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].

Justice for all

Thompson organizes Black Lives Matter Nashua

As the racial justice organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, Jordan Thompson has done a variety of advocacy work, been involved with political campaigns and supported the efforts of other individuals and groups fighting for racial justice throughout the state. The nationwide invigoration and growth of the Black Lives Matter movement following the May 25 killing of George Floyd prompted Thompson to organize Black Lives Matter Nashua. He discussed the group’s mission and the need for more racial justice work in New Hampshire.

Why did you pursue a career in racial justice work?

It’s always been very personal for me. … My family has been deeply involved in politics. … Growing up in the foster care system showed me there’s a real need for the centering of social services. There’s a need to address a lot of disparities in our health care system. Child welfare reform is a major issue that we need to address. After I aged out of the foster care system at 18, I started working with a nonprofit called the National Foster Youth Institute in Washington, D.C. … We wanted to tackle federal legislation to address [child welfare] issues, but also challenged folks to go back to their home states and be the change they wanted to see at a local and state level. Immediately after I came back from Washington, D.C., I decided that I wanted to run for office. I ran twice in New Hampshire, first for moderator, then for the state House, unfortunately losing both times. I lost my primary for the state House by 30 votes; it was a very close race. I had decided that public service is what I wanted to do. I wanted to amplify the efforts and voices of young people of color in New Hampshire.

How did Black Lives Matter Nashua begin?

Of course, I was very saddened by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. I had worked with Black Lives Matter Manchester, which is a really incredible group … and I felt inspired by that. I knew there were groups in Nashua that wanted to be more engaged in this work. … We formed … in response to the growing need to address racial justice in New Hampshire, specifically in the southern tier. We organized a vigil and protest … and had a really good attendance of over 1,200 people.

What is [its] ongoing mission?

We’ll be continuing … to rethink the role of law enforcement in our communities, to address a list of demands that we intend to present to our congressional delegation in our state and local leadership, and to provide a space for black and brown people to survive and thrive in their communities. We [plan to meet] with members of law enforcement so they can hear from youth that are impacted by these issues; having town halls with our local, state and federal delegations; and trying to lay out clear demands for policy reforms, then holding elected officials accountable to those demands once they’ve been agreed to. … We’re also working with the Greater Nashua NAACP [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] and Black Lives Matter Manchester … [and] supporting protests and vigils that have popped up in the area and surrounding towns like Merrimack and Londonderry.

How did Black Lives Matter Nashua’s first vigil and protest go?

It went really well. We had a few agitators at the very beginning, but other than that, it was very peaceful. We had an incredible program of speakers [who delivered] inspiring messages. … I’m grateful that we continue to set the standard here in New Hampshire that our protests and demonstrations are peaceful and provide an opportunity for lasting change.

What measures are you taking to ensure safety at these gatherings?

We’re continuing to coordinate with local law enforcement to make them aware of the presence of agitators before they have the opportunity to agitate, and we’re trying to follow a lot of the guidelines that have been set in relation to the pandemic, making sure that folks wear masks and that people are adhering to social distancing.

What are some of the biggest issues affecting people of color in New Hampshire right now?

We suffer from the same issues that black communities face nationwide. There is a lack of access to opportunities, housing [and] quality and accessible education. … Representation is another big one. We do not have representation in local , and because we have such a small demographic of black and brown people in New Hampshire, we really need an entity that is going to be effective in getting our voices heard. … Thankfully, Nashua’s law enforcement has a good working relationship with our members.

How can people get involved?

Attend a protest. Call your representatives with a clear set of demands, and then hold them accountable. … We’re constantly posting content on social media to engage people … who want to call their senators, state representatives and Governor Sununu. We have graphics with very specific action items to give people a script and dialogue to follow. … These are going to be difficult conversations. … Learn how to listen. Realize that you may be coming into this very ignorant, and that’s OK. There’s no such thing as a perfect ally. There’s no such thing as someone who knows every single thing that there is to know about these issues. We’re all learning together. — Angie Sykeny

The Art Roundup 6/11/2020

• Virtual author events: Gibson’s Bookstore has two virtual author events coming up. On Thursday, June 11, at 6 p.m., Juliet Grames, author of The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna, will join Erika Swyler, author of Light from Other Stars and The Book of Speculation. On Friday, June 12, authors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows will present their new book My Calamity Jane. In this historical reimagining of 1876 America, characters from Wild Bill’s Traveling Show, including Calamity Jane, Annie Oakley and Frank “the Pistol Prince” Butler, hunt werewolves. The events are free and will be streamed live via Zoom. Registration is required on the events’ respective pages at gibsonsbookstore.com.

