Wissler while you work

Author: Ceara Danaher

Prindle Mullin Wissler is a firecracker of a lady. The petite 94-year-old artist was the center of attention at Ilsley Library on the evening of April 12, and for the remainder of the month, Wissler's paintings will be on display in the library. The show is a precursor to the 21st Annual Hospice Volunteer Services Benefit Art Auction, which will be held on Friday, May 11 in nearby Vergennes' Basin Harbor Club. Over 200 items, including artwork and other goods, will be auctioned off.

Wissler, standing well below five feet tall, walked through the lobby of the library beaming on Thursday evening. She was eager to answer questions and to chat with anyone and everyone. She has lived in Middlebury since the late 1930s when her husband, Professor Ben Wissler, began working in the Middlebury Physics Department. Professor Wissler, who passed away 24 years ago, taught at the College for 40 years.

For her own part, Prindle Wissler has been an art teacher since 1934, shortly after she graduated from Skidmore College. She has taught at Lyndon State and Mary Hogan Elementary School. She continues to teach a few students now, although, she declared, "I'm still a student!"

Wissler's paintings are mainly a combination of pen-and-ink drawing, colored with watercolors. Hanging on the walls of Ilsley are works created as long ago as 1959, and as recently as this year. Wissler's paintings range from cheerful depictions of local scenes to more intricate designs which comprise her more recent work. Diagnosed with macular degeneration, a disease that impairs her eyesight and ability to see color, Wissler is now classified as legally blind.

Despite her condition, the spirited Wissler does not appear to have slowed down. Instead, she has adjusted her style to fit her needs. She works very closely to her paper and creates more abstract images. These later paintings are remarkably complex and vividly colored. Of one such painting, "Soul," she explained, "I really put my heart and soul into that one." She said, with a grin, "The others are about my life and what fun I have. It's still good fun."

Marita Schine, co-head of Brainerd Commons and Hospice Volunteer Services volunteer, also attended the event. She explained how the auction began 21 years ago with a group of dedicated individuals who collaboratively created artwork on the Middlebury Green. When the work was completed, they auctioned it off.

The Arts Auction has become more structured as time has gone on and has continued to be a great success.

"It's very community-building," Schine said. "People meet for a good purpose. They can be social, learn about art and meet local artists."

Patty Dunn, Executive Director of Hospice Volunteer Services, echoed Schine's sentiments during her introduction of Wissler. She explained how volunteers and artists gather from far and wide in an effort to bolster the community.

In describing her life as an artist, Wissler insisted upon the importance of one's own imagination. She rejects the idea of making a painting look as realistic as possible. As an example of her beliefs, she pointed to her painting, "Rich Fat Lady." The woman depicted is bulbously rendered, with hair the color of a yellow highlighter. When asked who the woman is, Wissler answered, "She's out of my head, but you know her. You've seen her."

That seems to be Wissler's artistic ideal: forging a connection between her own vibrant spirit and the world around her.

Upon reflection, she offered another tidbit about the "Rich Fat Lady." The patches of metallic gold that formed her jewelry were entirely made of chocolate wrappers. "Oh, I ate an awful lot of chocolate to make it Ö I probably got very fat," the tiny woman groaned.

Looking down at the mischievous smile below the white bobbed haircut, one doubts it.

April 18 marks Wissler's 95th birthday. She is an inspiration, still enthusiastic about life and delightfully opinionated. When she discovered that Middlebury students were present, she eagerly offered her thoughts. "Middlebury was sort of a cow college in 1930, but look where we are now!"