Diane Valladares is the Director of Recruitment at Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire, a nonprofit that recruits and trains volunteer advocates for abused or neglected children throughout the state.
Explain your job and what it entails.
I’m typically a future advocate’s first contact within the organization. I review their application, get them interviewed, run their background checks and transition them to the training team and, eventually, to their program manager, who they’ll work closely with on their case.
How long have you had this job?
2022 will be my 20th year.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
I just fell into it. As a former elementary educator with an interest in the law, I learned about CASA through a neighbor who was an advocate. It intrigued me, and I became an advocate myself. A year later this position opened up, and my program manager suggested I look into it.
What kind of education or training did you need?
I came into the position with a bachelor of science in education, but … I could see someone with a degree in human resources in this position. A lot of what I do feels like human resource management.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Business casual. I don’t attend court hearings like so many of my co-workers; they definitely dress more formally than I do. If it were up to me, it’d be jeans and flannels every day. Maybe I should’ve been a lumberjack.
How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?
Almost the entire organization transitioned to working from home over that fateful weekend in March. We recruited and trained virtually, and we still do, because it provided us with benefits we hadn’t experienced before. The first few weeks were weird, but once I established a routine, I loved the work-life balance that being at home provided. Our jobs at CASA are really stressful, so being able to take a midday walk in the woods over my lunch hour and come back feeling calm, refreshed and ready to go made work feel more manageable.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
Before joining this organization, I had no idea the types and depths of trauma that little children experience at the hands of those who are supposed to love and protect them. It’s mind-blowing.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
The level of stress involved. When we’re not able to take a case due to a lack of advocates, that’s hard, but it’s harder still on our program managers, who are reading those court documents and learning about what these children have endured firsthand. In comparison, my job is fun — I get to meet new people … and learn about their lives — but CASA work is … not for everyone.
What was the first job you ever had?
When I was 15, I worked in the kitchen of the company where my father worked for the summer, preparing salads and serving lunch to the employees. I was a lunch lady.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
“Do your best, leave the rest; angels do no more.” I work in an organization where we could work 24/7 and still have more to do. Each day you have to make a conscious decision to shut off work mode and get back into your own life.
Five favorites Favorite book: anything by Barbara Kingsolver Favorite movie:Practical Magic Favorite music: folk Favorite food: Mexican Favorite thing about NH: The birds, the trees and all the woodland creatures, large and small
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• History carved in stone: Laconia Public Library and New Hampshire Humanities present a virtual program, “New Hampshire Cemeteries and Gravestones,” on Thursday, Oct. 28, at 6:30 p.m. Rubbings, photographs and slides highlight gravestones throughout the state that tell stories of the Great Awakening, the Throat Distemper epidemic, the American Revolution and other historical events. Learn about the craftsmen who carved these gravestones and how the gravestones provide insight into New Hampshire’s genealogy. Registration requested by emailing [email protected]. Visit nhhumanities.org/programs/577/new-hampshire-cemeteries-and-gravestones
• Shoe art and poetry: Catch “Kick-Start,” an exhibit by the Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter on view at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen), before it’s gone on Sunday, Oct. 31. Also known as “the shoe show,” the exhibit features shoe-themed art by two dozen artists in a variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, artist books, small installations, photography, drawings and mixed-media pieces. “All the work is really different,” gallery director Laura Morrison told the Hippo earlier this month. “No one piece is like the other. We have things that are very serious, things that are just plain silly, things that are really powerful.” Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Additionally Twiggs Gallery will host a poetry reading and open mic event alongside the exhibit with the correlating theme “In My Shoes” on Saturday, Oct. 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. Eight poets who recently completed a four-week poetry class at the gallery will read their poetry. Community members are invited to bring and read an original or favorite poem that fits with the theme for the open mic portion. The event is free, and light refreshments will be served. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.
