Author: Angie Sykeny

Angie Sykeny is a Hippo staff writer covering local arts, theater, music and pop culture. She can be reached at [email protected].

Distanced discourse

Walker Lecture Series goes virtual

After canceling its events in 2020, the Walker Lecture Series will return for its 124th spring season with weekly virtual events every Wednesday from March 3 through April 21.

The Concord-based series, traditionally held at the Concord City Auditorium, features free performances and lectures on history, travel, art and science topics. This spring’s virtual events will be hosted by Concord TV, some pre-recorded and aired on the city’s public access TV channel, and some livestreamed over Zoom.

“[When Covid hit,] we were thrown for a loop just like everyone else [was], and we didn’t know what the future would hold,” Walker Lecture Series trustee Jon Kelly said, “but we’re dealing with that reality now. We’re embracing it with a spirit of experimentation.”

The series kicks off with “Banjos, Bones, and Ballads,” where local musician and historian Jeff Warner will perform and discuss traditional New England tavern music, hymns, sailor songs and more.

“He plays old-time music on the banjo, the spoons, the washboard and the bones, just like people did in the 19th century,” Kelly said. “He’s a lot of fun.”

The following week, mentalist and author of Psychic Blues Mark Edward will present a lecture, “Psychics, Mediums, and Mind Readers: How do they do it?”

“He talks about the fraudulence of people who pretend they can talk to the dead and encourages people to use critical thinking to examine the trick nature of it before they believe that someone has magical powers,” Kelly said. “I think our audience will be really interested in that.”

Other programs in this spring’s Walker Lecture Series will include an art lecture on Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Rockwell; a history lecture on New Hampshire revolutionaries John Stark and Henry Dearborn; an author event with Michael Tougias, discussing his memoir The Waters Between Us; a nature program about bears; travelogues about Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska and the deserts, coastline and safari parks of Namibia; and a faculty concert by Concord Community Music School.

“We try to choose programs that will be edifying for the audience, but we also want it to be fun,” Kelly said. “We want [the topics] to be things that people will enjoy and like.”

The Walker Lecture Series has also planned and released the schedule for its fall season, which will run Sept. 22 through mid-December. Though it remains to be seen whether the series will be held virtually or in person, Kelly said he is hopeful that in-person events will be possible.

“People have done well with socialization over Zoom, but I am nostalgic for the days when people would all pile in the City Auditorium and get there early and talk with their neighbors in the lobby,” he said. “I’m choosing to be optimistic that we’ll be able to have that in the fall.”

Walker Lecture Series spring season
When: Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., March 3 through April 21
Where: Virtual, on Concord TV (Channel 22, or stream at yourconcordtv.org), YouTube and Zoom, depending on the program
Cost: Free and open to all; no tickets or reservations required
More info: Call 333-0035 or visit walkerlecture.org

“Banjos, Bones, and Ballads” with Jeff Warner
March 3 on Concord TV

“Psychics, Mediums, and Mind Readers: How do they do it?” with Mark Edward
March 10 on Zoom

“Norman Rockwell and Frank Lloyd Wright” with Jane Oneail
March 17 on Zoom

“Autumn in Denali” and “The World of the Bear” with Tom Sterling
March 24 on Concord TV

“Two New Hampshire Men from the American Revolution: John Stark and Henry Dearborn” with George Morrison
March 31 on Zoom

“Growing Up Wild in the ’60s and ’70s” with Mike Tougias
April 7 on Zoom

“The Road to Namibia” with Rick Ray
April 14 on Zoom

Concord Community Music School Faculty Concert
April 21 on Concord TV

Featured photo: The Walker Lecture Series opens with “Banjos, Bones, and Ballads” by Jeff Warner on Wednesday, March 3. Courtesy photo.

Got you covered

The latest recommendations for proper mask use

State Epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan gives an update on best mask-wearing practices.

What types of masks are the most effective?

If people can find masks that are two or three layers, that’s preferred over single-layer masks. Oftentimes, we see homemade masks being one piece of fabric, so we encourage people to … double up on the fabric they’re using, or to look for store-bought masks, most of which are made of multiple layers. … If you’re using a neck gaiter and it’s only a single layer, folding the neck gaiter in half is a very simple way of adding another layer of fabric … but we would go even further and say that neck gaiters are probably not the best type of mask to use. … The other key point is that masks should be well-fitted. … The whole goal of wearing a mask is to not let your respiratory drops escape, and to not let somebody else’s respiratory drops come in, so if there are gaps, that’s going to cause the mask to be less effective. Ideally, all of the air you breathe out and breathe in should be filtered through the fabric.

