“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ― Albert Camus
Dear friend,
I thought you might enjoy a very infrequent note “from my studio.” This is coming straight to you from my personal inbox. If you’d like to stay in touch with me via social media instead of this seldom missive, just reply “unsubscribe” and I’ll remove you from this list. Thank you for letting me share my news with you.
I am so delighted to be exhibiting in a solo exhibition at The Taft School this autumn. The Mark W. Potter Gallery at The Taft School, Watertown CT, is presenting my portraits of beekeepers October 12 - December 16, 2026.
See a sneak peek of the paintings installed in the gallery at The Taft School.
If you’re in the area or going leaf-peeping, please join me on Friday November 6, 6:00-7:30pm for the Artist Reception, OR stop by the gallery (kindly give me a heads up) Nov 4-6 while I’m working “in residence” as the Rockwell Visiting Artist. In the gallery, you’ll be able to step into a part of my painting process because my easel and palette will be set up as I’ll be working on another portrait to expand this series. Do you know a beekeeper?
A quick snap of the gallery entry during install day.
The atmosphere of the Taft School affirms my academic-mind’s dream: wide, terra-cotta-paved hallways brimming with purposeful footsteps alongside excited young voices bumping into each other, stained glass windows illuminating aspirations, coffee in the cafeteria at the ready, a chapel welcoming all, and open doors to faculty and admin offices. I am positively giddy to be working “in residence” Nov 4-6 where I can engage with the students, and visitors (hint, hint).
The foyer adjacent to the gallery at Taft.
That atmosphere feels a little like home to me: walking home from elementary school, I’d make a pitstop to draw on the chalkboards in the 1920’s college classroom where my father taught Physics. His office was at the top of the stairs, and the long terrazzo-tiled hallways made sneaking impossible, but Dad was “always surprised” to see me. Additionally, I went a liberal arts college (where I am now privileged to teach Art History) of ivy-covered brick buildings, students crossing the tree-shaded commons on their way to make meaningful contributions to the world. (Okay, okay, the campus at the Taft School miiight also remind me of that teenage heart-wrencher Dead Poets Society, too.) The halls of Taft are both a comfort and a goal for me and I am grateful to be showing my paintings here.
published https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbzzGR6j6lM Mar 13, 2023, Video Credit: Taft School Communications
In seriousness, though, I’m particularly encouraged by the Taft School’s motto: NON UT SIBI MINISTRETUR SED UT MINISTRET - “Not for ourselves to be served, but instead, it is for us to serve.” Friends John and Tess are examples of this value, both of them kind souls who embody excellence and empathy. John O’Reilly serves as an art teacher at Taft, and Tess helped to expertly install the work in the gallery.
The “Painter’s Progress”: accommodating cuddly distractions, packing the finished paintings into the pickup with LEGO-style loading (“we ride at dawn!”), and the calmest installation I’ve ever experienced (10/10 would do it again).
If you find yourself in New York during the holiday lead-up, you’ll need THE GIFT OF ART.
Speaking of gift-giving, Kathleen Beausoleil “gifted” me a nudge to apply to be a part of this exhibition. Low, and behold, ornaments that I designed were curated in! Ornaments and prints will be for sale at the Hal Bromm Gallery from December 1–19, 2026 with 30% of the proceeds going to benefit Rehabilitation Through the Arts in their mission to help people in prison develop critical life skills through the arts, modeling an approach to the justice system based on human dignity rather than punishment.
Darcy, Charis, and more at Deer Park, LI.
Finally, I want to leave you with one more highlight of my 2026 year. Colored Colors curated my image of Darcy into their Long Island Public Arts Festival - where they’ve enlarged artworks to fit on vinyl kiosks and installed the kiosks in public parks. What an ingenious idea to expand the experience of public art! See more.
As I finish writing this newsletter, the sun is setting. So as the golden glow of autumn wanes toward crisp winter light, I hope that the things to which you aspire guide your way towards a brighter future.
Thank you for letting me share my news with you!
Charis