• Pandemic poems: COVID Spring II: More Granite State Pandemic Poems, an anthology of poetry by 51 New Hampshire residents about the pandemic experience in New Hampshire, is now available through independent Concord-based publisher Hobblebush Books. The anthology, edited by New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary, is a follow-up to COVID Spring: Granite State Pandemic Poems, published in September 2020, which features original poems submitted by more than 50 New Hampshire residents, providing “a thirty-day snapshot of what life was like in the Granite State in April of 2020” through topics such as Covid-related “job loss, loneliness and love, masks, social distancing, surreal visitors, uncertainty, graduations deferred, grief, neighborly and less-than-neighborly acts, observing the beginning of the pandemic and making projections about the future, recalibrating or confirming what it means to be human, to be a resident of this region,” Peary said in the anthology’s introduction. “Picking up where COVID Spring left off, this new collection beautifully captures the uncertainty, the burnout, and the hope — lots of hope — of a diverse group of poets from the Granite State and beyond as they look toward a post-pandemic future,” Mary Russell, Director of the Center for the Book at the New Hampshire State Library, said of Covid Spring II in a press release from Hobblebush Books. Visit hobblebush.com or call 715-9615.
• Holiday shopping begins: Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit, “Small Works — Big Impact,” from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31, in person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. An artist reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, Nov. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.
• Winter art classes: Art classes for teens and adults are starting up at Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). The next 5-week session begins on Nov. 29 and offers Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. All classes meet for two hours each week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.
Halloween Art
Flight Coffee Co. (209 Route 101, Bedford) is featuring Halloween-themed artwork by Max Gagnon on its walls during October. Gagnon is a freelance illustrator and painter working in pen and ink, gouache, acrylic and digital media. His colorful pieces are inspired by comic book art, painted portraits and film and television, particularly the cartoons he watched on Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network while growing up in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Hampshire-native, Gagnon graduated from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, now called the New England College of Art and Design, where he currently teaches Conceptual Art. He also created the murals in Flight Coffee Co., and at To Share Brewing Co. on Union Street in Manchester. To see more of Gagnon’s art, visit mcg-illustration.com or find him on Facebook and Instagram @mcgillustrates.
ART
Exhibits
• “TRUTH BE TOLD: AN ARTFUL GATHERING OF WOMEN” Two Villages Art Society presents a collaborative exhibit of works by 14 women artists — seven who identify as Black and seven who identify as white — from across the country who have been meeting bi-weekly over Zoom to discuss race. On view now through Nov. 13. Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception with two of the artists will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.
• “WPA IN NH: PHILIP GUSTON AND MUSA MCKIM” Exhibit features a pair of 14-foot monumental murals painted by artist Philip Guston and poet and painter Musa McKim for the Federal forestry building in Laconia, New Hampshire, in 1941. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Dec. 5. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now 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.
• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Feb. 27, 2022. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “SMALL WORKS — BIG IMPACT” Creative Ventures Gallery presents its annual holiday exhibit in-person at the gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford) and virtually on the gallery’s website (creativeventuresfineart.com/product-category/small-works-show). The exhibit features non-juried small works of art in a variety of media and styles, created by area professional and nonprofessional artists, priced affordably for holiday gift buying. Nov. 2 through Dec. 31. An artist reception will be held at the gallery on Fri., Nov. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit creativeventuresfineart.com or call 672-2500.
• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.
• “9/11” Exhibit features images of the September 11 attacks and the aftermath, taken by war photographer Jim Nachtwey. On view now. The 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.
THEATER
Shows
• WONDERS Phylloxera Productions presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Oct. 29 through Nov. 7, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.
• BUDDY – THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord). Fri, Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44.50. Visit ccanh.com.
• ALL TOGETHER NOW!Produced by the Community Players of Concord’s Children’s Theater Project. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 13, 2 p.m. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.
• THE WEDDING SINGER Presented by The Peacock Players. Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua). Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, with showtimes on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit peacockplayers.org.
• 9/12 New World Theatre presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Nov. 12 through Nov. 21, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.
