Angie Sykeny – Page 27

Turning the tables

New job app addresses restaurant hiring challenges

Kassandra Pike is the founder of Fliptable, a Vermont-based mobile app launched in New Hampshire last month that matches hiring restaurants with qualified job candidates.

How did you come up with the idea for Fliptable?

The concept came to fruition probably about two and a half years ago, just before Covid hit. I had a lot of restaurant experience growing up —that’s how I paid for my college tuition and books — and I had friends and family who owned inns and restaurants. … It was a natural segue … when I started traveling around the country as a business consultant, helping startup companies enter the market, I would always hear from restaurants that they had a problem finding qualified [workers] in a way that was also conducive to their very busy schedules.

How does it work?

The app has two interfaces: one for job seekers and one for restaurants. … If you’re a restaurant, you download the Fliptable app, available on the Apple store and Google Play Store, and let the app know that you’re hiring. … You create your profile … with the name of your restaurant and its geographic location. You [indicate] what roles you’re looking for by selecting tags, like ‘bartender,’ ‘dishwasher,’ ‘front-of-house manager,’ ‘back-of-house manager.’ Then, job seekers who match those tags get matched with you, and you get to determine if you like that candidate, or if you want to pass on them. The restaurant also has the ability to do an ‘instant interview,’ which means if they find a candidate who they really like, that candidate gets an instant notification on their phone, letting them know that a restaurant is interested in interviewing them. From there, the restaurant and job seeker can coordinate a scheduled time to conduct an interview or for that candidate to come in and start working right away.

How does it appeal to restaurants?

Restaurant hiring managers are often so busy that getting them to stop and read resumes or interview a candidate is really challenging, even when they really need the help. I’ve witnessed and experienced this myself time and time again. … When you post a job on Craigslist or Indeed or Ziprecruiter … you pay for clicks and views and people to apply. … You could get 100 resumes and not a single one of them is a good fit, so you just spent all this time and money and you still don’t have a qualified candidate. Restaurants that download the Fliptable app spend less than a tenth of the cost and a tenth of the time [on hiring] because they … have complete control over the hiring process. … They can communicate and [schedule] interviews with job seekers from within the app … so they know what kind of qualified candidates are coming through the door.

How does it appeal to job seekers?

Anyone who has ever tried to get a job at a restaurant knows that getting a hold of the manager or assistant manager is pretty challenging, because oftentimes that person is wearing so many hats, and they’re not at their desk. … If they … walk into the restaurant and … speak to the manager, the manager tells them, ‘Here are the roles that are open; send us your resume.’ The job seeker creates their resume and goes back to the restaurant … and nine times out of 10 the manager isn’t there, so [the job seeker] is just kind of leaving their resume on the bar and hoping that someone gets it and reads it. There’s no meaningful connection [regarding] whether they could get a job. … Fliptable [helps them] create that connection.

Was there a need for an app like Fliptable even before the pandemic?

Attrition and hiring in the restaurant industry has always been a challenge; it just so happened that we also had this pandemic hit during the early development of the app, and now restaurants and job seekers, specifically in the food and beverage industry, need a product like this more than ever.

How does it address the needs of the restaurant industry in New Hampshire specifically?

The Granite State [values] local … and [the app] is very much local. … If [a restaurant] has a question, they get a response right away from their designated account specialist … who is a local. … They like that there’s a restaurant hiring tool with local reps who care … and who know their name, know where they’re located and likely have met them. That’s something that Indeed and Ziprecruiter won’t be able to touch.

What would you like to accomplish with Fliptable in the long term?

I would like it to be the No. 1 [hiring] solution that restaurants across the state of New Hampshire are using. We’re getting closer and closer to that every day. … In just one month’s time, we have more than 55 restaurants [using it] throughout the state of New Hampshire, and about 160 restaurants throughout the country. … We’re doing the best we can to be creative, to really rebuild this restaurant community from where it is now. … I’m very optimistic about restaurants making it through this [pandemic era]. I think the ones that do make it are going to be the ones that are using creative hiring solutions, and Fliptable is that creative hiring solution.

