Category: Art & Theater

A forgotten artist

Millyard Museum exhibit showcases 19th-century New England sculptor

By Delaney Beaudoin

The Millyard Museum in Manchester is shining a well-deserved light on “forgotten artist” John Rogers in its exhibit “The People’s Sculptor,”running now through Sept. 30.

Rogers, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, discovered his talent for sculpting at the age of 20 while working in Manchester as a draftsman and later a mechanic at the Amoskeag machine shop. Originally playing around with clay he found near the Merrimack River at night in his boarding house, Rogers would go on to have a successful career as a plaster sculpture artist, having a business and studio headquartered in New York City and later becoming a household name.

“It was really while he was in Manchester that he got his start and this love of sculpting that he made a career out of,” said Jeff Barraclough, executive director of the Manchester Historic Association.

The exhibit displays several of Rogers’ most notable plaster sculptures, some painted and others bare, in addition to a rare bronze “master model” sculpture that’s on loan from the Currier Museum of Art. Rogers was one of the first artists to mass-produce his work, as sculptures at the time were typically made of more expensive materials. He instead used plaster molds, which were cheaper and thus able to be mass-produced.

Before Rogers, the art of sculpture was largely reserved for the wealthy.

“I would say he was really one of a kind in what he did,” Barraclough said. “Most people were working in bronze and making things that were very expensive, and it was for the upper class. He was doing this for the middle class, and because of that, he became very well-known and very popular.”

Rogers became so well-known that it was common for his work to be in most people’s parlors, even the White House. In fact, the exhibit features a letter sent from President Abraham Lincoln to Rogers, which detailed how much he appreciated his work.

In addition to making art accessible to those who previously had not been able to afford it, Rogers’ work, which was being produced right before the start of the Civil War, is known for its unique depictions of African-Americans.

“A lot of his sculptures, especially early on, conveyed this sense of justice and, specifically, the anti-slavery abolitionist movement,” Barraclough said. “In many cases, he involved African-Americans in his works and portrayed them in a very positive light … which is in many ways a reversal of what was typical of illustrations at the time.”

Rogers’ unique talent resided not only in his innovative art but also in his business prowess.

“He was really an excellent artist, but also an excellent businessman, and promoted his business through sales catalogs, advertisements and periodicals, something that artists didn’t generally do at that time,” Barraclough said.

The sculptures vary in their focal subjects, but largely consist of recognizable “scenes,” such as literary references, depictions of war, or extractions from daily life with the addition of a little humor.

“He’s really an artist that has largely been forgotten. He was, in many ways, a Norman Rockwell- type artist of the 19th century. … A lot of his sculptures are very whimsical. They’ve got that Rockwell feel,” Barraclough said. “Our goal is for people to come away with a renewed understanding of who he was as an artist and an appreciation for his work.”

The People’s Sculptor: The Life and Works of John Rogers
Where: Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Suite 103, Manchester
When: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., now through Sept. 30
Cost: $8 for adults, $6 for seniors ages 62 and up and for college students, $4 for children ages 12 to 18 and free for children under 12
Visit: manchesterhistoric.org

Featured photo: Photo courtesy of the Millyard Museum.

The Art Roundup 22/06/09

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

• Author talk and book signing: The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire hosts Francis Gary Powers Jr. at the Wilton Town Hall Theatre (40 Main St. Wilton) on Thursday, June 16, at 7 p.m., for a presentation on the legacy of his father, as discussed in his 2019 book, Spy Pilot: Francis Gary Powers, the U-2 Incident, and a Controversial Cold War Legacy. According to a press release sent by the museum, the event will begin and end with short screenings of “vintage Cold War-era Civil Defense films,” followed by a one-hour presentation by Powers detailing his research into the famous failed espionage mission his father was involved in. Such failure resulted in President Dwight Eisenhower being forced to publicly admit the CIA’s years-long secret spy missions over the Soviet Union. After the presentation, Powers will host a signing of his book, which details his search for truth following his father’s death in 1977 and “how his research clarified his father’s place in a pivotal Cold War episode.” Tickets for the event cost $10 per person, general admission. The event is free for members of the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling Leah Dearborn at 669-4877, online via Eventbrite at tinyurl.com/mv8atjth, or at the door.

