About the Sale
This auction is an amazing collection from a pair of artists' travels, treasures, and creations. Walter & Margaret Washburn were local artists who lived in the Canton community for most of their lives, and were ...view morea major part of the art world community. Included in this auction are tons of Walter's original paintings, Margaret's hand-crafted macrame art, ceramics crafted by both themselves and their community, beautifully chosen accent pieces, decor, antiques, a full art & art history library, great vintage kitchenware, a collection of Waterford crystal, and an AMAZING skunk figurine collection that Margaret expertly cultivated, including a membership in the "deodorizer club" :)
All of the original artwork in this auction, unless otherwise noted, was created by Walter. There are some truly stunning pieces!
Please find a brief bio about Walter & his life below!
Local Artist: Walter J Washburn
Walter was born in 1938 in Saratoga Springs, New York and was not expected to see his first birthday. He experienced a number of medical complications for his early years – and didn’t speak until he was 7 years old. During that time, drawing was his form of communication, and his outlet, and it came as no surprise that he spent the rest of his life as an artist & teacher. Walter & his family moved to Connecticut when they were still children. He continued to pursue art, and studied at Central Connecticut State University while working & supporting his mother. Walter then pursued a Master’s degree in art and art teaching at Southern Connecticut State University, where he met his future wife, Margaret Heenie, a vibrant member of the theater and music program.
In the 1970s, Margaret & Walter were married, and moved to a home that he supervised the build of on Indian Hill Road, in Canton CT. Walter & Margaret instantly immersed themselves in the Canton community, and remained great friends with their neighbors for the rest of their lives.
Walter began teaching in the West Hartford school system in the 1970s as well; he ended up at the Norfeldt Elementary School for over 40 years. His techniques were revolutionary for the time as he worked to incorporate lessons taught in the classroom into his art classes. As students learned about math, science, and history, Walter further reinforced these ideas through art and expression. He received awards and accolades for his impact on students – his art shows were EPIC and he ensured that every student had work to display.
Walter never stopped learning and experimenting with different art methods and techniques. He briefly worked in metal sculpture, stained glass, ceramics, and taught workshops in batik, paper-making, print-making, masks, macrame, and more. He was interested in every aspect of art and art history. He also studied figure drawing and painting. In the 1980s, Walter & Margaret had their daughter Malissa who grew up in the Canton community. It was around this time that Walter began work on his widest collection of textural mixed-media art works, intended to make his work accessible to the blind students he taught. Walter incorporated lots of reused and recycled materials in his artwork to create the amazing texture and depth displayed in his work, and all of the amazing cause of making artwork accessible to everyone. He used everything from burlap to cardboard to (clean) cat litter to convey a range of tactile sensations.
In the early 2000s, Walter hosted an art show at the Schoharie County Arts Council in Cobleskill, NY. He retired to that area, but continued to work as a substitute teacher and mentor through the creative learning program. Attendees to the show were given masks to cover their eyes, and encouraged to touch and experience the art, without the use of their sight. Walter challenged observers to compare their reactions when they opened their eyes, and soaked in the colors as well as the textures they experienced with their sense of touch.
Margaret passed away in 2004, and Walter moved back to Connecticut. He dabbled in watercolors and drawing, but didn’t seriously create art for over a decade. He moved back to Canton in 2015, and set up a studio in his basement, where he began to tentatively experiment with acrylics and brushwork, but his work didn’t have the three-dimensional aspects he was so known for. He focused on re-visiting older works, and adding & subtracting color and textures to make them fit into his wider aesthetics. Most recently, Walter moved into McLean in Simsbury, CT. He moved all of his artwork and treasures with him, and we’ve been lucky enough to go through them and hear all of the stories and adventures associated with Walter’s & Margaret’s lives.
Special Instructions
Pick up is at the shop: Unique Antiques of Connecticut in Canton, CT.
Pick up days: Saturday 7/30 from 11am - 5pm; Sunday 7/31 from 11am - 4pm ONLY. We unfortunately do not have the ...view morespace to store your items.
Shipping is available through the UPS Store Canton. Please contact them for any quotes regarding shipping. We are happy to work with them to arrange pick-up of items.
UPS Store Canton; 220 Albany Turnpike, Canton CT 06019
Phone: 860-693-9633
Email: store2391@theupsstore.com
Terms and conditions:
By placing a bid, you are agreeing to all of the following terms & conditions.
ALL SALES ARE FINAL. ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS. Bidders are STRONGLY encouraged to ask any questions prior to bidding. All items are sold as-is, where is. While we do our best to list any damage, repairs, or restorations, the absence of these descriptions or conditions must not be taken to imply that the lot is in perfect condition. Most of the items in these auctions are antique, vintage, or used. You should expect signs of wear consistent with age. Again, all sales are final. No returns, credits, or exchanges.
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