Featured photo: Kassandra Pike. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Fernando Reyes

Fernando Reyes

Auto detailer

Fernando Reyes is an auto detailer and owner of Always Faithful Mobile Wash, an auto detailing and cleaning service based in Nashua.

Explain your job and what it entails.

Auto detailing entails going through a vehicle and removing all of the grit and grime from the inside, giving it a deep vacuum, and some people may elect to have some [interior] shampooing done to remove hardened stains they can’t get out on their own. Then, we give the vehicle a thorough wash on the outside, wax it and take out all the windows [to clean them]. When we’re done it looks like it’s back to new showroom quality. … We offer mobile services, so we eliminate the process of someone having to drop their vehicle off at a shop; they can stay within the comfort of their own home, and we just show up and get to work detailing their car on site.

How long have you had this job?

I’ve been in business since last year.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I used to do [auto detailing] as a hobby. Me and my friends are avid car enthusiasts, so we like seeing nice cars as well as working on our own. … I was at the point in my life where I felt like, when you’re working for an employer, you don’t get appreciated or valued for the hard work you put in. I wanted to do something where I could be my own boss and make my own schedule, and instead of relying on an employer to value me, I could have a community and a clientele that would value my hard work. … I came up with the idea [for a detailing business] and started doing some research.

What kind of education or training did you need?

[The work] is basically the same thing you do when you go to a car wash and wash and vacuum out your car. … Being a military veteran, I’ve been able to apply the attention to detail I learned in the Marine Corps to make sure we get every little nook and crevice of the vehicle and clean places that you wouldn’t think [to clean]. … There are, however, some [auto detailing] training [programs] we’re looking to do in the future, just to help us with our technique and to be able to do [the job] quicker so that we can [serve] more clients in a day.

What is your typical at-work attire?

We have uniform shirts. I elected to go with fluorescent colors, like highlighter yellow and orange, so that when we’re out in the community, especially if we’re on a main strip [of road] doing our job, we stand out, so we can avoid accidents or injury.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

When we first opened, things were pretty good. We had gotten some contracts … with clients. Then Covid struck, and we had a lot of canceled appointments. We decided to try to stick it out and make the investment to keep the business alive. … I said, ‘Let’s see how the second year goes,’ and we played our cards right. We got a lot of repeat customers from the work we did [before the shutdown], and those customers have given us a lot of word of mouth.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

I wish I had known this was a thing that I could do and actually generate enough income to live comfortably. I would have started doing it sooner.

What do you wish people knew about your job?

That our business depends on Mother Nature. If the weather is good, we can accommodate [clients] and provide our services. If it’s not, we have to reschedule.

What was the first job you ever had?

Dunkin’ Donuts.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Fear is the best motivation, so go for what scares you, because you never know what lies on the other end.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Horrible Harry series
Favorite movie: Bad Boys
Favorite music: Latin/Spanish reggaeton
Favorite food: Chinese
Favorite thing about NH: Weekend getaways up in the mountains

Featured photo: Fernando Reyes. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/09/09

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Seeking singers: The Nashua Choral Society begins rehearsals for its 2021-2022 season on Monday, Sept. 13, and welcomes new singers of all abilities. Rehearsals will continue every Monday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pilgrim Congregational Church (4 Watson St., Nashua) and will focus on holiday music for the Christmas concert scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 5, at Immaculate Conception Church in Nashua. Visit nashuachoralsociety.org.

