SHELBURNE FALLS — After graduating from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 1999, Summer Litchfield is settling firmly back into the art world as the new director and curator of Salmon Falls Gallery.
Litchfield is taking over from Donna Gates, who served in the position for 12 years and is now pursuing work in craniosacral therapy. Litchfield, who joined the organization in April, said Gates spent the first few months showing her the ropes.
“I’m looking forward to being surrounded by creativity, beauty and inspiration, and sharing this with others,” Litchfield said in a Salmon Falls Gallery press release.
June 26 marked the official changing of the guard, when a celebration was held to welcome Litchfield and say goodbye to Gates. Litchfield noted that at least 20 people attended, many of them artists.
Gates, who started working at what was then called the Salmon Falls Artisans Showroom in 2010, said her favorite part of the job was “to hold the vision for what the gallery could look like.” She also reflected on the changes she experienced, particularly moving the 1 Ashfield St. gallery from a brick-and-mortar operation to having a greater online presence, particularly amid the pandemic.
“Designing displays, finding really intriguing exhibits and artists, interfacing with a community of artists and writing about it all sewed much of my previous work experience together in this one fine job,” Gates said in a press release. “It’s a beautiful thing to support our artists.”
Although Litchfield initially planned to pursue an illustration degree, she graduated from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design with a degree in Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM), which she noted “really encompasses everything art has to offer.”
“Once I arrived, I quickly realized that there was so much more to discover in the world of art — spoken word, installation, ambient sound, collaboration,” Litchfield said in a press release. “This prompted me to change my major to SIM.”
With this degree, she said she hopes to bring a “little more dimensionality” to Salmon Falls Gallery.
“I’m really looking forward to meeting some new artists to bring into the gallery,” Litchfield added.
Over her more than 20 years of experience working with customers while doing odd jobs such as bank teller, zipline guide, stone mason and glass assistant, to name a few, Litchfield said she feels like she has developed the ability to connect with people on many different levels.
Despite her short tenure at Salmon Falls Gallery, Litchfield has already had the chance to work with several artists. These include Polly French, whose work is focused on birch tree collages; Belinda Lyons Zucker, who does fiber art with representational dolls and other sculptures; and children’s book author Astrid Sheckels. On display through Aug. 28 is Julie Crabtree’s fiber art inspired by the Bridge of Flowers; and wood objects and photos by Warwick woodworker Sandy Renna.
In the future, Litchfield is looking forward to curating “Dark Matter, the Unseen Work of Josh Simpson.” The exhibit, planned for November and December, will not only feature the work of glassmaker and gallery owner Josh Simpson, but also a demonstration by Simpson himself.
Despite the inherent challenges of starting a new job, Litchfield said she feels really good about the position so far. She praised her staff for being helpful and communicative, saying they’re her “backbone and support.”
Litchfield also noted that Gates worked hard to cultivate relationships with artists and grow the Salmon Falls Gallery during her tenure as director and curator. She hopes to continue in Gates’ footsteps.
“I did not want to leave the gallery without knowing it would continue on in good hands,” Gates said in a press release, adding that Litchfield “will do a wonderful job.”
The gallery is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit salmonfallsgallery.com.