• Livestreamed classical music: The Manchester Community Music School’s Live Stream Concert series presents its final concert, “Sounds of the Oboe,” on Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m. The series features free online concerts performed by MCMS faculty members. “Sounds of the Oboe” will include oboe music performed by Kyoko Hida-Battaglia. Visit mcmusicschool.org.

• Celebrate Juneteeth online: Humanities to Go Online presents “Juneteenth: A Historical Celebration of Black Liberation,” on Friday, June 12, at 5 p.m. The free live Zoom event will explore how Juneteenth has been celebrated in New Hampshire and why it is important now, more than ever, to continue to acknowledge and honor the holiday. Executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire JerriAnne Boggis will lead the program. Visit nhhumanities.org.

• Players’ opening night online: In April, the Peterborough Players announced the cancellation of their 2020 summer season. On Wednesday, June 17 (what would have been the opening night of their 87th season) the Players will post “The Players Backstage (from Home) Party,” a pre-recorded cocktail party and talkback during which Players actors, designers and others will gather on Zoom and answer pre-submitted questions from the public. The video will be posted at and accessible any time after 7:30 p.m. on the Players’ Facebook page and YouTube channel. Visit peterboroughplayers.org.

Block by block

Young artist awarded for virtual replica of Kimball Jenkins Estate

Photo of young man in bowler hat, old fashioned coat, button down and tie, and mustache
Photo of the exterior of the Kimball Jenkin's Estate, a historic Victorian brick home.
A graphic of a Minecraft built 3d model of the exterior of the Kimball Jenkin's Estate, a historic Victorian brick home.
Interior of the Kimball Jenkin's Estate grand wooden staircase with a red carpet runner.
A graphic of a Minecraft built 3d model of the interior of the Kimball Jenkin's Estate grand wooden staircase with a red carpet runner.

Eighteen-year-old Clark Todd was recently named the winner of the very first Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Artrepeneur Award, given by the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts. The award was created to recognize artists who use technology to expand their creative practice and collaborate with other artists and organizations. Todd built a replica of the Kimball Jenkins Estate, a historic building in Concord featuring high Victorian gothic architecture from 1882, on the popular building video game Minecraft. The replica has been used as a promotional piece to raise awareness of the Estate’s fundraising campaign for a $400,000 restoration of the original slate roof of the building. See a video of the replica at vimeo.com/417753858.

What is your connection to Kimball Jenkins?

My mother has been working there for a few years. During that time I took some art classes and went to the summer camp for a year. I’ve also done volunteer work there, including role-playing Amos P. Cutting, the original architect of the house, during historic tours.

Why did you decide to do this project?

I’d said to my mother that the house might be good to build in Minecraft, and she suggested that it might be an interesting showpiece. We never thought in the beginning that it would be as useful as it is now. So, I built it for my own entertainment and as a sort of tribute to the house itself.

What inspires you about Kimball Jenkins’ architecture?

The craftsmanship, the attention to detail in the design, the floorplan, and the build quality are all incredibly good. It feels wonderful just to be in there.

Describe the process of building the replica.

My brother Glen set up the ‘realm’ that the replica is built in, and our friend Nathan got it all ready for exhibition. I did most of the actual building and all the design work. I had copies of the original floor plans, so I recreated them on the ground in-game by placing blocks. Then I dug out the foundation, copied the basement floor plan into it and built up the walls. Next I did the same thing for the first, second and attic floors. At this point I had all the interior walls, window holes and doorways, so I sort of wrapped the whole thing in brick blocks and did some detailing. Then I built the roof, which was at least as hard as working out the floor plans. I built the porches, detailed the interior and exterior and, with a bunch of small alterations, it was done. I don’t know how many hours I put into it, but I ended up working on and off for about four months.