• Not your average play: The Community Players of Concord will perform Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit Red Rabbit at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) from Sept. 10 through Sept. 26, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. According to a press release, actors who perform the one-person play must have never seen it or read the script. There are no rehearsals or directors, and the actor will not get to see the script until it is given to them at the beginning of the play. “Only the bravest of performers take on this challenge,” the press release said. “For some actors, it’s their greatest nightmare, but for others, it’s a unique opportunity to use their skills in real time. Both actor and audience experience Nassim’s play simultaneously.” Each of the nine shows will be performed by a different actor. Tickets cost $22 to $25 for adults, $19 to $22 for members, seniors and students, and $16 to $19 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• Paintings and photography: The New Hampshire Art Association has two shows showcasing work by three NHAA artists at Creative Framing Solutions (89 Hanover St., Manchester) through September. “New England Wanderings” features painters Eileen Belanger and Elizabeth Craumer. Belanger’s acrylic paintings include scenes from life in New Hampshire and visits to Cape Cod or abroad. Craumer does pastel landscapes highlighting nature in New England, including marshes, streams, fields and forests. “Hidden in Plain View” features digital photography by Ellen Marlatt. “I tend to see art everywhere,” Marlatt said in a press release. “The seemingly random patterns created by time and wear as well as the beauty and interplay of shapes, colors, texture often presents as hidden objects or abstractions.” An opening reception with the artists will be held on Friday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 320-5988 or visit nhartassociation.org.

ART

Call for Art

• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth, beginning in November. The NHAA is accepting online submissions of artwork now. Works in all media will be considered and should be related to this year’s theme, “Portals.” Artists can submit up to two pieces. The submission deadline is Mon., Sept. 20, by 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• WOMEN’S ARTISAN FAIR Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, is seeking artists for this fair, which is set for Oct. 15 and 16. Women artisans are invited to submit handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts for consideration. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.

Special events

• FALL IRON MELT Participants create an iron tile of their own design by scratching it into a 6-by-6-inch sand mold and coat it with a liquid graphite, then watch as molten iron is poured into their molds on site. Participants can pick up their mold from the Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13, Brookline. Pickup dates are Sept. 23, Sept. 25, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2. Dop-off dates are the same as pickup dates, plus Oct. 7. Designs will be poured and ready to pick back up on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16. Register anytime now until Oct. 2 to secure a kit. The cost is $40 per mold. Visit andresinstitute.org.

Workshops and classes

• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.

Setting the scene

NH production studio progresses video tech

Studio Lab, a video production studio in Derry, is making a big impact on the film industry, not just in New Hampshire but across the country, as a pioneer of virtual production technology. Owner Tim Messina talked about what goes on at the studio and how the technology works.

What does Studio Lab do?

We’re going after new ways for films to be shot … [with] the technology that’s changing. … We’re using gaming engine technology … called Unreal Engine, which is what’s used to make video games like Fornite and Rocket League. … You can go scan a tree, or a house, a city … or a film set that you’ve built — and recreate a 3D world of it here. … We have a wall with a bunch of panels … that’s essentially a video screen — it’s not just a projection — and with that, you can actually move inside of that world and film it in real time. When I move the camera, we can move anywhere inside this world — we aren’t just locked down to a [still] view — and everything in the perspective is correct.

How is this different from a green screen?

If you think about green screens from back in the old days, you would have actors [moving] around this wall, but they couldn’t actually see what [the scene] is; all they saw was green, and they were just told what [the scene would be]. Now we can actually put the actors in those worlds, and they can react to them and interact with them in real time.

How creative can you get with it?

Pretty much everything is controllable. … We’re not just moving in this world; we can change everything about it, down to the little details. Let’s say the director wants [the shot] to be morning or afternoon; I can change the time of day and move where the sun is in the sky … and I can even take clouds out or make it cloudier … or make some clouds thin and some clouds thick. … I can change the size of the moon, or how many stars there are. … Then, everything in the scene changes — the shadows, the reflections on the water, everything.

What makes this technology so appealing to filmmakers?

A lot of times you have to get permits to shoot in a high-density area. You have to plan it months in advance so that [the city] can shut down the area … and get cops. Then, once you shoot it, there’s no going back. If anything gets messed up, or you have a different shot in mind later, you can’t [reshoot it]; your time is up. That’s the worst part of it all — fighting for time. … This [technology] gives you the ability to take as much time as you need to shoot in the scene, without being in the way [of the community]. … It also saves a lot of time. There’s a lot of prep time up front — it takes forever to build these worlds — but once they’re built you can recall them instantly, which saves time long-term. … Instead of filming at multiple [physical] locations in the same day, which is very time-consuming and usually not even possible, you can shoot multiple locations in a matter of hours from one location.

