Trees Draw, Are Drawn at Wilton's Weir Farm

Sally Frank has been drawn to trees ever since she was a little girl. Now, the 55-year-old artist and printmaker likes to draw them, and about a dozen of those works are displayed at a new exhibit in Wilton.

The show is called "From Pencil to Plate, Woodlands of Weir Farm" and can be seen at Weir Farm National Historic Site, 735 Nod Hill Road, through Aug. 21.

The works [by the North Salem, N.Y., artist] were inspired by two weeks Frank spent at the 60-acre farm in March 2009 as an artist in residence.

The collection of drawings and original prints include etchings and monotypes of Weir Farm's trees and forests.

"You can view the works and literally look outside the window and see the actual trees that inspired the art," said Frank. "Everyone who recalls a particular tree they loved growing up can relate to this art.

"I was particularly drawn to the mountain laurels, with their twisty, curly forms, and you see a lot of that in my work," she said.

Frank said she continues to draw from the material she gathered at Weir Farm. "The artistic tradition there makes it a very special place to create," she said. "I had the privilege of walking in the shoes of some of the greatest American artists inspired by Nod Hill's beautiful landscape ... a landscape that, over 100 years ago, drew the likes of Childe Hassam, John Twachtman, John Singer Sargent and of course, J. Alden Weir."

Harper and Dan Braine of Easton seemed mesmerized by the exhibit. "It's some of the most unique and beautiful works I've seen," said Harper Braine.

Park Ranger Cassie Werne said the art also reflects Weir Farm's "great tradition and history of printmaking."

Three gallery talks titled "Prints and Process" will be presented at 2 p.m. on Sundays, June 5, July 10 and August 7. Frank will discuss her work and the process she uses to make prints.

For more information, visit www.nps.gov/wefa or call (203) 834-1896.

Have you ever been inspired to create an artwork based on a tree you loved? Leave a comment below.

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