Stephanie Kirsch is a photographer and owner of Sweet Aperture, a photography studio with a storefront on the Oval in Milford. She runs the business with her husband, Nicholas, who does the videography.
Explain your job.
We cover all sorts of lifestyle shoots as well as wedding events. An average day at the studio could range from headshots for professional use to a toddler cake smash session. On the weekends we travel all over New England for weddings, engagement shoots and adventure shoots.
How long have you had this job?
We opened the studio in October of last year.
What led you to this career field and your current job?
During the pandemic I was laid off from [my job in] architecture. Photography had always been a hobby and a surprising source of income that I had always underestimated. We decided to take the plunge and make it a full-time thing.
What kind of education or training did you need?
My bachelor’s is in architecture, but I also have a minor in studio art … and I took a photography course [in college]. Everything else I learned … through experience and mentorship … and doing a lot of research.
What is your typical at-work uniform or attire?
If I’ve got young kids coming in, I typically dress in comfortable but professional clothing, like a black shirt and black pants or maybe jeans. If we’re going to a wedding or event, we definitely dress up for the occasion while staying on the neutral side.
What was it like opening a new business during the pandemic?
It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done … We didn’t know what was going to happen … but we did know that we would have a steady income coming in from all of the weddings that were booking out two or three years into the future. For the first few months we were busy doing fall-themed shoots, and then, going into Christmas, everyone wants to have a great Christmas card photo. In January we had nearly nothing except for the occasional wedding, so it’s been all over the place.
What do you wish you’d known at the beginning of your career?
To not study architecture. … In high school, I went by the books that our guidance counselor laid out … to help you find the path that you’re supposed to follow in life. I had never heard of creative people, like photographers, making [art] a full-time profession; most artists work [a day job] in addition to their art, so I never pursued it. I wish I had been a little more confident in myself and focused on the arts rather than on math.
What do you wish other people knew about your job?
How happy I am when I see families. A lot of clients who come in with young kids apologize a lot if their kid is running around the studio or doesn’t want to smile, but those are the moments that make me smile, because that’s real life. Life isn’t always pretty and perfect, but I get to capture moments for families to remember, even when things in life change.
What was the first job you ever had?
I was a pharmacy technician.
What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever received?
‘Go for it.’ When I was young … a co-worker told me, ‘Money isn’t everything when it comes to making the best decisions. Sometimes you have to take a little leap of faith and just go for it.’ … I started applying that [advice] to other areas of my life. If I hadn’t, I never would have had the guts to actually call when I saw that ‘For Rent’ sign [in the studio space].
Five favorites Favorite book: The Princess Bride Favorite movie:All of theHarry Potter movies Favorite music: ’90s alternative Favorite food: German Favorite thing about NH: You can get in our car and within two hours you can be at the ocean, the mountains or in the middle of a big city.
The latest from NH’s theater, arts and literary communities
• Saturday market: This month’s Concord Arts Marketwill take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rollins Park (off Broadway Street, with parking at 33 Bow St.). The outdoor artisan and fine art market features 50 vendors, live music and a food truck. This is the second to last market of the season, with the final market to be held on Saturday, Oct. 16. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.
• Call for art: The New Hampshire Art Association is still accepting online submissions of artwork for its 22nd annual Joan L. Dunfey Exhibition, which will go on display at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) on Sept. 29. 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.
• Molten fun: The Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline) will host its annual Fall Iron Melt remotely this year. Traditionally, the public is invited to the Institute’s studio space, where they can create an iron tile of their own design. Participants scratch their design 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. For the remote event, participants will pick up a mold from the Institute — pickup dates are Sept. 23, Sept. 25, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2 — and scratch their design at home. Then, they can drop off their scratched molds back at the Institute — drop-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.
The TEAM Fall Equinox Festival returns to Exeter. Vernon Family Farm at Exeter Arts Fest. Courtesy photo.
• Arts festival in Exeter: The annual TEAM Fall Equinox Festival will return to Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival features live music at the main stage and at the singer-songwriter tent; local food vendors; artist vendors; cultural exhibitions; yoga on the lawn; activities for kids and more. A Racial Unity Celebration will take place at the mainstage from 4 to 6 p.m., with a musical performance by Kaia Mac and Clandestine, a dance performances by Anthony Bounphakhom and The BLOCK with Groove Lounge; and guest speaker Lovey Roundtree Oliff. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per family. The event is rain or shine. Visit teamexeter.com.
• Just married: The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) performs Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park from Sept. 18 through Oct. 3, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. The play, set in the 1960s, follows a newlywed couple, Corie and Paul Bratter, during their first week of marriage. Living together in a top-floor New York City brownstone apartment, they are confronted with their personality differences; Corie, a free spirit, wonders why Paul, a straight-laced lawyer, can’t be more carefree and do things like running barefoot in the park. Visit playersring.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.
Exhibits
• “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.
• “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.
• “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.
• “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 [email protected].
Fairs and markets
• CANTERBURY ARTISAN FESTIVAL The event celebrated artisanal, handcrafted works, also featuring live music and demonstrations. Sat., Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for Village members and free for kids, teens and young adults under 25. Visit shakers.org.
• 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.
• CAPITAL ARTS FEST Event hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen will feature contemporary and traditional crafts by League members and invited artisans, live music, pop-up street theater, dance performances, author presentations and more. Outside the League of NH Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord). Sat., Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.
• 40TH ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL AND NATURE ART SHOW Event hosted by the Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) will feature art by regional artists, children’s art, live music, live animal demonstrations, guided hikes and natural products for sale. Sat., Sept. 25, and Sun., Sept. 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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.
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.
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.
THEATER
Shows
• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now 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.
• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.
• GLORIOUS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 22 through Oct. 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.
• NEIL SIMON’S BAREFOOT IN THE PARK Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., Oct. 15, and Sat., Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 17, 2 p.m. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.
• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.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.
• THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW: A PUPPET PARODY at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Sat., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.
Classical
• OPENING NIGHT Symphony New Hampshire’s opening night concert will feature Frank Ticheli’s There Will Be Rest, a tribute to health care workers and those lost during the pandemic, followed by Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds and the concert chamber orchestra suite of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Sat., Oct. 9. Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua). Visit symphonynh.org.
• “FROM DARKNESS TO HOPE” The New Hampshire Philharmonic concert will feature Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem). Sat., Oct. 16, and Sun., Oct. 17. Visit nhphil.org.
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.
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
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.
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.