Are there other studios doing this?

Sony Pictures, Netflix, Warner Brothers, Universal — all these big studios are building these stages right now. This is where filmmaking is going. … We’ve talked with Verizon, Facebook, Nvidia, MIT. … Sony Pictures reached out to us. … It’s pretty wild. They’re all coming to us to collaborate because we’ve done things here that they’re still trying to figure out.

What’s next for this technology?

What we’re working on now is motion capture streaming a person’s movement in real time in a digital environment. The person wears a mo-cap suit, which allows you to track their position and movement. Then you take those real movements and digitize them. … The person can make a certain gesture and pull a tree up from the ground, or punch into the air and the window behind them will break. Basically, the world is reactive to what they’re doing physically.

Featured photo: Tim Messina. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Angelina McGlashan

Angelina McGlashan

Photo manager

Angelina McGlashan is a certified photo manager and the owner and founder of Preserving Memories, based in Windham.

Explain your job.

I basically help people manage their photos and videos. … People find themselves drowning in photos. I frequently get a call when their phone storage is full. … My [job]is to gather [ the media], get rid of duplicates, rename them in chronological order, [put them] into yearly folders, then create a backup system and teach [clients] how to maintain it. … Some clients have me maintain it for them. For physical photos … I scan them and create digital files. … If photos are damaged or faded, I can restore them. … I also convert every form of video tape including old film reels so they can be viewed again and shared.

How long have you had this job?

Since 2017.

What led you to this career field?

I’ve always loved photography. … I was a nurse for about 15 years. Then … I worked for my husband … from home. He sold his company in 2017, and I was searching for something new I could do from home. Someone posted on our community Facebook page that she … [needed] help organizing her digital photos. … I thought, ‘I can do that.’ I contacted her, did the job, and she asked if I could convert all her old video tapes. I [researched] how to do that and found the Association of Professional Photo Organizers. I … told my husband, ‘I think I found my new career.’

What kind of education or training did you need?

This job … entails having advanced knowledge of Windows and Mac PCs, understanding clouds and backing up versus syncing, and learning many different programs to organize photos, restore photos and convert different kinds of media. I have taken advanced courses in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. I continue to take workshops through APPO because new technology is always emerging.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

At first I was really nervous that my business would just slow to a stop, but the opposite happened. People were home and had a lot of free time on their hands and pulled out all those boxes of old photos and videos and wanted them organized or converted. To be safe, I arranged no-contact drop-off for items and Zoom calls for organizing services, and I still offer those services today.

What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?

Most days, when I’m not seeing clients, I’m in yoga pants. When I’m sorting physical photos or taking apart old albums, I am literally sitting on the floor sorting all around me.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

I wish I had found this career sooner.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

Some people don’t know how technical my work is and all the different programs I use to organize photos, and that most jobs take a lot of time. They think I have a magic wand and one button that does it all. In reality, [the programs] are just tools, and I still have to go through hundreds of thousands of photos myself. There is a huge human element to my job.

What was the first job you ever had?

I was 14 and worked at Donut Maker.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Working from home can make it very difficult to separate work time from personal time. Another organizer said to set a strict schedule and work hours and stick to them.

Five favorites

Favorite book: A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux
Favorite movie: The Green Mile
Favorite music: Anything from ’80s hairband music
Favorite food: Anything Mediterranean
Favorite thing about NH: Being close to the lakes, the mountains and the ocean. We always have fresh seafood and lobster.

