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Arts & Entertainment

Out of Grief Comes Art

Michelle Dussault's artwork becomes a means of coping and expressing personal loss at Weir Farm's Artist in Residence.

Michelle Dussault's life had been turned on its end.  But out of grief came an emotionally charged set of acrylics on canvas. 

Dussault applied to the Artist in Residence Program at Weir Farm last year, but five months prior to her arrival her life drastically changed. 

"I lost my life partner, Joshua," said Dussault.  Her words floated over the intimate audience at the Wilton Library and landed on compassionate ears.  The sympathetic heartbreak was palpable.

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As one can imagine, the decision to leave her home in Brattleboro, Vermont wasn't easy. In the end, Dussault decided to travel down through Massachusetts and into Connecticut to become the 133rd Artist in Residence to date. 

"I came to Weir with my art supplies and my grief."

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What happened within the walls of the Weir Farm Art Studio was a blending of creativity and sadness. Four paintings that mirrored Dussault's despair came into being surprisingly because of Facebook. 

"After Joshua's passing, I couldn't listen to NPR or any news," explained Dussault, "but I got addicted to Facebook." 

That is where she saw videos of oiled birds from recent The Gulf oil spill. 

"I was identifying with these birds who had nowhere to go and I felt suspended so I guess I just put them together."

Dussault was describing four of the paintings that she did while at Weir: three of pelicans, one of a penguin, all suspended upside down, held by their feet in that troublesome position.   

Dussault's partner was a part of a group called The Cottonmill in Brattleboro, where a variety of artistic expressions are practiced and where the New England Center for Circus Arts is located.  A friend of her life partner's from the school taught Dussault how to walk on stilts and how do the trapeze. 

"I had really been spending a lot of time upside down," she said.

Dussault took this aerial suspension and set it to canvas.  The birds are set behind brightly colored backgrounds, something that carried over from Dussault's style prior to her tragic loss. 

"Colors are just delicious," said the artist of her artistic expressions.  "Some people find them garish, but I'm a color junkie."

Bright greens, oranges, and pinks can all be seen in her paintings.

Looking at a sampling of Dussault's previous works titled "The Water Wars" and "The Yogurt Thief," it is clear she loves working with bright colors.  In contrast to the brilliant colors, the lines in her artwork are very flowing and soft. 

"When I paint I try and stay loose because I tend to be tight.  In the end I outline, and outline and outline.  I outline a lot."

Outlining is in fact Dussault's favorite part of her work and while at Weir she reversed her standard routine and actually outlined her paintings first.  The result was a group of abstract smaller paintings with soft flowing lines. 

Dussault's time at Weir was not only productive (she works best on a deadline) but also very heartfelt. 

"It's the most personal work I've done in a long time.  It came from a deeply personal place." 

Dussault is looking forward to the fall when she will head back to her position as Assistant Professor of Studio Art at Greenfield Community College.  After that, she's not sure where she will end up. 

Maybe she will transform her theme of being caught and suspended and spread her wings like the rescued pelicans and fly.

For more information on Michelle Dussault's work visit her website at www.madamtaxi.com.   

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