In celebration of Vermont’s newly-proclaimed Covered Bridge Week (August 2–9), Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) is proud to present a special exhibition of covered bridge paintings from For the Love of Vermont, the Lyman Orton Collection. The exhibition features a selection of rarely-seen works that capture the timeless beauty and cultural importance of Vermont’s wooden bridges.

The display offers SVAC visitors a preview of select paintings that will become part of the Center’s permanent collection, thanks to a transformational gift from Lyman Orton, steward of the celebrated collection. This gift highlights SVAC’s forthcoming campus expansion, with new state-of-the-art galleries set to open in June 2026. A new gallery in the building will serve as a permanent home for For the Love of Vermont, the Lyman Orton Collection solidifying SVAC as a destination for the visual storytelling of Vermont’s heritage.

“This covered bridge exhibition is a current sneak preview of just one of many Vermont themes within For the Love of Vermont, the Lyman Orton Collection, that will be shown in June 2026 at the new wing at Southern Vermont Arts Center,” said Orton.

Spanning artists such as Emile Gruppe, Charles Curtis Allen, Aldro Hibbard, and Eric Sloane, the paintings on view reflect the golden age of regional art in the 20th century and the deep emotional pull of Vermont. Many of the featured works depict covered bridges throughout the state, reinforcing SVAC’s role as both steward and champion of local culture.

The Covered Bridge Exhibition is on view in SVAC’s Yester House through September 28, 2025.

For more information on SVAC, For the Love of Vermont, the Lyman Orton Collection, and the upcoming building project, visit svac.org/svac-expansion. This exhibition is made possible with the generous support of For the Love of Vermont, the Lyman Orton Collection.