Past - Present - Future: Community Created Art
Opening Reception: Saturday, July 4, 2026, 12-3 PM
at the annual 4th of July Picnic
Location: Broad Brook Community Center, 3940 Guilford Center Road, Guilford, VT
Admission: Free and open to the public
What began as a youth art show has grown into a collaborative community exhibition celebrating creativity, history, and hope. While the exhibition invited young artists to share individual works inspired by the themes of Past, Present, and Future, the heart of the project emerged through creating art together.
On display are three large mixed-media community banners representing the Past, Present, and Future, created by local artists Joan Peters, Susan Bonthron, and Uriel Najera, together with young community members. Each banner is a tapestry of many hands and perspectives, reflecting our shared history, the place we call home today, and our hopes for the generations to come.
Visitors are also invited to participate in the exhibition by adding a wish for the future to one of two Community Wishing Trees. We hope these growing collections of hopes, dreams, and aspirations become part of the artwork itself, reminding us that the future is something we create together.
The exhibition also features a collection of poems written by local children during the Juneteenth writing workshop at the Guilford Free Library, exploring the meaning of freedom through their own voices and experiences. Their words add another dimension to the exhibition, connecting our nation's past with the ongoing work of building a more just and hopeful future.
Although the exhibition evolved in unexpected ways, it remains true to its original vision: bringing neighbors of all ages together to reflect on where we've been, celebrate where we are, and imagine the community we hope to leave for those who come after us.
We invite you to explore the artwork, share your own hopes on the Wishing Trees, and celebrate this community collaboration during the Broad Brook Community Center's Fourth of July Picnic.
Community Wishing Trees
What hopes do you hold for the future? Write your wish on a ribbon and place it in the basket of wishes. Each week, volunteers will add the collected ribbons to our Community Wishing Trees, helping them grow throughout the exhibition.
Whether your wish is for yourself, your family, our community, or the world, we invite you to add your voice to this shared vision of the future.