The Spring Island Trust Art Collection

Upon the purchase of Spring Island in 1990 by Jim Chaffin and Jim Light, the Spring Island Trust was created for the preservation of both the environmental beauty and cultural history of the Island. As an integral part of that organization, the Spring Island Trust Art Collection and the Visiting Artist program were the dream of Betsy Chaffin. She wanted to invite artists to visit the Island, experience its beauty, find rejuvenation, and gain inspiration for their art. When the visiting artist left a piece of their work as a gift to the Trust, she hoped their art would portray to the viewer the Island’s “sense of place.” The first artist to visit Spring Island was West Fraser. He has been followed throughout the years by other notable artists such as Linda Fantuzzo, Brian Rutenberg, Joellyn Duesberry, Lois Dodd, Michael Karas, Janet Fish, Mary Whyte and Charles Reid.

The Collection reflects what the Trust and the Spring Island Development are all about – the maintenance of a sense of place – and artworks are displayed throughout the Island’s buildings. While the first artists participating were nature and landscape painters, the list of invited artists has been expanded to include many other mediums such as photography, ceramics, and sculpture.

Currently there are 175 pieces in the Collection. The newest acquisitions, space permitting, are displayed in the River House hallway. These are moved to other locations on the Island as new works become a part of the Collection.

Contributed by:
Bobbie Eckstein – Art Collection Chair
The Spring Island Trust – Nature & Arts Committee