SHELBURNE FALLS — Nancy Dole, owner of Nancy L. Dole Books and Ephemera on State Street, is paying tribute to late artist Judith Russell with a window display through Dec. 31.

The idea for the display has its roots back in June, when Dole won an antique wooden sign, made out of a cabinet door, that announced an upcoming exhibit of Russell’s paintings at the Merry Lion (an antique shop at the time) from Dec. 13 to Dec. 31, 1987.

When Dole received the call that she was the highest bidder for the wooden sign, she said she was “ecstatic.”

“I know Judy and loved her work,” said Dole. Russell died from leukemia in 1994.

Once Dole brought the sign to her house, though, she asked herself, “How am I going to display this?”

The idea to display Russell’s work in her bookstore came to Dole in October. Dole said she wanted the display to run from Dec. 13 through Dec. 31, like what had been done 35 years ago. The Merry Lion antique shop was even located where Nancy L. Dole Books and Ephemera is today.

Russell, a Paxton native, left behind “whimsical” art pieces of happenings in Shelburne Falls and historic Deerfield, according to Dole. One of the paintings on display shows historian George Sheldon meeting with a Native American at a picnic in Deerfield. Dole said the buildings in the painting are recognizable as being in Deerfield.

Another painting on display depicts the Bridge of Flowers reopening in 1984. The bridge was stripped of its plants for a year for restoration work on the concrete and to install a new water system. Once the work was complete and the flowers were back, there was a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony, which Russell depicted in her painting.

Dole said that “if you stand in front of (the painting), you can recognize the specific people.” For example, there’s former Congressman John W. Olver, members of the Bridge of Flowers Committee and Selectboard members.

Dole described Russell’s work as “very colorful” and said her art is so vivid and lifelike that you can almost count the flower petals in the Bridge of Flowers painting.

“Even though she did things her way,” Dole said, “she also illustrated to a T.”

The display also features “The Pudding Hollow Cookbook” written by Hawley resident and Greenfield Recorder columnist Tinky Weisblat. Russell provided illustrations for the cookbook.

“Judy was a talented artist and the sort of person who attracted everyone with her gentle personality and upbeat way of looking at the world,” Weisblat wrote in an email.

Apart from Dole’s own collection of Russell’s paintings and Weisblat’s book, there are several loans from locals in Franklin County.

The display is viewable day and night, and is meant to be viewed from the sidewalk on State Street, looking in.

“It’s a tribute to Judith,” Dole said. “It’s a tribute to a woman who left behind so much wonderful art.”

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