Warren Kimble
When meeting Warren Kimble, his connection to his art is crystal clear, as is the light that shines from his eyes. He greets me at the Brandon Artists Guild, where his solo show, Artful Assemblages, is carefully installed. The works on view have an incredible range, and I can’t wait to visit the spaces where they have been created.
Next, we visit the Vermont Folk Art Gallery, which is just down the street in Brandon, a thriving mid-size Vermont town. He, Madana Gabbard, and Robin Kent created this venue five years ago. Each artist has a designated space for their work, and Kimble’s creations fill one large room and a hallway with a variety of pieces from his life’s work which has spanned 50 years. His iconic folk art paintings of barns and animals are well represented, as well as his most recent assemblages and free-standing sculptures, one of which is, Sunburst, with rays of painted wooden spoons. Kimble humorously points out the unintended relationship to the Covid spike protein.
In fact, Kimble’s irrepressible sense of humor permeates both the visit and his work, as well as his seriousness of pursuit. His art and life are inseparable. The workshop where he paints and assembles the pieces is downstairs in the basement of the gallery. He calls it his “junk room” though it is anything but. Filled with objects culled from 50 years of collecting as an antique dealer, as well as newer finds, it serves as the primary workshop. He describes himself as “fussy” and his consummate skill in constructing the pieces and hand painting them is evident on his well-organized workbench. His workday runs between nine and five every day, with a balance between family, art, chores, and play.
Proceeding to his vintage 1820 house is like visiting a mini-museum. It is filled not only with his own paintings and assemblages hung on the walls, but also work of other artists that he has collected. Abe Lincoln, an almost 5’ high woodcarving is an impressive example of gestural carving, with the chisel marks still finely visible underneath the painting. Kimble’s own pieces often reflect the Folk Art tradition of Americana themes, although he plays freely with the number of stars and stripes that he paints on old pieces of wood as in Liberty Flag.
Kimble is an ebullient force of nature, completely involved in living in the present. One of his favorite sayings is, “The best moment in life is the next one.”
The next stop is a steep ascent to what he calls his winter studio which is above the barn-garage at the rear of the house. Winter is his favorite time to work, and he calls it “one long snow day.” The steep rafters covered in spray insulation add a dramatic, textured feel to the spacious studio whose east and west facing windows provide ample natural light. An assortment of worktables, canvases, fascinating objects, tools, and paints ring the room. On his drafting table are sketches of a modern owl, destined as a logo for his alma mater, Syracuse University. Kimble, 1957 class president, received the highest alumni honor, the George Arents Pioneer Medal, in 2002.
The walls are hung with memorabilia and awards (an honorary doctorate from Green Mountain College, among them) as well as photos of family, grand kids, and show announcements. A hand-carved and painted sign, Pop Pop’s Theater, a remnant from his children’s home theater, hangs on a wall of photos—one photo is an enthusiastic younger Kimble as the head cheerleader for the Syracuse Football team.
Kimble never stopped being a cheerleader. He just changed his focus to the arts. He pioneered the founding of the Brandon Artists Guild in 1999 and has spearheaded several statewide projects with the Vermont Council of the Arts, such as “Palettes of Vermont,” which involved both artists and public schools. He came to monetary success late in life, after a career in antiques and teaching in both high school and Castleton University. Supporting other artists is a part of his nature, as he empathizes from deep experience with how complex the balancing act of life and art can be. He often acknowledges his wife, Lorraine, for her assistance with the business side of his career.
Kimble is an ebullient force of nature, completely involved in living in the present. His disciplined studio practice continually feeds his own spirit and inspires others to live life with sensitivity and balance. His art and life have established him as a true “Vermont Treasure.” He has just purchased a bright orange Volkswagen that is carrying him into the next phase—a fitting symbol for a man at 87 who is living life to the fullest. One of his favorite sayings is, ”The best moment in life is the next one.” Nota Bene.