How can people interact with the replica?

You can watch a video of a walkthrough of the build. The realm is currently private, but we’re working on making it possible for people to log in and tour it. Minecraft is three-dimensional, and you can control your in-game character from a first- or third-person perspective. You can move freely, either on the ground or through the air, and can view the exterior of the house or go through the rooms inside.

What would you like people to understand about video games and architecture?

This is difficult to answer. It is true that adults, including people connected to Kimball Jenkins who have seen the video of the replica, showed great interest and maybe gained appreciation for the game. It’s also true that kids who toured the replica during events may have had something familiar to compare the real house to when they went through it. But at the end of the day, Minecraft is just a game. The real structure is infinitely more important. I feel like that’s true with many things. It’s my opinion that the world needs less games and entertainment and more good work and tangible things.

How did it feel to be the recipient of the first Artrepeneur Award?

I was surprised and felt honored. I’ve never been given an award like this before. I’m pleased that my creation was so appreciated.

How long have you been playing Minecraft? What do you enjoy about it?

I’ve been playing about six to eight years, on and off. I mostly enjoy building houses of my own design in the game.

What other kinds of video games do you enjoy?

I’m not into many other video games. I play Minecraft mostly because I’m interested in houses. My real-life interests are greater than my interests in any game. I’m interested in vehicles, tools and machines. I like creating things. Lately I’ve been making masks to donate.

What are you doing now? What are your future plans?

I home-school, and since kindergarten I’ve been pretty much self-taught. I have many interests, and I’m not sure yet what work I’m going to do in the future.

Forty years later…

Principal retires after decades in Manchester

After 40 years of service in the Manchester School District, Arthur Adamakos is retiring and will officially end his tenure as the principal of Manchester Memorial High School on June 30. Adamakos discussed the highlights of his career in education and what it’s like to be retiring during a pandemic.

Tell us about your career in education.

I was born and brought up in Nashua. I went to Boston University, and then to Rivier University for my master’s degree. … I started out as a substitute teacher in Nashua, just for a few months. Then, when I got certified, I was offered a position at Hillside [Middle School] in 1979. After a year and a half there, I got transferred to [Manchester] Memorial [High School], and I was a teacher there for six and a half years, from 1981 to 1988. Then, I became an assistant principal at [Manchester High School] West, and I was there for six and a half years. In 1994, I left West to be the principal at Hillside for a year and a half. In 1995, I came to Memorial, where I’ve been ever since, except for a two-year span when, in 2000, I was the assistant superintendent of schools for secondary ed in Manchester. … Then, I came back [to Memorial], where I’ve been for the last 18 years as a principal. So, [in total] I’ve been the principal at Memorial for 23 years. That’s a long time.

What was your biggest challenge this year as a high school principal?

This year, obviously, Covid-19 and remote learning has been a challenge. We had no prior training when all of this happened on March 16. We don’t train to become online teachers in our profession. We prefer to have our students in our classrooms, work with our students one-on-one and have positive day-to-day interactions with them. You can’t do that remotely.

How does it feel to be retiring after such an unconventional end to the school year?

I always get excited as the year progresses, because the nicest part of the year is all the ceremonies at the end of the year celebrating the students’ achievements. Those will not be taking place this year because of social distancing. It’s unfortunate for me that I’m going to miss out on that. … It’s certainly not the way I intended to go out of my career, but the priority is that the kids stay safe and healthy.

What will you miss most?

I’ll miss the people I work with. Kids come and go; they’re here for four years, and then they move along, but a lot of our faculty have been here for 10, 20, 30 years, so we’ve been together as a group for quite a while. I’ll miss seeing them on a regular basis.

How would you like to be remembered as a high school principal?

I want to be remembered as a firm but fair person who listened to the kids and sided with them more often than they thought, and made sure they had the best experience they could possibly have while they were in high school.

What have your students taught you over the years?

They’ve taught me to be young — to feel young, to stay current, to know pop culture. They’ve taught me that it’s important to constantly be changing my approach to things. Some people in my position don’t change a darn thing in the 30-odd years of their administration. The way I operate now is certainly not the way I did when I first started, back in the ’80s. My approach is much different. The way I look at things is much different, and the kids taught me that. They’ve taught me how to evolve.