Classical
• “SUITES AND SCHUBERT” Symphony New Hampshire presents music by Bach, Schubert and Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra in 1933. Notable pieces will include Price’s Suite of Dances, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, “Air on a G String,” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St., Nashua). Fri., Nov. 5. Visit symphonynh.org.
New Hampshire celebrates school principals during October
As part of National School Leaders Month, Gov. Sununu has proclaimed October 2021 as School Principals Month in New Hampshire. Bridey Bellemare, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, is currently touring schools throughout the state to recognize school principals for their service and to discuss how schools can be improved.
What is the New Hampshire Association of School Principals, and what is your role as executive director?
We are a nonprofit organization that focuses on fostering the development of school leaders in the state of New Hampshire. … A lot of times we focus on educators and teachers — rightfully so, because they’re critical to the profession — but my role is to represent the voices of … and elevate the [focus on] school leaders.
What is School Principals Month?
The National Association of Elementary School Leaders and the National Association of Secondary School Leaders recognize October as National School Leaders Month. … This year I worked with Gov. Sununu to develop a proclamation specifically for New Hampshire to recognize October 2021 as School Principals Month in the state of New Hampshire. … It’s been several years since school leaders have been in the center of a conversation. … Certainly, post-pandemic, school leaders are still dealing with difficulties in reopening schools and looking at how education has been and how it needs to continue to evolve, so it seemed rather timely to ask the governor to encourage citizens and local communities to recognize school leaders for what they are doing in service of their communities.
What is your school tour about?
I [extended] the invitation to [New Hampshire school leaders] and said, ‘Hey, if you want me to come to your school to see what’s going on and talk about what’s working and what’s not and how we can continue to network across the state to support each other, I’m happy to come visit.’ … Since most [school leaders] are pretty busy right now with reopening schools, assessing what kids need and meeting with parents, I thought I’d get maybe 10 schools or so that said, ‘Yeah, sure, come on by,’ but I received over 70 invitations. Obviously I can’t visit 70 schools during the month of October, but I’ve made a commitment to get to as many schools as possible before the end of the year. I’ve visited 16 schools in the past two weeks, and I have about 20 schools that I hope to get to next week. … I am posting each visit on social media to try to get the story out there about the great things that are happening in our schools and that our school leaders are doing, and as a way to help school leaders get to know other school leaders so that we can strengthen the school leadership pipeline in the state of New Hampshire.
Is there anything you’ve learned during the tour so far that surprised you?
A lot of [school leaders] north of Concord said they feel forgotten. Hearing those words really mattered to me, so I made it a priority to start in the North Country, and I’m going to continue the tour to the Lakes Region, southeast, southwest and south-central parts of the state.
What are some of the biggest challenges school leaders are facing post-pandemic?
The pandemic has upended almost every aspect of schooling. The focus has had to shift to management and operations in a whole different capacity, looking at things like ventilation systems and safety issues around masking and testing to ensure that staff, students and everyone in the school setting is safe. That has taken a lot of time away from focusing on school climate, culture, instruction, curriculum and attendance. … Learning loss continues to be a huge concern; [there are] students who are maybe one-and-a-half years behind what they would have been if school had been in full session for the past two years. … Going remote in some areas, whether they were urban or rural areas, created some [education] accessibility issues for students and families. … Some students were not coming to their classes, whether remotely or in person, because they were taking up part-time jobs to help their families who were out of work. … [Academic] achievement gaps aren’t the sole story here; students … also experienced anxiety and depression and different levels of [difficulty] as a result of the pandemic, some [of which] were even traumatic experiences.
What can families and community members do to support school leaders?
Please, afford your school leaders and educators grace during these times, when they’re making difficult decisions for all families and students. … Let’s assume best intentions and engage with one another in a healing-centered way so that we can work collectively to make a difference in students’ lives, both educationally speaking and otherwise.