How can people ensure a good fit with their masks?

I think the first and easiest way is to simply use masks that have a nose wire so it can be pinched and cinched down around the nose to prevent any gaps that can occur between somebody’s nose and cheek area. … To eliminate gaps on the sides of the mask, there are different mask fitters and mask braces that can be used to better form the mask to the face. … Double-masking is another strategy. … Its primary purpose is to get a better fit [by] eliminating the gaps … but there’s also the added benefit that it has multiple layers.

What is double-masking?

When we’re talking about double-masking, we’re talking about wearing a reusable cloth mask and a disposable mask. … The way it’s being promoted and recommended by CDC … is that people should wear the disposable mask against the face, and then the cloth mask over that, so the cloth mask helps to compress the disposable mask against the face. … CDC does not recommend combining other types of masks.

Are two masks always better than one?

We’re not universally recommending that everybody should be walking around wearing two masks. What we are recommending is that … they upgrade their mask to one that’s better-fitting … and double-masking is just one option for people to get a better fit with their mask.

Is it safe for kids to double-mask?

I think the goal here is to focus on getting kids to wear at least one mask. … For young children two years of age and older — we and CDC continue to recommend that masks not be put on children under the age of 2 — wearing masks can take some training and some practice … but it can be done.

What’s the deal with N95 masks?

N95 masks are generally medical-grade masks that should be reserved for health care providers caring for sick patients and patients with Covid-19 in the hospital, and for people in health care settings. There are over-the-counter [KN95] masks that may be constructed of comparable material to an N95 mask … but aren’t appropriate or certified for medical use. … A KN95 mask is certainly an option … but we’re not recommending that … over another well-fitted procedural-type mask.

Is there any reason someone should not wear a KN95 mask?

One of the downsides of KN95 masks and some of those thicker types of masks is that there’s more resistance to breathing in and out, which can make it harder for some people to breathe. That’s part of the reason we’re not universally recommending that everybody wear KN95 masks.

At what point should a mask be thrown away?

It partly depends on … how long they’re wearing it during the day. [It’s different], for example, for somebody who is in school and wearing their mask all day … [than for] someone who wants to run into a grocery store for a half an hour. … The general recommendation is that when the mask is soiled or saturated, or the person is having a hard time breathing through it … and the fabric has lost its filtration efficacy, it should be discarded and replaced. … If you wear a disposable mask for an extended period of time, use a new one the next day. If it’s a reusable cloth mask, make sure you’re taking it home and washing it.

Is it really necessary to wear a mask outdoors?

It’s still recommended that people wear masks outdoors if they’re going to be around other people … but there’s some discretion involved. … If … there are two people sitting down 10 feet from each other, then it’s probably not necessary for them to wear a mask the whole time, but if you’re with a group of people mingling or moving around, absolutely [wear a mask].

Is there anything else you want people to know about proper mask-wearing?

I think the focus right now should be, one, that people wear at least one mask … and two, that people upgrade their single-layer masks to ones that are better-fitted. … A CDC study … showed that, if two people are together and one of them has Covid-19, when both people are wearing masks [that] are well-fitted, exposure can be reduced by more than 95 percent. — Angie Sykeny

Featured photo: Dr. Benjamin Chan, MD.

The Art Roundup 21/02/18

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

“Winter Blues” art exhibit at The Lane House Arts Center in Hampton. Courtesy photos.

