About Weather Hill Farm
Wil Mauch did not begin his career as a writer, art historian, or artist. In fact, he is quick to acknowledge that his own artistic abilities extend little beyond the occasional stick figure—and not a particularly good one at that.
What began as a fascination with the life and work of Eric Sloane has grown into more than twenty-five years of research, writing, collecting, and museum involvement. Today, Wil is widely recognized for his extensive knowledge of Sloane’s life, paintings, illustrations, and contributions to American art and culture.
Weather Hill Farm brings together three interconnected pursuits: researching the life and work of Eric Sloane, preserving his artistic legacy, and helping others discover and appreciate his art.
Research and Publications
Wil’s research began with his 2001 biography, Aware: A Retrospective of the Life and Work of Eric Sloane. He subsequently authored Eric Sloane’s Simple Machines: A Boy, a Diary, and the Building of America and Ellie and the Clouds, both of which combine Wil’s storytelling with Sloane’s pen-and-ink illustrations.
In 2020, the State of Connecticut commissioned Wil to write a history of the Eric Sloane Museum, with particular attention to its collection of paintings and illustrations. Published in 2021, Symbols of American Spirit: 50 Years of the Eric Sloane Museum documents the museum’s history and the significance of its collection.
Wil continues to explore lesser-known aspects of Sloane’s career. Recent projects include a week-long profile of the artist for the United Kingdom’s Cloud Appreciation Society and extensive research into Sloane’s modernist works.
More information about these publications can be found on our Books and Publications page.
Research, Discovery, and Preservation
Over the years, Wil has identified previously undocumented paintings by Eric Sloane, researched and reconstructed the provenance of dozens of works, and preserved photographs and historical documents relating to the artist’s life and career.
Preservation is also an important part of Weather Hill Farm’s mission. Each year, funds are set aside specifically to acquire and rescue Sloane paintings and illustrations of historical significance whose conservation costs exceed their market value. These efforts reflect a commitment to preserving Sloane’s artistic legacy, even when doing so makes little financial sense.
Many of Wil’s discoveries, historical photographs, and documents are presented in our Research on Eric Sloane archives.
The Eric Sloane Museum
For more than twenty-five years, Wil has volunteered at the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, Connecticut. His contributions have ranged from designing exhibitions and advising on the art collection to authenticating donated works, digging trenches, and building stone walls.
In 2010, Wil founded the Friends of the Eric Sloane Museum, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the museum. He served as its first president until 2020 and continues to serve on its board of directors.
His most recent exhibition project, Eric Sloane: American Modern, explores a little-known aspect of the artist’s career. Drawing upon his research into Sloane’s modernist period, Wil recreated nearly two dozen works for an exhibition at the museum, on display from June 12 through November 14, 2026.
The Gallery at Weather Hill
Wil owns The Gallery @ Weather Hill in Middlebury, Vermont, a gallery devoted exclusively to the artwork of Eric Sloane.
Drawing upon decades of research, Wil assists collectors, institutions, and art professionals with the identification, authentication, appraisal, and provenance of Sloane’s paintings and illustrations. His consulting work has included private collectors, curators, auction houses, dealers, the State of Connecticut, the Eric Sloane Museum, the Eric Sloane Estate, and the Smithsonian.
Sharing a Remarkable American Artist
Weather Hill Farm is more than a gallery. It is a place to explore the life, work, and legacy of Eric Sloane through original research, historical documents, publications, and carefully selected works of art.
Whether you are discovering Eric Sloane for the first time, researching a painting, building a collection, or simply interested in learning more about this remarkable American artist, we welcome your interest and would be pleased to help.