Andrea Grelle is a licensed esthetician specializing in body waxing. She owns her own waxing studio, Windham Wax, which is temporarily located in Salem but will soon return to Windham.
Explain your job.
I do full body waxing and spray tans for men, women and youth, with parental consent. My day mainly [consists of] doing brows.
How long have you had this job?
I’ve been waxing for six years, and I opened Windham Wax about four years ago.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
I went to Berklee [College of Music], then moved to Nashville to pursue music. … Then, I hit [age] 30 and thought, ‘I should probably get an actual career.’ I became a freelance makeup artist and did a lot of makeup for music videos, and I loved it. … Then, life started leading me toward hair removal. I started working as a receptionist at a wax salon, and I got some hands-on training there. I fell in love with helping people get the brows they wanted, or helping them get their brows back if they had a bad experience at [another salon].
What kind of education or training did you need?
I went to Tennessee College of Applied Technology, where I got 860 hours of [studying] theory and doing hands-on training, working with actual clients, and I got my esthetician’s license. … I’m always continuing my education by going to classes and conferences to keep up with new techniques, products, styles and trends.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
Casual, but professional and fashion-forward. I wear a lot of funny T-shirts, since I work with high schoolers a lot.
How has your job changed over the course of the pandemic?
I’ve always been pretty obsessive when it comes to sanitation and hygiene — I have, like, 15 different kinds of disinfectants, like one for cosmetics, one for metal implements, one for the counters — so my [sanitation] steps didn’t really change. I did add [air purifying] filters to my work space, and I started extending my time [between clients] so that I have enough time to diligently clean everything, and so that I only have one person in at a time.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
I wish I had gotten into it sooner. … In high school I felt like there was this stigma about going to a vocational school … so I went to college and was never exposed to the option of aesthetics as a career.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
I wish people knew that [getting waxed] isn’t as bad as it’s [portrayed to be] in the movies. … I try to make the whole experience as painless as possible. It’s never going to be completely pain-free, but it’s kind of like going to the dentist — you don’t want to do it, but afterward, you’re glad that you did. … There’s also this idea that waxing is a luxury thing; I think it used to be, but now it’s available to anyone. I think it’s just another [form] of self-care for people.
What was the first job you ever had?
I worked in the drive-thru at Wendy’s in Salem.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
When I was just [starting out] and was really nervous about doing brows, my old boss at the salon … said, ‘Trust yourself. You know what you’re doing, and you know how to listen.’ That really helped me [realize] that I just have to have confidence in my ability and trust what I know.
Five favorites Favorite book:Harry Potter series Favorite movie:Arsenic and Old Lace Favorite music: Chris Stapleton and Shinedown Favorite food: Greek and Italian Favorite thing about NH: The seasons
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• ArtWeek continues: City Arts Nashua’s virtual ArtWeek is going on now through Sunday, Oct. 24, highlighting local artists and their works through professionally filmed segments, aired each day on Access Nashua Community Television (Comcast Channel 96) and the City Arts Nashua website (accessnashua.org/stream.php) and posts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn. Coinciding with KidsWeek Nashua, ArtWeek also features a kids scavenger hunt with 50 mini art kits, filled with supplies for painting, sewing and sculpture projects, hidden around Nashua’s public sculptures. See the full story at hippopress.com; you’ll find it in the Oct. 14 issue. Or visit cityartsnashua.org for social media links.