Studio 54 at the Currier
Bust out your bell bottoms and platform heels, as the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St.in Manchester; currier.org) is hosting a Studio 54-inspired event to celebrate its current Andy Warhol Screentests exhibit on Friday, June 17, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the museum. The event will offer guests the chance to throw it back (to the era of disco) on the dance floor, lounge around and enjoy cocktails, nibble on hors d’oeuvres, take in the exhibit and even create their own screen tests in a photo booth. Dress code is dress to impress, ’70s nightclub-inspired; those who are deemed best dressed by the museum will be awarded prizes. Other prizes being offered by the museum include one ticket holder winning a year’s membership to the museum with a curated gift basket and five other ticket holders winning a year’s membership. This event is being held in collaboration with Queen City Pride as part of their annual Pride Week. Tickets to the event cost $50 per person, which includes the price of hors d’oeuvres. Attendees must be 21 or older to enter.

• Shakespeare live: Cue Zero Theatre Company presents Macbeth, running from Friday, June 17, to Sunday, June 19, at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry) with showings at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. A livestream option is also available for those who wish to view from their homes, accessible online via CZTheatre.com. Director Dan Pelletier noted his desire to reimagine the classic play from a “female-driven interpretation,” and in a press release sent by Cue Zero Theatre Company he said, “It can be argued that all of the important action of the play is motivated by the ambitions and desires of Lady Macbeth. … I’ve always had a deep fascination with the paranormal and have been dying to do a piece where the direction can embrace that. This piece provides the perfect opportunity, as we accentuate the dark arts of the witches and reimagine Lady Macbeth as a practitioner of witchcraft herself.” Tickets are available online via cztheatre.com/index.php/tickets or at the door, $15 per person, general admission. Student discounts are available (high school and college), at a rate of $22 for two tickets when you pay with cash at the door and present two valid student IDs.

• Larger-than-life portraits: 3S Artspace presents Hall of Portraits from the History of Machines, running in the gallery (319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth) from June 3 through July 31. The gallery is free to the public and is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Sue Johnson, the artist behind the work being featured, intended the exhibit to be a “re-imagination of the historical portrait gallery,” according to a press release. Featuring nine works, sizing up at 109.25 inches tall (about 9 feet!), each work depicts an “imagined” woman through a satirized perspective of domesticity. This exhibit will be the first time all nine of Johnson’s works will have been displayed alongside one another. Each work is digitally compiled by Johnson, who prints the work onto canvas, which is then “surrounded by a hand-made color field with painted textures derived from assorted brands of disposable paper towels and coffee filters, window screening, machine-made lace, embroidery fragments, window cleaning squeegees, and DIY wood graining tools.” Johnson took inspiration for the exhibit from her decades-long work with historic media and materials produced for women, in combination with studying domesticity in the 20th century, and from her own perception of her mother’s life. “In all of them [the hybrid women] I recognize my mother and myself, and the persistent ways in which the boundaries of the female domain have been and continue to be defined,” she said.

Art-filled summer
A public opening reception to kick off a summer of art-packed events will be held by the Kimball Jenkins School of Art (266 N. Main St., Concord) on Friday, June 10, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will celebrate the opening of the Carolyn Jenkins and Jill C. Wilson galleries’ Summer 2022 Master Artists exhibit with live music, light refreshments, and the opportunity to converse with some of the featured artists. The galleries will display works from local artists such as Richard Haynes, Dustin Knight, Patricia Schappler, Marcus Greene and Patrick McCay. The gallery will be the focus of the school’s arts education summer programs offered. Such events include “a seven-week mural and creative placemaking internship program for teens, and eight-week summer camp.” According to a press release sent by the school, “The youth in both programs will have the opportunity to work with and learn from the master artists in workshops and presentations throughout the summer.” The exhibition will run throughout the entirety of the summer, from June 8 through Aug. 19. More information regarding gallery hours and event specifics can be found at kimballjenkins.com.

ART

Exhibits

• “APPEAL OF THE REAL: 19TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD” exhibition features photographs taken throughout the Mediterranean to record the ruins of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through June 12. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “NATURE AT NIGHT: PAINTINGS BY OWEN KRZYZANIAK GEARY” Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St., Contoocook). On display now through June 18. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372 for more information.

