Kent exhibit illuminates mementos, memories, and our shared humanity

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Curators Allyson Evans and Nel Emlen stand by the wall of 39 portraits that greet visitors when they start their tour of “Holding: Mementos Kept, Memories Kindled,” this year’s Art at the Kent exhibit. “I travel with those who are searching, yearning, asking questions, and struggling to move forward in their lives.”Wilson’s works evoke the past, our shared and personal memories and our shared humanity — themes developed by the 22 Vermont artists in the Kent exhibit. “We wanted to show the breadth of humanity on this wall,” says Cornelia “Nel” Emlen, one of three curators. Peter Shumlin, is one of two artists in this show who have painted official portraits of former Vermont governors. Middlebury artist Kate Gridley painted Gov.