Through the juxtaposition of natural and man-made objects, Miriam Adams creates images of striking intimacy. Her graphite and watercolor drawings on paper depict a variety of everyday domestic objects: scissors, tools, timepieces, sewing materials, hand fans, clothing, and ribbons. Adams places these household items in conversation with objects from nature—including flowers, feathers, fruit, leaves, and stones. Drawings of her father’s tools, of garments sewn by her mother, of a wedding fan that belonged to her husband’s grandmother are matched with more ephemeral items to suggest family relationships and insights.  In addition, yarns and needles used in knitting challenge the viewer by their oft double meanings.  Are needles and pin cushions merely utilitarian or do they warrant deeper interpretations?

“I draw on nature for shapes and rhythms,” wrote Adams. “It is a point of departure to explore line, movement, relationships, emotions.” The soft graphite and watercolors contribute to the meditative quality of her work. This exhibit presents Adams’ drawings alongside an array of unique domestic objects from the Sheldon Museum’s collection, exploring how emotion becomes attached to the objects we use. As a history and art museum, the Sheldon celebrates the combination of personal stories and artistic creativity represented in her work. 

The Henry Sheldon Museum is pleased to present this exhibition as part of 2020 Vision: Seeing the World Through Technology, a statewide initiative of the Vermont Curators Group. The Sheldon Museum hopes to open in the fall of 2020, should COVID-19 restrictions allow, and Drawing on the Past by Miriam Adams will be available to view in-person at that time.

The works exhibited in Drawing on the Past are available for purchase through the Sheldon Museum. Please contact Executive Director Bill Brooks at wbrooks@henrysheldonmuseum.org.

Miriam Adams received a B.A. in Art History from Barnard College in New York City, where she took studio courses at Columbia University. She has been working as an artist ever since and her work has been exhibited extensively in the Northeast, particularly in New York and Vermont, in many public and private collections. She works primarily in graphite and watercolor on paper.

Many thanks to the exhibit team for Drawing on the Past:

Miriam Adams

Bill Brooks

Roger Kohn

Mary Ward Manley

Michael Manley

Ronnie Romano

Taylor Rossini