Sofia Garcia and Clark Derbes last fall (with their permission).
Wai says ArtsRiot will continue to integrate art as the venue evolves. “We’re finally in a space where we can think about more than just money — I mean, we still have to think about money — and part of that is having art in every space,” he says. Sounds downright riotous.
The original print version of this article was headlined “Shelburne Craft School Paints Mural at ArtsRiot”
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