Featured photo: Angelina McGlashan. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/09/02

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Last chance for these exhibits: Don’t miss the first group art exhibition at Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnett’s gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building at 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord), open now through Friday, Sept. 3. Barnett, who does primarily abstract art, opened the gallery in December 2019 to provide a venue for herself and other local and regional abstract artists to show their work. The exhibition, titled “Summer Haze,” invited regional artists to submit work in a variety of media, including paintings, drawings, collage, encaustic, fiber art, digital art, book and paper art, textiles, mixed media, photography, printmaking and 3D art. Five artists will be featured: Kathy Bouchard of Nashua, Karen Mehos of Boscawen, Jason Michael Rielly of Auburn, New York, Lorna Ritz of Northampton, Mass., and Barnett herself. Call 393-1340 or visit jessbarnett.com.

Catch the Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group’s exhibition, “Tension: Process in the Making,” before it’s gone on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). It features contemporary fiber art by 15 artists juried by textile artist Jenine Shereos. “Reflecting on the past year, there has been a collective stretching; a pulling and tightening, beyond what we ever imagined was possible,” Shereos said in a press release. “The works in this exhibition feature New Hampshire textile artists as they examine the theme of tension in both form and concept.” Current gallery hours are Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• Call for singers: The Rockingham Choral Society is holding open rehearsals for its upcoming winter concert. The rehearsals are open to new and returning singers ages 16 and up and will take place on Tuesdays, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Exeter High School (1 Blue Hawk Drive, Exeter). The auditions do not require any kind of preparation in advance. There will also be opportunities for soloists. This year’s winter concert, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 18, and Sunday, Dec. 19, will feature Vivaldi’s Magnificat; the premiere of Venite, an original work written for the Choral Society by its artistic director, Alex Favazza; and other seasonal selections. The Choral Society accepts 40 to 90 members and typically presents two concerts a year in the Seacoast region, according to a press release. “The Rockingham Choral Society has a long tradition of welcoming a diverse membership from the Seacoast community,” Favazza said in the release. “Our fall open rehearsals are an easy way for choral singers with new or renewed interest in joining a group to try it out and decide if this group is right for them.” Visit rockinghamchoral.org.

ART

Call for Art

Exhibits

• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. On view now through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through Sept. 6. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “TWILIGHT OF AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM” Exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. On view now through Sept. 12. Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

•“KICK-START!” Also known as “the show show,” this themed art exhibition from the Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter will open with a reception on Saturday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen. The exhibit runs through Oct. 31. The shoe theme is expressed in a wide variety of works that include paintings, sculptures, artist books, drawings and mixed media pieces. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, from Sept. 21 through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com or nhartassociation.org.

• 1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.

• ART ON MAIN A year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com or call 224-2508.

Fairs and Markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour.

Theater

Shows

• HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Sept. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• CABARET at Seacoast Repertory Theatre. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 1 through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Hatbox Theatre, 270 Loudon Road, Concord. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m., Sept. 10 through Sept. 26. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

Fresh pair of eyes

Meet NHAA gallery manager Amanda Kidd Schall

The New Hampshire Art Association welcomes a new gallery manager, Amanda Kidd Schall, to oversee its galleries and exhibitions, membership, artist resources and other operations throughout the state. In addition to its main gallery in Portsmouth, NHAA manages gallery spaces in Concord and Manchester. At the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center (49 S. Main St., Suite 104, Concord), there’s an exhibit called “Around New Hampshire,” featuring work by Elaine Farmer, on view now through Sept. 16. Creative Framing Solutions (89 Hanover St., Manchester) features different NHAA artists each month. The artists for September are Ellen Marlatt, Eileen Belanger and Elizabeth Craumer. Meet them at an artist reception on Friday, Sept. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m.

What is your background in the arts?

I’m an artist myself. … I went to Clark University, where I studied studio art. I lived in Worcester [Mass.] for a long time … and have exhibited my work at the Worcester Art Museum, the Fitchburg Art Museum and in Boston and other areas. … I taught printmaking at Clark University, and I was a professional framer. … I also served on the Worcester Arts Council.

What kind of art do you do on your own time?

I do a lot of different mediums, mostly printmaking, but I’m always exploring new mediums and trying out new techniques for making art. Recently, I’ve gotten into photography. I also do sculpture and mixed media. … I like to explore themes [like] women, the environment, sexuality, and I like to reference art history, as well as flora and fauna, in my work.

