For The Love of Vermont

06/19/2026

Every piece in the collection has a story to tell. Some evoke recollections from Lyman's time growing up. This particular work remains a favorite among visitors!

Go Boys! Go! Go! 1957

Cecil Crosley Bell (1906-1970)
Oil on canvas

Workhorses were a favorite subject of Cecil Crosley Bell's, whether they were city horses on Staten Island pulling wagons, or plow horses in the fields of Vermont near his summer home and studio. In this painting, the horses are competing in the horse-drawing contest at the country fair.

Lyman Orton comments:
In those days, the teams were the farmer's workhorses used for plowing or other field work, hauling loads in a wagon, or for skidding logs out of the woods. The contest was for the pure fun of coming to the fair and showing off vour horses and proving to everyone else how expertly trained the animals were and how hard they would work for you.

I am sure that the bragging rights around town were worth more than any ribbons or prizes the farmers won in the horse-drawing.

On display now in the FLOV Gallery

06/18/2026

The steel-clad addition to the art center’s main building houses two different visions of Vermont: Lyman Orton’s collection and a show by Dona Ann McAdams.

06/10/2026

The opening at Southern Vermont Arts Center!

GNAT-TV was there as the Southern Vermont Arts Center celebrated the opening of a major expansion to Yester House. The new two-story, 12,000-square-foot addition includes two new galleries and expanded space for exhibitions, programs, and community engagement, marking a significant milestone for the...

06/10/2026

Hi, Friends! This is a big week for our colleagues at the Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) in Manchester. The 104 year old institution just added a major expansion to the Yester House, celebrated this past Sunday, June 7 at their Grand Opening and Ribbon-cutting ceremony. I had a sneak peak of th...

06/10/2026

06/08/2026

This afternoon marked a monumental milestone for the Vermont arts community.

The grand opening of For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection and the new Van Degna Gallery at the Southern Vermont Arts Center represents the culmination of years of collecting, meticulous curation, planning, and tireless collaboration among dozens of dedicated individuals.

The true success of any cultural preservation project is measured by its impact on the community, and today, Vermont answered the call.

We were deeply moved to welcome hundreds of visitors who filled the gallery to experience this extraordinary collection first-hand.

Bringing a vision of this scale to life requires immense behind-the-scenes effort from archival stewardship to architectural design and community outreach.

This opening is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together to preserve and celebrate our Vermont's creative legacy.

Thank you to everyone who made this achievement possible, and thank you to the community for your overwhelming support.

So much more to share in the coming days about the opening...

We hope you will come visit very soon!

06/03/2026

This is going to be an incredible experience after so much work by so many people. We are looking forward to seeing all our friends, old and new!

The countdown is on! 🎉 This Sunday, June 7, from 3-5pm, we officially open the doors to a new chapter at SVAC, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome our community to celebrate with us.

Join us for a day of art, inspiration, and connection as we unveil new galleries, exhibitions, and the extraordinary For the Love of Vermont: The Lyman Orton Collection—as well as Donna Ann McAdams's Troubleshooting in the Van Degna Gallery.

And the excitement doesn't stop there. Beginning next week, Curate at Southern Vermont Arts Center is expanding its summer hours!

Starting June 10, CurATE Café will be open Wednesday through Sunday, serving: 🥗 Lunch, ☕ afternoon fare and refreshments, and 🍽️ dinner.

Whether you're visiting the galleries, meeting friends, or simply looking for a beautiful place to enjoy a meal, we look forward to welcoming you all summer long. See you Sunday!
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05/31/2026

The opening is just around the corner!

The grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026.

Please join us for live entertainment, gallery tours, and more from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

We’re looking forward to welcoming our community to this incredible expansion of the SVAC campus!

For more information please visit:
https://www.svac.org/svac-expansion/

“We’re really trying to develop a cultural destination,” says a staffer at the Southern Vermont Arts Center, which is set to open a “transformative” expansion as part of a $14.5 million capital project.

05/23/2026

So very exciting!

Providing cultural, educational, and creative opportunities for all ages, located within a four-hour drive of Boston, Montreal, and New York City.