Top Secret at Studio Place Arts

You’re invited to Kristen Dettoni’s solo show, Top Secret, at Studio Place Arts in Barre, Vermont. This show expands on the concepts in The Cryptology Collection and features Kristen’s work exploring cryptology through art and design. The exhibit features four of her newest collections: Classified Art, Color Coded, Signals Series, and Intelligence Series. In each, she asks the question: What if an image could convey an actual message? The exhibit runs from June 26 – August 16, 2024.

Artist Statement 

“Art, whether through color, composition or imagery, can convey a visual message on its own, but I love the idea that there can be so much more to an image, whether or not the viewer is aware of it. The whole point of secrets is just that, keeping it a secret so that not everyone knows what to look for to reveal the message. 

A little more than a year ago, I began an exploration of cryptology. It started when I discovered the book The Women Who Smashed Code by Jason Fagone and became fascinated with the story and life of Elizebeth Smith Friedman, the first female cryptanalyst. The part that caught my attention was the fact that you can break code just by looking for patterns. Since most of my life has been spent designing patterns, I began exploring hiding messages in plain sight within my work. 

This show explores the concept of cryptology through my artwork and graphic art, created with a variety of mediums such as punch needle, bead weaving, and digital printing. 

The pieces and codes reveal some of the amazing women who challenged ‘the norm’ and broke code during WWI and WWII and just how important encryption is in the technology world we live in today.” 

– Kristen Dettoni 

About Studio Place Arts 

Studio Place Arts was founded in 1998 by a group of artists in Barre, Vermont as a community arts space. The gallery opened in its current home in 2000. Its mission is to be” an important regional resource for art making, learning, and exhibition, and is committed to providing dynamic programs for people around central and northern Vermont.”

Read what people are saying about the exhibit.

Further Exploration 

Curious to know more about Kristen’s work and the process behind each of the collections featured in this show? We’ve uploaded videos to our YouTube channel that correspond to each collection.

Classified Art

Color Coded

Signals Series

Intelligence Series