• The art of carpet: A new special exhibition, “As Precious as Gold, Carpets from the Islamic World,” opens at the Currier Museum of Art(150 Ash St., Manchester) on Saturday, Oct. 23. It features 32 carpets with various geographical origins, dating from the 15th century to the 19th century, including a Spanish rug, three Egyptian rugs, Lotto and Holbein patterned carpets, a 16th-century Ushak Medallion and a late 17th-century Small Medallion carpet. The exhibit, on loan from the Saint Louis Art Museum, will be at the Currier until Feb. 27, 2022. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17, and is free for members and children under age 13. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• ’90s on stage: It’s the final week for The Seacoast Repertory Theatre’s (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) production of Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical. Based on the 1999 teen movie, the musical follows Sebastian and Kathryn, a pair of manipulative step-siblings who place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can seduce the school headmaster’s daughter Annette, who had published an essay advocating for abstinence until marriage. Showtimes are Thursday, Oct. 21, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 22, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, Oct. 23, at 2 and 8 p.m. Ticket costs range from $32 to $46. The show will also be available to watch livestreamed on Friday and Saturday, with tickets priced at $25 for one viewer, $40 for two viewers and $60 for three or more viewers. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.
“Truth” by Valerie Hall, featured in “Truth Be Told” exhibition. Courtesy photo.
• Women explore race: Two Villages Art Society presents a new exhibit, “Truth Be Told: An Artful Gathering of Women,” at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) from Oct. 23 through Nov. 13. The exhibit is a collaboration of 14 women artists — seven who identify as Black and seven who identify as white — from across the country who have been meeting bi-weekly over Zoom to discuss race. “This is a unique group of outstanding artists who share a fervent desire to understand and eradicate racial injustice in our country and are motivated to pursue this goal through their art,” Alyssa McKeon, president of Two Villages Art Society, said in a press release. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception with two of the artists will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org.
• A musical message: The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra will perform its fall concert at The Music Hall Historic Theater (28 Chestnut St., Portsmouth) on Sunday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. The concert will feature Tchaikovsky’s Tempest, Julius Eastman’s “Gay Guerilla” and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Together these pieces create “a complex musical metaphor of weathering and coming out of a storm; … a powerful message of the invincible human spirit; and a moving transition from darkness to light,” according to the orchestra website. Tickets cost $25 to $35 for adults, $25 to $30 for seniors age 60 and up and $20 for students. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.
Lively art
The New Hampshire Art Association has two shows showcasing work by NHAA artists at Creative Framing Solutions (89 Hanover St., Manchester) through October. “The Joy of Life” features oil paintings on canvas by Sally Newman. The paintings depict cityscapes, still life and landscapes with bold and saturated colors that highlight the vitality of life. “I am excited to show people my paintings as they will get a different perspective of day-to-day living as I imagine it,” Newman said in a press release. “A Little of This, A Little of That” features photography by Jean Chase Farnum. Taken mostly in New England, the photographs capture scenes of daily life in different kinds of light. “I have come to appreciate all aspects of natural light that is available on a 24 hours basis from the sun, moon and stars,” Farnum said in the release. “Witnessing fundamental nature and nature’s simplicity within the world around me forms the basis for the presentation of my work.” 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
Exhibits
• “KICK-START!” Also known as “the shoe show,” this themed art exhibition from the Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter opens 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.
• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION Features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. Now through Nov. 28. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.
• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now 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.
• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). Opens Oct. 23. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.
• “TRUTH BE TOLD: AN ARTFUL GATHERING OF WOMEN” Two Villages Art Society presents a collaborative exhibit of works by 14 women artists — seven who identify as Black and seven who identify as white — from across the country who have been meeting bi-weekly over Zoom to discuss race. On view Oct. 23 through Nov. 13. Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Gallery hours are Wednesday through Friday, from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An opening reception with two of the artists will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 5 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.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.
• “NEW HAMPSHIRE NOW” A collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, on display in eight exhibitions at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations are Belknap Mill in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.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.
• “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, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].
THEATER
Shows
• CRUEL INTENTIONS THE ’90s MUSICAL The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. Now through Oct. 23, 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. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.
• SPONGEBOB THE MUSICAL The Manchester Community Theatre Players present. In-person performance at MCTP Theatre at The North End Montessori School (698 Beech St., Manchester), and live streamed performance. Now through Oct. 23, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per person for the in-person show and $20 per streaming device for the live streamed show. In-person attendees must purchase tickets in advance and show proof of Covid-19 vaccination. Visit mctp.info or call 327-6777.