Do you have any parting words for your students?

Education is a lifelong experience. It doesn’t end with high school. I’ve been out of college for 42 years now, and I’m still learning new things each and every day. I hope that [the students] never stop using their minds to learn new things, even as they get older.

What will you do now?

This September will be the first time in 50 years — from the time I entered first grade in 1962, all the way until now — that I won’t be going back to school and entering a school building every day. I’m kind of on pins and needles about that. I’m an adjunct faculty member at Southern New Hampshire University — I teach in the Education Leadership graduate program — so I’ll still be teaching, but it won’t be the same world that I’m in now. It will be nice to be able to relax and take some time off, though. I’ve been working nonstop for a long time. … I’m an avid golfer, but I’ve had to take it easy the last few years. I’m getting a shoulder replacement surgery next month, so hopefully next year I’ll be able to start playing again. That’s something I’m really looking forward to. Anything else that comes my way? I can’t predict that, so I’ll just take it as it comes.

Home puzzling

Escape rooms go virtual — for free

Escape rooms have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, but some have come up with creative ways to keep players engaged while their doors are closed.
Five New Hampshire escape rooms — NH Granite State Escape in Manchester, Break Free 603 in Amherst, Monkey Mind Escape Rooms in Portsmouth, Mystery NH in North Conway and Time Quest NH in Littleton — are among 25 escape rooms from around New England that have come together to develop a free, at-home virtual escape room experience for players.
“We have to remind people that we’re still here and, ideally, will still be here at the end of [the pandemic],” Beth Scrimger of Mystery NH Escape Rooms said. “Hopefully, it will give people a glimpse into an escape room they weren’t familiar with before so they [think], ‘I can’t wait until it opens again.’”
The escape room concept originated as a subgenre of point-and-click video games in which the player is locked in a room and must find his way out using only the objects within the room. Real-life escape rooms have various types of objectives, based on a theme or backstory, that involve finding clues and solving puzzles around the room.
The theme for the virtual escape room experience is “Everyday Superheroes: Always Saving Our Butts.” As the story goes, an evil villain named Dr. T.P. Rolls has snuck into town in the middle of the night and stolen every last roll of toilet paper.
“He’s cleared out every bathroom, linen closet, and store shelf and brought the stash to his hidden toilet paper warehouse,” reads the story description on the New England Room Escapes website. “Your help is desperately needed! Assemble a team of everyday superheroes — from doctors to police officers to teachers — to find the secret lair and Save Our Butts!”
“There are so many people out there keeping our world turning right now,” Scrimger said. “Teachers, farmers, [mail delivery] drivers, grocery store [workers] — they are our everyday superheroes, so we decided to come up with a story that honors them.”
To play, visit the NERE website, where you’ll find links to each virtual escape room on the participating escape rooms’ respective websites. Each virtual escape room is unique and features different objectives and puzzles.
“The escape rooms have all developed their own concepts with their own flair,” Scrimger said. “Some are really challenging; some are super simple. Some require you to write things down on a piece of paper to solve the puzzle, or you have to complete a certain task to make something else happen.”
Upon completing an escape room, you’ll be given the name of an occupation of an everyday hero. That occupation is your “key.” Return to the NERE website and input the key for that escape room to receive credit. Players who complete all 25 escape rooms by June 30 will receive discount codes to use at those escape rooms once they reopen for business and will be entered for a chance to win the grand prize: two tickets for one free game at each of those escape rooms.

“Everyday Superheroes: Always Saving Our Butts”
Visit neroomescapes.com to start your virtual escape room adventure, going on now through June 30.

