October 2025 in the Crowell Gallery
Karen Becker, “Have Watercolors, Will Travel”
October 1 – 30, 2025
An artist’s reception will be Thursday, October 16, 2025 from 4:30 – 6:00pm.
Karen Becker moved to Vermont in 1983 and was immediately inspired by its nature and the beauty of forms, color and light she observed in the natural world. “It is a privilege to sit and observe nature and, as a mere mortal, try and capture some of nature’s endless beauty. I enjoy the portability of watercolors and delight in translating what I see.”
Becker’s journey from receiving a BFA in Graphic Design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY to Brattleboro Vermont was a natural evolution. It includes employment creating on-air-graphics and photography for Public TV in NYC, being a typographer in advertising on Madison Avenue, working at Rolling Stone Magazine in San Francisco and assisting with decorative murals for Diana Ross in Greenwich, Connecticut. After moving to Vermont she joined the Vermont Arts Council as an Artist-in-Education, working as a muralist in schools in New England. For over 20 years Becker has taught a course in her home and studio called ”No Fear Watercolors”, Her art has been exhibited in galleries in NYC, San Francisco, Boston and throughout New England.
2025 Gallery Schedule
- January— Crowell Art Collection
- February— Rick McEachern
- March— Rick McEachern
- April— Area School Children Exhibit
- May— Saxtons River Art Guild
- June— Lynn Zimmerman
- July— Liz Hawkes-deNiord
- August— Nancy Calicchio
- September— Vermont Pastel Society
- October— Karen Becker
- November— Moore Free Library Volunteer Art Exhibit
- December— Kiate Cleghorn
Interested in exhibiting your art at the Crowell Gallery? Email crowellartgallery@gmail.com for information.
Gallery History
The Crowell Gallery at the Moore Free Library in Newfane, VT was opened to the public on September 2, 2000. It houses an outstanding collection of contemporary Southern Vermont artists. The permanent collection is on view each winter (usually in January and/or February). For the rest of the year, the gallery hosts special monthly exhibits by local artists. The gallery also serves as a venue for public programs and meetings.
Robert and Muriel Crowell funded the renovation of the Moore family’s 1890 post and beam barn. The work was performed by local artisans Dan and Gary MacArthur. A gift in 2004 from the Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason Foundation provided tensor lighting for the gallery.
About Robert L. Crowell
Robert L. (Bob) Crowell, former head of the Thomas Y. Crowell Company (which later became part of Harper Collins Publishers), was the grandson of the company’s eponymous founder. Thomas Y. Crowell began publishing books in 1876 and was the first U.S. publisher of Tolstoy and Gogol. Bob joined the company as a salesman in 1931, was elected treasurer in 1937, and rose to head the company in 1938. Under his leadership, the company published Roget’s International Thesaurus, the Frank Heller detective series and numerous art and children’s books.
Bob served as a trustee of the Moore Free Library from 1976 to 2001 and was President of the board for five of those years. As the Moore Free Library’s primary benefactor, he funded scholarship programs, literary awards, and library renovations. He passed away June 29, 2001.