Beverly Post Barrett Members Exhibition Feature;
For artist and longtime educator Beverly Post Barrett, creativity has always been grounded in curiosity, close observation, and a lifelong love of nature — values encouraged by parents who taught her to pause and truly “see” the world. Her artistic path spans decades of teaching, exhibiting, and exploring new materials, from printmaking and papermaking to watercolor, textiles, and mixed-media collage. Beverly’s Touchstone story is also a personal one: she is the mother of Executive Director Lindsay Ketterer Gates, whom she later taught in elementary and AP art, creating a connection that has come full circle as Beverly now enjoys taking classes and creating work on campus. In the 2025 Touchstone Members Exhibition, she presents richly layered mixed-media pieces combining old prints, watercolors, drawings, and alcohol inks — works shaped by decades of experimentation, inspired by nature’s forms, and created simply for the joy of making.
Read more about Beverly’s work in this interview by Andrew Thornton, Touchstone Communications Committee member, professional artist, and Co-Owner of Allegory Gallery and Star Cottage Studio.
What is your Touchstone story? How did you first hear about it and what drew you to be involved?
I taught the Touchstone director, Lindsay Ketterer Gates, in elementary art and then again in AP Art in the Pennridge School District. I am very proud of the adult she has become. It was obvious that she was interested in and excelled in art and also showed potential as a leader. Her path in crafts and business led her to Touchstone and to this beautiful area. Because I’m her mom I also gravitated to this area and have enjoyed several classes at Touchstone. It’s kinda full circle, right? When she was my student, she felt compelled to show her merit despite what others thought about her getting special treatment. Now, I’m feeling the awkwardness of being a show where she is Executive Director. I was assured that the judging was anonymous.
Can you tell us about your journey as an artist—where did it begin, how has it evolved?
First was my fascination with crayon. My playtime was consumed by drawing on anything I could find…paper napkins, towels, inside of books, even my dolls. I was provided coloring books but seldom ‘colored in the lines”. I even used my own method in a paint by numbers kit. Mom and dad spent a lot of time with my brother and me. They encouraged us to revel in the beauty of nature. Dad couldn’t go past an unusual rock formation or gnarled tree without making us, “see”. Nature has always been a major theme in my work, especially trees.
As a youngster I never thought of looking ahead towards an art career. It was joining an art club in Penncrest High School (at the urging of a boyfriend) and the encouragement from a marvelous art teacher, Claude Falcone, that sent me in that direction. I joined the art major tract and found my niche. I wanted to be as good of an art teacher as he was. Hence, a BS in Art Ed from Kutztown and public-school teaching art in Central Bucks and Pennridge School districts.
After retirement I ventured into a chapter where I became an executive director of the Art and Heritage Council of Sussex County NJ and taught classes at Sussex County Community College. I also had a stint as a drawing adjunct teacher at Marywood University and Student Teaching Supervisor. I continued to teach various art classes to seniors at the Ringling College of Art in Englewood during a sixteen year move to Florida. Now I’m enjoying full time residence in Deer Lake Community and giving private lessons.
What’s something unique about your process, materials, or approach?
My master’s program focus was on printmaking and painting. I spent many years working and exhibiting the silk screen process in the Philadelphia area. It seems like I have changed my materials and techniques every decade or so. Often it is because of living circumstances or inspiration from classes or visits to galleries and museums. Printmaking, Papermaking, acrylic painting, watercolor, colored pencil, sewing and designing aprons, and silk painting are all materials that I have enjoyed working with. Now I continue my fascination of exploring new techniques by using multiple mediums. In all respects my work is suggestive of nature’s designs.
How do you describe your work(s) in the Touchstone Members Exhibition? Where did you find inspiration?
I’m combing sections of old prints with new watercolors, adding alcohol inks and markers to make mixed media collages on canvas. The Mythical Garden is one of my Garden series. It has a combination of at least six prints that have been altered in color and cut up into smaller units. The focus is on the watercolor of iris in the center surrounded by poppies and vines that suggest a garden gate. The Ghost Trees is a combination of bands consisting of a silk screen print of winter trees, a tree drawing from my sketchbook, and organic drawing design that has been toned down by using a copier to “ghost” the forms. I first started with color and changed it to greys when it just didn’t look right.
How do you hope viewers engage with or interpret your work? What would you like them to take away?
Art is a very personal experience. My pieces in this show were not created for any other reason except to please my own creative need. It has not been commissioned or created for an exhibition theme. I only hope that you will enjoy the visual and add your own interpretation if you like.
What does it mean to you to be featured in an exhibition at Touchstone?
I’m happy to have been selected among so many good makers of art. This is especially meaningful for me because of my new experimentation of style. It’s good to be appreciated.
It’s lovely to be able to share my work in such a beautiful gallery space and setting at Touchtone.
Visit the 2025 Touchstone Members Exhibition, on view through December 20, 2025, in the Bea Campbell Gallery at Touchstone in Farmington, PA. Click for gallery hours.