Portrait Of Vermont Governor Jim Douglas Unveiled In Montpelier 12/1

The official portrait of Vermont Governor Jim Douglas will be unveiled in the state house in Montpelier on Wednesday afternoon, December 1. Then, in an unprecedented move, it will be shipped to the Governor's hometown to be unveiled again at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater that evening.

The second unveiling recognizes Douglas as the town's most successful politician. His relationship with Middlebury goes back to his days as a student at Middlebury College, and he lives in the village with his wife Dorothy. .

But the relationship of the portrait to the town runs even deeper. It has been painted by Kate Gridley, a Middlebury artist and teacher who successfully competed for the commission. Even the frame was made locally. Martha Lapham, frame maker, lives just south of Middlebury in Shoreham.

Douglas Anderson, THT executive director, notes other connections. "Jim is the moderator at Middlebury town meeting, which is held right here in the theater. And Kate Gridley is one of our earliest board members."

The free event beings at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, December 1. Governor Douglas and Ms. Gridley will be on hand to talk about the creation of the portrait.

"If you think about it, few people ever get to the statehouse to see these historic portraits," says Anderson. "It's very exciting that the people of Middlebury have this chance to see this one first-hand, up close and personal."

Photo caption: The official portrait of Governor Jim Douglas will be unveiled at Town Hall Theater in Middlebury on Wednesday, December 1 at 6:00 pm. Free.