• Architecture preserved: The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester announced in a press release that it has purchased the George Byron Chandler House, a 19th-century architectural landmark located across the street from the museum. The main floor of the building features stained glass windows, original wallpaper and fine wood carving. “The Chandler House is one of the most beautiful Victorian houses in New Hampshire but has been almost unknown,” Stephen Duprey, president of the museum’s board of trustees, said in a press release. “We can now begin the challenging job of restoring the house so that it can be enjoyed by the community.” The museum had worked closely with the City of Manchester’s Planning and Community Development Department and supporters from the community to acquire the property. “I am thrilled that this historically and architecturally significant building in Manchester is saved for generations to come,” Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. “I’m also grateful for the support and advocacy expressed by our community in preserving this piece of Manchester’s heritage.” The Chandler House is the third architectural landmark to be purchased by the Currier Museum, joining two houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Virtual author event: The Music Hall in Portsmouth presents a virtual event with radio host and bestselling author Diane Rehm on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m., as part of its virtual Writers on a New England Stage series. Rehm will discuss her new book, When My Time Comes, which provides a look at the Right-to-Die movement through extensive interviews with terminally ill patients, doctors, ethicists and others with personal links to the issue. She will be joined in conversation by Peter Biello, host of New Hampshire Public Radio’s All Things Considered and The Bookshelf, an ongoing segment featuring local and regional authors. An audience Q&A will follow the discussion. Tickets cost $5 for access to the event, which will be livestreamed on Crowdcast. The virtual Writers on a New England Stage series will continue with Nobel Prize winner and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman presenting his new book, Arguing with Zombies, on Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• Storytellers unite: True Tales Live, a Seacoast-based monthly storytelling showcase, has returned, virtually via Zoom, with its next show on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. The series is free and open to all who want to watch or participate as a storyteller. Additionally, there are free virtual storytelling workshops every first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.“We think our approach — you don’t have to be a professional storyteller, everybody has a story to tell and there’s no rating or competition — makes True Tales Live fun and relaxed for both tellers and audience,” Amy Antonucci, one of the program’s organizers, said in a press release. Each month’s showcase is centered around a different theme or featured storyteller, including featured storyteller Tina Charpentier for the February show, “Activism” on March 30, “Lessons Learned” on April 27, “Blunders” on May 25, a featured storyteller TBD on June 29, an open theme on Sept. 28, “Harbringers” on Oct. 26, “Transformations” on Nov. 30 and a holiday theme on Dec. 28. Visit truetaleslivenh.org to register for a workshop or attend a show, and email [email protected] if you’re interested in being a storyteller.

• In-person art exhibit: The Lane House Arts Center (380 Lafayette Road, Hampton) has a community arts exhibit, “Winter Blues,” on view in person now through Saturday, Feb. 27. The exhibit features art in a wide range of media created by more than a dozen local artists. “Community art exhibits provide much-needed opportunities for area artists, while enabling us to invite a broader segment of the community into the gallery,” Karen Desrosiers, founder and curator of Lane House Arts Center, said in a press release. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Call 926-1111 or visit lanehousearts.com.

Featured photo: “Winter Blues” art exhibit at The Lane House Arts Center in Hampton. Courtesy photos.

Pandemic puzzles

Mother and son create interactive kids book about Covid-19

Deer orienteer Stephen Stagg is on a new kind of hunt in The COVID Paper Chase, a special edition title of Windham children’s author E.A. Giese’s Stephen Stagg Series that Giese wrote and illustrated with her adult son B.G. Sullivan during the pandemic.

The books in the series feature interactive puzzles for young readers to do as they follow Stephen Stagg on his orienteering adventures. In The COVID Paper Chase, Stephen is looking around his neighborhood for an item of great importance that is in short supply due to the pandemic. It includes hidden images and pandemic-related vocabulary words to find, mysteries to solve and a special activity.

“It’s meant to be more like a workbook,” Giese said. “Educational for children as well as entertaining.”

Giese and Sullivan said they have talked casually about collaborating on a book together for years but could never seem to find the time, so when Sullivan was laid off from his full-time job last March due to the pandemic, they decided to finally give it a go.

“Being laid off had significantly freed up my time at that point,” Sullivan said, “and I really wanted to do something productive with that time … and do something that would be able to help other people.”

Sullivan said he has “always been an artistic person,” having an interest in illustration since he was a child, and going on to attend and receive his certificate from a graphic design school.

“I homeschooled my two sons through middle school and high school, and we were very creative during that time,” Giese said. “We’ve been lifelong creatives, all of us.”

In Giese and Sullivan’s collaborative process, Giese came up with the story and developed the storyboards while Sullivan worked more on the script itself, which is written in rhyming verse. Giese did the hand drawn illustrations, outlined in pen and colored with colored pencils, and used a rubbing technique to give the illustrations texture. Then, Sullivan used his graphic design skills, he said, to add “the finer details, more realism, and really bring her illustrations to life.”