What does the gallery manager do?

It’s an all-encompassing job. I’m in charge of running the main gallery in downtown Portsmouth, so I spend a lot of time physically in the gallery, taking care of art sales and customer interactions. The bigger-picture aspect of the job is doing a lot of visioning for what we want the NHAA to look like, not just this year, but two, three, four, five years down the road. It’s a lot of laying down the foundation for things like how we [operate] memberships and how we can attract donors. I’m always thinking about how we can support our artists by going after more opportunities and resources to offer them. [That includes] finding new exhibition spaces around the state; finding educational resources and people to come teach the artists; elevating their business skills; and exposing them to new techniques and perspectives in art making.

Why did you feel like this position was a good fit for you?

I’ve been approaching art from lots of different angles. … I have the experience of being an artist myself … and of teaching art … and of being involved with art on a government level and in nonprofit organizations, so I’m able to bring all of that to the position. … I’ve always loved working with artists; as a framer I was working with artists on a daily basis on presentation and how to make their artwork ready to be hung in an exhibition. … Framing often turned into design sessions and exhibition planning … and I always loved that aspect of the job.

What do you bring to the NHAA?

I think I bring a lot of fresh ideas and a fresh approach. … Over the last 10 years, Worcester has transformed from a struggling city that didn’t really appreciate the arts, to being a hub in central Massachusetts for the arts, so I’ve seen what revitalizing an arts organization … and [forming] partnerships with other community organizations can do. I’m excited to bring my experience with those successes to the NHAA.

What do you hope to accomplish as gallery manager?

The New Hampshire Art Association has been around for over 80 years; we have an aging membership … and have been really struggling to build capacity and expand programming. … I really want to honor the artist members that we already have and the traditions that have been established that make the New Hampshire Art Association what it is, but I also want to think about ways to expand our membership and make it easier for more people to participate. … That’s why I’m looking to launch an online open member jurying program in January that would allow people to submit their artwork online rather than have to commute from all over the state to bring their artwork to the gallery in person. … I want to connect with some newer organizations with different memberships and different types of art so that we can create a really vibrant arts community. … I’d also like to showcase different mediums that have not been highlighted much at the NHAA and allow for contemporary artists to have more of a presence in the gallery.

Featured photo: Amanda Kidd Schall. Courtesy photo.

On The Job – Ardith Kirchberger

Ardith Kirchberger

Speech language pathologist

Ardith Kirchberger is the owner of Speak Easy Speech Therapy, a private practice in Nashua where she works as a speech language pathologist.

Explain your job and what it entails.

As a speech language pathologist, I treat a variety of communication disorders … as well as language delay and articulation errors. [The work] is primarily pediatric, but I do have a small caseload of adults.

How long have you had this job?

I started my private practice in 2016.

What led you to this career field and your current job?

I started in this career in the early 2000s as a speech language assistant to get my feet wet and determine if this was something that I really wanted to do. I fell in love with it and decided to … go back to school. When I got out of school, I worked in a variety of different settings … and got to the point where I wanted to start my own private practice.

What kind of education or training did you need?

You need a master’s degree in communication science and disorders.

What is your typical at-work attire?

Since I work with kids, I really like to keep things casual so that I can get messy if I need to, or sit on the floor or climb in a tent or whatever. Today, I’m wearing a pair of yoga pants, sneakers and a Speak Easy T-shirt.

How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?

Like everyone else, I was sort of panicking about what the next phase of life was going to look like, and the ramifications that Covid would have on my practice. I had to train myself quickly, overnight, how to do telehealth. … As we started learning more about the pandemic and the safety precautions that we could take, I started to gradually reopen my office to kids who perform better in person versus telehealth. Since then, I’ve grown exponentially. I’ve added more space, and I’ve added two employees and am looking to add another.

What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?

I definitely could have started my private practice sooner. I’m grateful for all of the experiences I’ve had that led me here, but now that I’m doing it and it’s working out, I know I could have done it earlier than I did.