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents the musical through June 26, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

•​ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Seven Stages Shakespeare Company performs. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). June 10 through June 19, with showtimes Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and an additional show on Sat., June 11, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test are required. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

•​ SEUSSICAL JR. The Palace Teen Apprentice Company presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., June 15, and Thurs., June 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

•​ PRIVATE LIVES The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents. June 15 through June 25, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Thurs., June 16, and Tues., June 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $23 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

•​ ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. June 16 through July 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 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• MACBETH: A NECROMANTIC EXPERIENCE Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., June 17, and Sat., June 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., June 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Visit cztheatre.com.

• THE BALD SOPRANO Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (located inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Fri., June 17 through Sun., June 26. Showtimes are 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 or call 715-2315 for more information.

• FOOTLOOSE Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). June 24 through Aug. 14, with showtimes on most Thursdays and Sundays at 7 p.m., and most Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with some matinee showtimes TBA. General admission costs $5, and reserved seating tickets cost $55 to $150. Visit prescottpark.org or call 436-2848.

•​ MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St., Concord). Sun., June 26, with showtimes at 2 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $44. Visit ccanh.com or call 225-1111.

•​ THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) [REVISED] The Winnipesaukee Playhouse (33 Footlight Circle, Meredith) presents. June 29 through July 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Thurs., June 30, and Tues., July 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $29 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

CLASSICAL

Events

•​ “IMAGES OF AMERICA THROUGH MUSIC AND ART” The Strafford Wind Symphony presents. Sat., June 18, 7 p.m. Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester). Visit rochesteroperahouse.com or call 335-1992.

Open calls

• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email [email protected] for more information.

Wools of engagement

Twiggs Gallery presents summer fiber arts exhibit

By Delaney Beaudoin

[email protected]

Fiber is an up-and-coming medium in the broader art world, according to Laura Morrison, a fiber artist and the director of Twiggs Gallery at Cornerstone Design in Boscawen. Despite the heat, the gallery has chosen wool as the fiber theme for its summer exhibit, “Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibition.” The exhibit opened June 4 and is due to run until Sept. 2.

“When you talk about fiber art, most people who aren’t more familiar with it immediately think [of] quilts, and it’s really so much more than that,” Morrison said.

The exhibit showcases the versatility of wool as a medium for art. Where it was originally associated with flat pieces such as wall hangings, it is now starting to become widely used for sculpture and other forms.

“The artists I chose for this exhibition are working with fiber in completely different ways … from traditional tapestry to non-traditional sculpture, contemporary sculpture, mixed media, rug hooking, all sorts of different ways,” Morrison said. “I wanted to show off the breadth and depth of the fiber art world.”

textile artwork made of recycled materials
In “Beyond Reach,” Emily Manning-Mingle speaks about care, reuse and resourcefulness by incorporating worn and discarded materials into her work. Photo courtesy of Twiggs gallery.

According to the gallery’s press release, techniques such as “felting, knitting, crochet, hand-dying, embroidery, beading, and sewing embellish many of the pieces,” in addition to some pieces even incorporating “repurposed garments.” Wool, for Morrison, is also a theme that encapsulates Twiggs’ involvement with the local community. In collaboration with the town of Boscawen’s Old Home Day Committee, the gallery is hosting “Flashy Flock,” which is, “a community art project celebrating Boscawen’s sheep farming roots,” the release said. The project involves 30 blank wooden sheep cut-outs, which community members can pick up to decorate and personalize. The sheep will then be displayed in front of homes and businesses on Aug. 20, in a “Flashy Flock Mob.” The gallery’s theme drew on this project and the versatility of wool.

“We thought it’d just be fun to play off of the sheep and do a wool show,” Morrison said. “The common thread is that there is wool in at least part of the piece. It doesn’t have to be the whole piece.”

Morrison also noted Twiggs Gallery’s dedication to displaying the work of local artists and creators. As is typical with the gallery, all featured artists in the exhibit are from the New England area, and a majority are from the Granite State.