The idea for a children’s book about Covid-19, Giese and Sullivan said, came from seeing parents they knew struggle with explaining the pandemic to their young children. They wanted to create a book that could help parents “broach the subject” in an honest, but comforting way, Sullivan said.

“It’s psychologically soothing for children without being too heavy and grim,” he said.

“There was kind of a fine balance between giving [the book] some lightheartedness to make it palatable to children while still paying respect to the weight and seriousness of the issue,” Giese added.

Giese and Sullivan said they plan to team up for more children’s books for both the Stephen Stagg Series and other series.

“We’re really starting to see a future in our collaborations together,” Sullivan said.

“We have a lot of fun doing this together,” Giese added, “and I think that really comes across in the book.”

The COVID Paper Chase
The book is available at the authors’ website, regalbeepub.com, and will be available on Amazon by the end of February.

Featured photo: E.A. Giese and B.G. Sullivan. Courtesy photo.

Paws for celebration

Animal shelter observes anniversary, plans expansion

The Manchester Animal Shelter has found homes for more than 25,000 animals since it opened 25 years ago. Executive Director Kendra Paul talked about how the shelter has evolved over that time and its plans to continue expanding its facility and programs.

How has the shelter grown since it started 25 years ago?

Well, it’s been 25 years since we’ve been at this location, but actually, before that, [the shelter] used to be located across the street and was primarily run by the Manchester Police Department as more of a pound setting. When we built the [current] building on this side of the street, we made it more homey for the animals in terms of giving them nice spaces. The dogs have indoor-outdoor runs now. The cat cages are a little bit bigger. We have a community room where cats can walk around freely so that they’re able to have that enrichment and socialization that they wouldn’t otherwise get, just being in a cage. We’ve also started a lot of new programs here, such as Fix a Pit, where we spay and neuter pit bulls in the Manchester area for free. We do low-cost spay-neuter clinics called our Quick Fix program. We also have a [pet] food pantry, and that has been really utilized, especially since Covid hit; with so many people losing their jobs and unable to [provide] food for their pets, we’ve really seen a big need in the community in that area.

In what ways do you plan to continue growing?

We’re looking to expand the shelter, because, in the 25 years we’ve been here, we haven’t really touched the building or made any significant additions other than putting the trailer in, but we’re really running out of space now. The city is growing and the programs are growing, we’re seeing more animals, and we just need more space to really accommodate everyone, not only the team working here but the animals as well. We’re looking to add more cage space, to have a better setup for staff to be able to work and get their stuff done, and redo the kennels so that they’re less like a pound and more homey and relaxing-feeling for the dogs. Going forward, we want to have more of a community outreach program and find any ways we can to get out into the community and help and increase our presence as much as possible so that we’re there when people need us.

What’s in the works right now?

We’re really trying to get that expansion off the ground so that we can help more animals. … We’ve met with an architect, and he’s going to put together some plans. Once we get those plans, we’re going to be trying to get people to help us in terms of fundraising, donations — any way that the community can come in and help and support us.

What kinds of challenges has Covid posed for the shelter?

I’d say the biggest challenge we’ve had is probably fundraising. Being a nonprofit, we are really counting on the community to help us with raising money for these programs, for feeding the animals and for medical costs. Not being able to have in-person events or fundraisers has really been an issue here for us as well as many other nonprofits. … Another challenge is that, with people losing their jobs or getting laid off, we’ve seen an increase in the number of owners surrendering their pets.

How have you been dealing with those challenges?

We’re trying to be really creative in thinking of ways to cut costs and save money. … We’ve reached out to the community and have really had to rely on the community to come together … [to help] when we are running low on the food pantry or need donations [to cover] peanut butter and food and toys and different things that we need for the animals. People have been absolutely amazing and very generous with that, and we’re so grateful.

What makes Manchester Animal Shelter unique?

