Photographer Donates Sales Toward Vermont Bridges
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Arsenault, owner of RARA LLC, sells a line of greeting cards and the popular photographic prints "Doors of Vermont," "Covered Bridges of Vermont" and "Doors of Italy."
He created the two Vermont prints earlier this year to help showcase doors and covered bridges from all over his home state.
"I came up with the idea back in 2010 while visiting the Bennington Battle Monument, and various covered bridges throughout the state," he said. "After shooting several photos of the monument and the bridges, I decided to begin traveling throughout the state of Vermont to photograph doors and bridges from as many towns, cities and villages that I could. I began with several day trips in the spring, and again in the summer months, and continued through the fall, my favorite time of year. I was able to visit nearly every town within the state."
Arsenault photographed and designed the prints himself, though he found it difficult to select the final cuts. "There are simply so many wonderful bridges and doors throughout the state to choose from, and in the end, I chose those that which worked best with the overall layout and design of the prints," he said.
One of the featured photographs is a sad reminder: the Bartonsville Bridge, which was washed away during the storm.
"Having visited and photographed the Bartonsville Bridge on several occasions, I was really overwhelmed with sadness when I watched the video of the bridge's demise," said Arsenault. "Since that time, I've been in touch with the woman who took the now viral video, along with some of her neighbors up there in Bartonsville. I've also reached out and sent prints to the town of Rockingham's Town Hall who is organizing the Bartonsville Covered Bridge Fund."
The Bartonsville Covered Bridge's span measured 159 feet, making it the second longest single timber span in the state. Located near Route 103, tt was built in 1870 by Sanford Granger after the great flood of 1869 changed the course of the river, replacing another covered bridge about quarter-mile up the road where the river used to flow. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"Many covered bridges throughout the state of Vermont were also badly damaged from Irene, and an effort is being made to rebuild all of these magnificent bridges," said Arsenault. "I am happy to be donating a percentage of the profits from all of my covered bridge note cards and prints to help repair and rebuild these covered bridges along with the Bartonsville Covered Bridge."
Arsenault said he has had numerous requests for copies of his Bartonsville Covered Bridge photo that is included in the "Covered Bridges of Vermont," so he is adding six new note cards featuring the Bartonsville, Quechee, Paper Mill and Silk bridges.
"I'm hoping to do my part by bringing more awareness to the damaged bridges in the state, and it is my sincerest hope that my prints and cards will help to repair and rebuild these magnificent covered bridges," he said.
For more information: www.doorsofvermont.com and www.coveredbridgesofvermont.com.
Tags: flood, Irene,