The Art Roundup 6/4/2020

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

• Submit your photography: The New Hampshire Art Association is accepting online submissions for its 41st annual Parfitt Juried Photography Exhibition now through June 22, by 5 p.m. Both NHAA members and non-member area artists are invited to submit one to two pieces for the exhibition, which will be on display at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) from Aug. 5 through Aug. 29. This year’s juror is Don Toothaker, photographer, photography instructor and director of Photographer Adventures at Hunt’s Photo and Video in Manchester. The exhibition honors photographer Jack Parfitt, now deceased, who was a board member of the NHAA. Parfitt spent his last 12 years travelling abroad, taking photographs in Russia, China, Afghanistan, Morocco, Iceland and Africa, and was given rare permission to photograph the Great Wall of China. An opening and award ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Friday, Aug. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m., where first-, second- and third-place winners and honorable mentions will be announced. If NHAA is unable to hold the ceremony due to Covid-19 concerns, the ceremony will be held online. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• Seeking inexperienced or aspiring directors: Manchester-based theater company Cue Zero Theatre Co. announced in a press release that it is looking for an early-career director to work on a production for the 2021 season. The chosen director will work with company staff, fundraise and promote and produce the show, and will have full access to all of the company’s resources for the show, including sets, costumes, props, lighting and sound equipment, social media, artist database, base-funding and more. Rehearsals and performances will be held in the greater Manchester area. If interested, email your resume and a short letter of introduction that includes a statement about the piece you’d like to pitch to [email protected]. Video chat interviews will begin on June 15. Cue Zero Theatre Co. is focused on creating professional opportunities for playwrights, directors, designers and actors in the early stages of their careers. Preference will be given to directors with limited experience who are looking to jumpstart their career. Visit cztheatre.com.

• Fearless author wins more literary awards: New Hampshire Writers Project author Gledé Kabongo received multiple awards for her psychological thriller Winds of Fear, according to a press release from NHWP. Winds of Fear is the third book in Kabongo’s Fearless series. In the first book, Game of Fear, the series protagonist, Abbie, is a high school student with dreams of getting into the Ivy League, but she has a dirty secret. One day, Abbie receives a package containing photos that would reveal her secret, and the anonymous sender is willing to keep the evidence safe — for a price. The book was a No. 1 Amazon Bestseller. In its sequel, Autumn of Fear, Abbie is a college student studying to become a surgeon when she wakes up in a hospital after a violent attack with no recollection of what happened. Once again, Abbie must confront a series of secrets and lies to find her assailant and find out why he tried to kill her. The book won a National Indie Excellence Award. In Winds of Fear, Abbie is a grown adult with a family of her own, but when she meets her neighbors, who seem to have a fascination with her oldest son, she becomes suspicious. When her son turns up missing, Abbie must solve the mystery and uncover what secrets her neighbors are hiding to save her family before it’s too late. Winds of Fear was recently named an Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize Finalist and category winner and an IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Award) Silver medalist. “I’m elated that Winds of Fear has struck a chord with readers and judges alike,” Kabongo said in the press release. “I wanted each story in the series to be told with gripping suspense and powerful emotional resonance. It’s humbling that the judges of multiple literary award programs have validated that desire.” Find the Fearless books on Amazon, and visit gledekabongo.com for more information about the author.

• Authors on Zoom: Gibson’s Bookstore, based in Concord, has two virtual author events coming up. On Wednesday, June 10, at 7 p.m., Concord Monitor alum Meg Heckman, in conversation with fellow Concord Monitor alum Pamela Walsh, will present her new book, Political Godmother: Nackey Scripps Loeb and the Newspaper that Shook the Republican Party. The book looks at the political life of the former Union Leader newspaper publisher against the backdrop of the right-wing media landscape of the late 20th century. On Thursday, June 11, at 6 p.m., Juliet Grames, author of The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna, will be in conversation with Erika Swyler, author of Light from Other Stars and The Book of Speculation. The events are free and will be streamed live via the video conferencing platform Zoom. They will not be recorded. The links to access the virtual events are posted on their respective event pages on gibsonsbookstore.com.

• Musical from home: The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents a livestream of The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps & Gowns on Saturday, June 6, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 7, at 7:30 p.m. The musical comedy is a sequel to the Off-Broadway hit The Marvelous Wonderettes. Set in 1958, the musical follows four high school girls — Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy — as they sing about their senior year, celebrate with their fellow classmates and teachers and prepare for their future. The second act takes place 10 years later, when the girls get together once again to celebrate Missy’s marriage. Songs include “Rock Around the Clock,” “At the Hop,” “Dancing in the Street,” “River Deep, Mountain High” and 25 more hits. Livestream performances are performed live and not recorded. Tickets cost $20 per person. Visit seacoastrep.org.

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