I think one of the biggest things that make us unique is our volunteer base. We just have so many dedicated people, staff and volunteers. We’re always being told that we’re ‘the little shelter with the big heart,’ and it really does ring true for us. There’s so much passion and dedication with these animals and with our volunteers and team members that I think that alone kind of sets us apart. I also think that our community programs set us apart, because there aren’t many places that offer things like the Fix a Pit program or being able to do offsite time with the dogs where they can go for hikes and go out on the trails to get a break from the shelter. These are programs that not every shelter gets to have, and we’re very fortunate that we’re able to do those things.

How can people help the shelter?

Right now, people could help us the most by donating to this [expansion] project. We’re hoping to do some fundraising challenges or events that are safe in the midst of Covid, like virtual events or online raffles and things like that.

Featured photo: Kendra Paul. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/02/11

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

Art by Chris Reid, featured in “The View Through My Eyes” exhibition. Courtesy photo.

• NH Phil returns, virtually: The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra will present a virtual livestreamed concert on Sunday, Feb. 14, at 3 p.m. “A romantic Valentine’s Day concert, featuring our wonderful string section, will transport you to a different world, offering you a break from the stress of pandemics and discord,” executive director Toni DeGennaro said in a press release. “We all need to share the beauty of music again. We miss performing for you.” Tickets are free, and donations are appreciated. Visit nhphil.org or call 647-6476.

• Scenes of the seasons: The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibition, “The View Through My Eyes,” featuring the work of pastel artist Chris Reid, on view at the gallery in the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St.) now through March 18. Reid’s pastels depict nature scenes from the four seasons, like emerging flowers and plants in the spring; gardens, farms and greenery in the summer; harvest landscapes and the changinging colors of leaves in the fall; and the natural shapes formed by ice and snow in the winter. “My work is a conversation with nature,” Reid said in a press release. “My paintings are more than simple depictions of place. Rather, they invite a choreographed dance of the eyes, where the viewer is invited to look deep into the depths of the work and see the subject’s spirit and life-force.” Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Movie theater intermission: Cinemagicmovie theaters, which has New Hampshire locations in Merrimack, Hooksett and Portsmouth, announced in a press release that it has temporarily closed. “This is just an intermission and we look forward to serving our community again in spring,” the release said. Visit cinemagicmovies.com.

• Virtual variety show: The New Hampshire Theatre Project of Portsmouth will present its quarterly “Tiny Mayhem” event virtually on Friday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. The event will showcase 21 artists in eight acts including three new short plays: Something Gold, a drama by Terry Farish, A Couple Of Lab Rats, a comedy by Bretton Reis, and Key, an excerpt of a sci-fi thriller by Catherine Stewart. Other acts will feature dance, music, visual art and experimental performance. Tickets cost $20 per household. Call 431-6644 or visit nhtheatreproject.org.

Art

Call for Art

• NHAA SPRING JURYING The New Hampshire Art Association accepts new members. Jurying takes place on Mon., March 22. For a prospectus and application form, visit nhartassociation.org and click on “Become a Member.” Applications and application fee payment are due by Thurs., March 18, and can be submitted online or in person at the NHAA headquarters (136 State St., Portsmouth). Instructions for dropping off and picking up artwork will be emailed after an application and payment is received. Call 431-4230.

Classes

• 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.

Exhibits

• “BRAVE NEW WORLD: RESILIENCE IN THE TIME OF COVID” Outdoor public art display features paintings by 80 students from the Nashua School District that convey a message of hope and resilience amid the challenges of Covid-19. Amherst Elementary School (71 Amherst St., Nashua). On display now through Feb. 14. Visit sites.google.com/nsd42.net/bravenewworld/home.

• “LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT I LOVE” Love-themed art exhibit by the Seacoast Artist Association. On view now through February in the windows at the gallery (130 Water St., Exeter) and inside by appointment and open to the public on Saturday, Feb. 13, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for Valentine’s Day gift-buying. Visit seacoastartist.org or call 778-8856.

• 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.

Theater

Shows

• CAT TAIL CABARET featuring DJ Esthera and performances by The Painted Ladies at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage (16 S. Main St. Concord, banknhstage.com) Sat., Feb. 13, at 8 p.m. The venue will be transformed into a swanky jazz and cabaret nightclub with live music, a DJ, dancing and a variety of acts throughout the evening, according to the website. Tickets cost $34 general admission and $65 VIP in advance or $50 general admission and $65 VIP at the door (VIP includes two drink tickets and balcony access).

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