What do you wish other people knew about your job?

We don’t treat just articulation errors. … I’m also a certified orofacial myofunctional therapist, so in addition to doing all the typical speech language pathology things, I also work with kids who need to eliminate thumbsucking or pacifier use, kids who have a tongue thrust and kids who are picky eaters.

What was the first job you ever had?

I worked at Dairy Queen, making Blizzards.

What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?

Everything is figure-out-able.

Five favorites

Favorite book: Anne of Green Gables
Favorite movie: The Devil Wears Prada
Favorite music: I like an eclectic mix of ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and indie music.
Favorite food: Pierogies
Favorite thing about NH: Mount Kearsarge, where my husband and I had one of our first dates, and Pleasant Lake in New London, where we have our lake house.

Featured photo: Ardith Kirchberger. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/08/26

The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities

• Manchester maps: Catch the Currier Museum of Art’s (150 Ash St., Manchester) special exhibit, “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester,” on view now through Monday, Sept. 6. The exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings created by Berlin-based artist Larissa Fassler, who was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. Stylistically inspired by maps and cartography, the drawings reflect Fassler’s observations of downtown Manchester and explore civic issues like the use of public spaces, the role of community organizations in supporting the needs of citizens, and the effects of poverty on the physical and emotional health of a community. “Larissa’s drawings complicate our expectations of what a map can do,” Samantha Cataldo, curator of contemporary art, said in a press release. “As an artist, her role is to ask questions, rather than offer answers, and she inspires us to think critically about our own perspectives on the concepts present in her work.” Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and free for children under age 13. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Outdoor poetry: In-person author events have returned to MainStreet BookEnds (16 E. Main St., Warner). Next up is a release party for Indebted to Wind, the latest book of poetry from New Hampshire poet L.R. Berger, on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. The event will be held outdoors, on the terrace of the Jim Mitchell Community Park, just outside the library. Call 456-2700 or visit mainstreetbookends.com.

• NH antique art: The New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford) has an exhibit and sale, “Fresh Perspectives,” on view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. It features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes, Robert Hauser and others, including paintings, prints, sculptures, assemblages and collages. Visit nhantiquecoop.com or call 673-8499.

• Life is a cabaret: Don’t miss Cabaret at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth), on stage now through Sept. 5, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The hit Broadway musical is set in 1931 Berlin as Nazis are riding to power and centers on the nightlife at the Kit Kat Klub and the relationship between a young American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, and cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Call 433-4472 or visit seacoastrep.org.

• Call for art: Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, is seeking artists for its inaugural Women’s Artisan Fair scheduled for Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16. Women artisans are invited to submit handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts for consideration, according to a press release. There is an online form to request more information about how to submit artwork. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.

The New Hampshire Art Association is now accepting online submissions of artwork for its 22nd annual Joan L. Dunfey Exhibition, which will be on display at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) in November. The juried show is open to all regional artists, both NHAA members and non-members. Works in all media will be considered and should be related to this year’s theme, “Portals.” Artists can submit up to two pieces. The submission deadline is Monday, Sept. 20, by 5 p.m. The exhibit is one of NHAA’s most prestigious exhibits of the year, according to a press release, and is held in honor of Joan L. Dunfey, who was a resident of the New Hampshire Seacoast and a steadfast patron of the arts. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

ART

Call for Art

Exhibits

• SHEAFE WAREHOUSE EXHIBIT AND SALE Featuring works in a variety of media by nearly 40 artists with the New Hampshire Art Association. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., now through Aug. 29. Prescott Park, 105-123 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• NEW HAMPSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION EXHIBITS Featuring the work of painters Joe Flaherty of Portsmouth and Maryclare Heffernan of Candia during August. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Creative Framing Solutions, 89 Hanover St., Manchester. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 320-5988.

• “FRESH PERSPECTIVES” Exhibit features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes and others. New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford). On view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.

• “FASHION FORWARD: AFRICANA STYLE” Exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 1. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.