In addition to the exhibit, Twiggs has several events scheduled for the summer that follow the gallery’s themes of wool, fiber and community, including a family-friendly paper flower “make and take” on Saturday, June 11, from 1 to 3 p.m., and “Arts Fest” on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Morrison described Arts Fest as “a mini art fair,” noting that about seven local artists will have tents with their work available for purchase. Artist Lisa Almeida will also be doing a tapestry demonstration in the gallery from 1 to 3 p.m. Rug hooking and wool spinning demonstrations will also be at the fair, as well as other fiber art demonstrations occurring in the gallery throughout the summer.

For Morrison, who identifies as a fiber artist herself, wool is a unique and dynamic art material that connects with people in several ways.

“People connect with it very closely because we are so used to wearing fiber and wool, especially being an insulating fiber, it is something that keeps you warm, something that protects you,” she said. “It’s just a really interesting fiber that fiber artists tend to gravitate toward because it has such a wide range of uses.”

Morrison encouraged people to come into the gallery and experience the exhibit for themselves, “I think they’ll be very surprised by how versatile the medium is,” she said.

Wool, as a displayed art form, is also very accessible to those who enjoy experiencing the world through touch, especially children. For individuals who visit the Twiggs Gallery with the desire to have such an experience, Morrison said, “If they [the public] can touch a sculpture in here, I will have a little note saying yes, you can touch.”

Twiggs Gallery at Cornerstone Design is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com for more information.

Wool: A Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibition
Where: Twiggs Gallery at Cornerstone Design, 254 King St., Boscawen
Events:
• “Pretty Paper Flowers” Free, Drop-in Make and Take, Saturday, June 11, from 1 to 3 p.m.
• “Arts Fest: Art Fair and Summer Fun,” Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit: twiggsgallery.wordpress.com

Featured photo: “Helena” by Lisa Almeida is based on an image by Aris Messinis/AFP taken in Ukraine on the day Russia invaded. Photo courtesy of Twiggs gallery.

The Art Roundup 22/06/02

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

•​ Sculptures revealed: The 15th annual Nashua International Sculpture Symposium will conclude with a closing ceremony, open to the public, on Saturday, June 4, at 1 p.m. at the installation site, which is near the old bridge on Commercial Street in Nashua. This year’s artists — Anna Miller from Connecticut, Brent Howard from New Jersey and Corinna D’Schoto from Massachusetts — have spent the last few weeks working at the Picker Artist studios in Nashua to create three outdoor sculptures based on the theme of “Merriment” for permanent installation in the city. “This is all for the sake of the public, for accessible public art,” Jim Larson, the sculpture symposium’s artistic director, told the Hippo last month. “The art produced is not a luxury object that you would see in a gallery — it is everyday artwork that is impactful and powerful. [It shows] we need artwork in our life every day, like food.” A map of the existing sculpture sites, along with suggested walking and biking tour routes, is available at nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

•​ Broadway showcase: The Garrison Players present “Showstoppers: A Celebration”on Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, at 8 p.m. both days at the Garrison Players Community Arts Center (449 Roberts Road, Rollinsford). The evening will feature songs from Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals through the years, from 1949’s Kiss Me, Kate to 2017’s Dear Evan Hanson. Tickets cost $20 for adults and $15 for students. Visit garrisonplayers.org.

Manchester art fest
Save the date for the first annual Manchester Citywide Arts Festival, set for Monday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 18. The weeklong celebration of the arts will feature performances, gallery openings, speakers, walking tours, live art-making and more throughout downtown Manchester, culminating in a free, family-friendly street fair on Hanover Street on Saturday, Sept. 17, and Sunday, Sept. 18, which will include an arts market with booths by dozens of local artists and craftspeople, interactive art installations and experiences, live performances by local musicians and dancers, food vendors and more. A call for local artists to participate in the street fair arts market had an application deadline of June 1. Visit manchesterartsfest.com.