• AMERICAN SON The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Now through Oct. 24, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.
• MAMMA MIA The Palace Theatre presents. 80 Hanover St., Manchester. Now through Nov. 14, with showtimes on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $39 to $46 for adults and $25 for children. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.
• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com.
• WONDERS Phylloxera Productions presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Oct. 29 through Nov. 7, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.
Classical
• “SUITES AND SCHUBERT” Symphony New Hampshire presents music by Bach, Schubert and Florence Price, the first African American female composer to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra in 1933. Notable pieces will include Price’s Suite of Dances, Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3, “Air on a G String,” and Schubert’s Symphony No. 5. St. Mary and Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church (39 Chandler St., Nashua). Fri., Nov. 5. Visit symphonynh.org.
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has named Brenda Bailey Lett its 2021 Citizen of the Year. Since moving from Chicago to the Granite State in 1993, Lett has been involved in numerous local and national social justice efforts and co-authored a book, Race Between Us: Racism — A Human Experience, which explores how people from different backgrounds can break down barriers to have honest dialogue about racism. Lett will receive the award at the 15th annual Black New England Conference Awards Dinner at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Saturday, Oct. 23. Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/black-new-england-conference for information about the conference and how to attend, either in person or virtually.
What kinds of social justice work have you done in New Hampshire?
I participated with the Outreach for Black Unity in Nashua … and the Manchester NAACP … and in creating the Ujima Collective, starting with [organizing] a commemoration of the death of Martin Luther King … to talk about why he was assassinated. We [held] film festivals and workshops, and worked with other organizations. … I was involved with the Greater Manchester Black Scholarship Foundation … and with the We Are One Festival, which [was created] with the combined efforts of the African Caribbean Celebration and the Latino Festival. I would say that, overall, the work I’ve done has been really [focused on] creating community.
What have you done on a national level?
I’m pretty heavily involved in the reparations movement. … I started out as a member-at-large on the N’COBRA [National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America] board, then became a life member. I was elected as the national secretary and served three two-year terms. Now I’m serving as the treasurer … [until] next year. … For me, reparations isn’t just about getting a paycheck. It’s really about repair … because it’s 2021, and people of African descent are still being treated poorly.
What inspired your book, Race Between Us?
When I was working at the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, a co-worker of mine [Laurielee Woodlock Roy], a woman of European descent, and I … became friends. … She went and did racism training at the People’s Institute … and it was then that she finally understood what racism really is. Then, she told me, she started seeing it everywhere. We ended up writing that book together, which is a parallel of our lives. … We realized that we had very similar lives. … Even though the melanin in our skin was different, we had many of the same issues in terms of being human. The book [centers on] the human experience, and racism as a human experience.
What keeps you going?
What keeps me going is that I’m committed to giving back as much as I can, in love and support of people, and not just people who look like me, but people who are also committed to this concept of truth. … I’ve been very fortunate to have a family that has supported and loved and provided for me; they’ve kept me going, as well, especially my grandchildren … because they are the next generation, and my job now, as an elder, is to support them [in the way that] I was supported, and to instill in them the values that I have received.
What does New Hampshire need most right now in terms of social justice?
I think the biggest need is the truth … and the truth is that, many times, people of African descent are not treated in the same way as people of European descent. … Eliminating racism is very difficult to do when people are not even clear on what racism is … so dealing with the truth, as difficult as it can be sometimes, is the only path.
What can the next generation do to build on the work you’ve done?
My hope for the next generation is that, when you hear a microaggression or someone is saying things in an effort to demean or dehumanize you, whether it’s meant to be taken seriously or taken as a joke, stop it where it happens. Respond with the truth. Be prepared so that, in that moment, you’re able to let that person know in a respectful and positive way that they insulted you, and that you are not to be played with or toyed with, because you are just as valuable and important as they are.
Featured photo: Brenda Bailey Lett. Courtesy photo.
