An honor - My Painting is Part of the State of Vermont Art Collection!

Vermont Women's March - Lauren Wooden

Vermont State House

So - after the most recent election that switched party affiliations for some major government positions in Vermont, my painting which had hung in the Lt. Governor's office for many years was, I assumed, headed back my way. However, I was delighted to learn that the Vermont State Curator wanted to keep it as a permanent part of the Vermont State Collection! He could either purchase it or I could donate it, and I decided on the latter. The painting was of The Women's March in January 2017, which, as you can see from my painting, was a sea of pink hats and a larger crowd than I'd ever seen at the state house. The next photo of the state house was last June, when I went to see it hanging in the State House one last time and have a lovely lunch with David Schutz, the state curator.

Here is the letter he sent to me after the donation. My husband plans to frame a print of the painting with the letter to commemorate this honor and important time in my art life for us to keep as a memento.

September 5, 2025

Lauren--

Thank you SO very much for the generous donation of your wonderful watercolor of

the Women's March on the Vermont State House lawn which took place in January of

2017. That occasion, we believe, was possibly one of the largest events in terms of

attendance to take place in the history of the City of Montpelier. Traffic was backed up

on the interstate highway, and the lawn was crowded with women and men of all ages

and descriptions-with a sea of pink hats of every type unifying a sea of people in

front of our porticoed and golden domed capitol. Admiral George Dewey's

homecoming in 1899 had been the al l time largest event prior to this date-and we are

fairly confifident it was surpassed at long last.

To document this historic event with a work of art is what your donated watercolor

allows, and to be able to hang such a work in the State House makes it doubly

meaningful. THANK YOU AGAIN for creating such a compelling painting-and then

giving it to us as a part of the State Ar t Collection. We accept this gift on behalf of the

people of Vermont, and hope that you continue to create many more wonderful

paintings as part of your practice wherever you go.

Ever grateful,

David Schutz

Vermont State Curator

I love Vermont and all the wonderful people in it. The tour of the state house and the amazing artwork that it displays is really a site worth going to. I've recently fully retired from my 'real' job and have started to find my way back into my art again. So, while I have promised in the past to get this blog more active, I really have no excuse now!

Happy New Year - May we all feel great about the future and the beauty that surrounds us, Lauren