• Graphite drawings: The New Hampshire Art Association presents the work of artist member Barbara Morse in two exhibitions. “Around Town” is on view now through June 17 in the NHAA’s gallery space at the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St., Concord, concordnhchamber.com), and “Come In-To Focus” is on view now through June 30 in the gallery at Creative Framing Solutions (410 Chestnut St., Manchester, 320-5988), with an opening reception for the latter planned for Thursday, June 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. Morse’s work includes drawings done in graphite, with hints of color done in acrylic. “Working in graphite and sometimes adding a hint of color to attract attention to an area enhancing the entire image, no matter the level of labor intensity, I find joy and satisfaction watching a piece come to life before me,” Morse said in a press release from NHAA. Current gallery hours at Creative Framing Solutions are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Current gallery hours at the Concord Chamber are Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Painting night: Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition, “Night Vision,” at its gallery at the Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook) now through June 18. It features a collection of paintings by Owen Krzyzaniak Geary that illustrate New Hampshire’s forests at nighttime. “My concern for the environment has always been central in my artistic pursuits,” the 25-year-old artist, who is originally from Hopkinton, said in a press release from the art society, adding that he wants his art to celebrate nature, “even those aspects of it that we often consider mysterious or threatening.” Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

ART

Exhibits

• “APPEAL OF THE REAL: 19TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD” exhibition features photographs taken throughout the Mediterranean to record the ruins of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through June 12. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “NATURE AT NIGHT: PAINTINGS BY OWEN KRZYZANIAK GEARY” Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St., Contoocook). On display now through June 18. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• “WARHOL SCREEN TESTS” In the mid-1960s, American multimedia artist Andy Warhol had shot more than 400 short, silent, black-and-white films of his friends at his studio in New York City. Warhol referred to the films, which were unscripted and played in slow motion, as “film portraits” or “stillies.” The exhibition will feature 20 of those films, provided by the Andy Warhol Museum, in loops across four large-scale projections. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through July 24. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI” Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). June 4 through Sept. 2, with an opening reception on Sat., June 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). Aug. 12 through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition 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

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are June 11, July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html.

• FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CRAFT FESTIVAL There will be more than 100 artisan booths indoors and outdoors. Sat., June 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road, Deerfield). Admission costs $8 for adults and covers both days. Youth age 13 and under get in for free. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

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

• “INTRO TO 3D PRINTING” Port City Makerspace (68 Morning St., Portsmouth). Wed., June 8, from 6 to 9 p.m. The cost is $25 for members of the makerspace and $45 for nonmembers. Call 373-1002 or visit portcitymakerspace.com for more information.

THEATRE

Shows

• CHILDREN OF THE GRIM Presented by Bitter Pill. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Now through June 5, with showtimes on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $25 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test are required. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents. June 3 through June 26, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• OLIVER! JR. The Palace Youth Theatre presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., June 7, and Wed., June 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

•​ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Seven Stages Shakespeare Company performs. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). June 10 through June 19, with showtimes Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and an additional show on Sat., June 11, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test are required. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

•​ SEUSSICAL JR. The Palace Teen Apprentice Company presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., June 15, and Thurs., June 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

•​ ANYTHING GOES The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. June 16 through July 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 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $52. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• MACBETH: A NECROMANTIC EXPERIENCE Cue Zero Theatre Co. presents. Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Fri., June 17, and Sat., June 18, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., June 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Visit cztheatre.com.

• THE BALD SOPRANO Produced by the Community Players of Concord. The Hatbox Theatre (located inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Fri., June 17 through Sun., June 26. Showtimes are 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 or call 715-2315.

CLASSICAL

Events

•​ “IMAGES OF AMERICA THROUGH MUSIC AND ART” The Strafford Wind Symphony presents. Sat., June 18, 7 p.m. Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester). Visit rochesteroperahouse.com or call 335-1992.

Getting back into the creative flow

Nashua art advocate’s work on exhibit at the library

When she wasn’t busy running Positive Street Art in Nashua, or working as the constituent services and cultural affairs coordinator in the city’s Office of the Mayor, Cecilia Ulibarri carved out some time in the past few years to work on her own art, including during an intense residency at the Factory on Willow in Manchester. The result of those efforts can be seen in her new exhibit, “Journeys of an Artist,” on display in the Nashua Public Library Art Gallery now through June 30.

“It has some of the pieces from when I first started through what I created through the residency,” Ulibarri said. “I thought it was kind of cool to show that journey of my role as an artist.”

She grew up with a family of artists so was always exposed to it, she said, but she never really took art seriously until she was about 30. And once she did, she found it challenging to share her work with others.

“Unless you’re part of [an artists’] group it was really hard to get in spaces if you didn’t have … traditional art,” she said. “A lot of my stuff is abstract contemporary.”