• “DON GORVETT: WORKING WATERFRONTS” Exhibit features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 12. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 12. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.

• “SUMMER HAZE” Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet hosts her first group art exhibit. Gallery located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. On view now through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.

Fairs and Markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

Tours

Workshops and Classes

Theater

Shows

• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 25, and Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

To be continued

What to know about the Delta variant

Dr. Jose Mercado, associate hospital epidemiologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, answered questions about the Delta variant of Covid.

How concerned should we be about the Delta variant?

The Delta variant [is] classified as a variant of concern [and] is now the predominantly circulating variant in the United States. One thing that we are quite sure of is the increased transmissibility of the disease — the likelihood of one person infecting other individuals who are so susceptible to the disease — compared to the original strain. The thing that we still don’t know is the likelihood of the Delta variant causing severe disease and hospitalizations. We assume that it is more likely, but we need more data around that.

How prevalent is it in New Hampshire?

We do not routinely test … each positive test to confirm the variant … [but] there is a proportion of [positive tests] that the state [has tested for the variant], just to confirm the epidemiology of the disease … and what we’re seeing thus far is consistent with what we’re seeing in the nation: The Delta variant appears to be becoming, if not already, the predominantly circulating variant in our communities.

Does it spread the same way as the original strain?

The belief is that it still is spread through respiratory droplets. You may catch it when you are close to an individual who has the infection who is breathing out air that you are then inhaling … or is coughing and sneezing around you … or if you have [infected] respiratory droplets in your hands that you then transfer to your nose and mouth. The debate is whether it has the ability to spread as an aerosol — the difference between droplets and aerosol is the distance of how the virus can spread between individuals — and I don’t think we have necessarily confirmed that.

Who is at the highest risk of contracting it?

Unvaccinated individuals are at highest risk for acquiring a virus … and our elderly population and those who may have a weak immune system remain at the highest risk of severe disease.

How effective is the vaccine at protecting against the Delta variant?

The most recent data that we have received [from] the CDC is that the vaccine [initially] provided greater than 90 percent protection, [but] for new infections over time, we did see a slight drop in vaccine effectiveness … to about 80 percent. What is reassuring is that vaccine effectiveness against hospitalizations and severe disease has remained above 90 percent over time and with the introduction of new variants.

Does that mean Covid cases are trending up overall?

Most counties in the state are … at high levels of transmission. If you compare where we were back in the spring, where we started to see a drop, we’re now seeing an uptick of cases as we go into the fall.

Should vaccinated individuals continue practicing mitigation strategies?

Yes. … Now is really not the time to completely relax our mitigation strategies. … Data [shows that] even vaccinated individuals have the same amount of viral loads, compared to unvaccinated individuals, meaning they can still transmit the disease. … Following the CDC guidelines of wearing our masks, [practicing] hand hygiene and physically distancing when we’re not able to wear our masks is important for protecting individuals who are not vaccinated or have weak immune systems.

What is the current data on positive cases among children?

We are seeing more cases as well as more cases that lead to hospitalizations in children. This may be driven by [the fact that] kids younger than 12 years old are still part of our unvaccinated population. The hope is that, as the vaccine is approved for the younger population, that will start to help curb the rise in cases in younger individuals.

Are you anticipating a spike in cases among kids as they return to school?

Not if we’re able to follow the mitigation strategies. … When we resumed in-person learning, we were successful in keeping our kids safe, and it didn’t really result in a lot of outbreaks. … Data [showed] that exposures [among children] really came from community exposures, not exposures at school. … That’s why it’s important to continue to follow those mitigation strategies to reduce your risk of exposing yourself [and] potentially bringing it home.

Featured photo: Dr. Jose Mercado. Courtesy photo.

Author: Angie Sykeny

Turning the tables

On The Job – Fernando Reyes

The Art Roundup 21/09/09

Setting the scene

On The Job – Angelina McGlashan

The Art Roundup 21/09/02

Fresh pair of eyes

On The Job – Ardith Kirchberger

The Art Roundup 21/08/26

To be continued

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