Ulibarri started with small shows at her home, then started to expand and became part of RAW Artist Collaborative from 2011 to 2014, showcasing in Boston and once in New York.

Also during that time, she met Manuel Ramirez — now her husband — and connected through art.

“We started wanting to do murals in town,” Ulibarri said. “We talked to a bunch of citizens, and it seemed like that was something the citizens would actually embrace.”

In 2012, the couple founded Positive Street Art, a Nashua nonprofit that is still beautifying the community today.

And then her own art fell by the wayside again.

“While I was building the nonprofit, I kind of got lost in my own workflow,” she said. “I would work most of the time while Manny was the lead artist on most of these murals, so I didn’t give myself time to create.”

More recently — and in large part because she had some extra time to slow down and think during the pandemic — Ulibarri realized she wanted to start making more time to create.

“I need to keep doing the things that make me happy and fulfill me,” she said.

She dove headfirst into the artists in residency program at the Factory on Willow; she and Ramirez did it together and stayed onsite in the Manchester space in order to get the full experience.

“I was so intimidated to get back into the creative flow and purge some of the ideas that I’d been holding on to,” Ulibarri said.

She said the Factory on Willow doesn’t dictate what you’re working on, but it does offer help and resources on whatever aspect of your art you want help with; Ramirez, for example, wanted to revamp his website. Ulibarri focused on her abstract art.

“I’m inspired by many things, and I don’t like to limit myself on my mediums on what I do,” she said. “I guess my creative flow just stems from shapes and colors and using the feelings that I’m having behind them transporting them onto canvas.”

Some of her works in the show feature new-to-her techniques.

“I fell in love with foils,” she said. “There’s just something about shiny things — it adds some luxury to it, and it just attracts the eye.”

There’s also a piece that layers wood pieces and resin, creating a kind of 3D effect that she hadn’t done before.

“I would like people to realize that abstract and contemporary art is more of a chance to be able to … look at themselves or feel through the art that they’re looking at, to really be able to experience it in a different way,” she said. “When you take yourself away from the heaviness of society … and really just connect with shapes and colors, really just feel the art … [it’s] a little bit deeper than just walking by [a piece] and saying, oh that’s a landscape.”

While the show is called “Journeys of an Artist,” Ulibarri said the average person might think it’s like looking at works from two different artists.

“I feel like we try to keep ourselves in a box, but I feel like that’s very limiting,” she said. “I like to take myself out of that box sometimes and get out of that comfort zone.”

Ulibarri was set to take another step out of her comfort zone on June 1, transitioning from president and cofounder of Positive Street Art to executive director. The organization just rented a larger space, and a grand opening is scheduled for June 5, from 1 to 5 p.m. at 48 Bridge St. Tickets are $30; find the event on PSA’s Facebook page.

“We’re creating [more] safe spaces for artists,” she said.

“Journeys of an Artist”
Where: Nashua Public Library, 2 Court St.
When: Now through June 30 anytime the library is open. There’s a Meet the Artist reception Thursday, June 2, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Visit: nashualibrary.org

Featured photo: Savoir Faire. Art by Cecilia Ulibarri. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/05/26

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

•​ Once and Our Town: The Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) has two upcoming productions. The first is Once, with showtimes on Thursday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 27, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 28, at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday, June 5, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. The Academy Award-, Grammy-, Olivier- and Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of Guy, a singer-songwriter who fixes vacuums in a Dublin shop with his father by day and plays music at local pubs and on the streets by night. Just when he is about to give up on his dream, he meets Girl, a Czech immigrant, who inspires him to rediscover his love of music. The next production is Our Town, with showtimes on Sunday, May 29, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 3, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 4, at 2 and 8 p.m. The 1938 play by Thornton Wilder tells of love, life and death in the fictional small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners. Tickets for both shows range from $32 to $52. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

•​ Abstract art: Catch “Impact! Abstract!” at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) before it’s gone on Saturday, May 28. The exhibition features the work of several local artists: Ann Saunderson, who works in acrylic, mixed media, oil and cold wax and monotype; Daniela Wenzel, who does oil painting, assemblage, ink drawing, driftwood pyrography and improvised quilt-making; Kate Higley, who does printmaking; Ethel Hills, who works in acrylic; and Grace Mattern, who does mixed media collage. “It showcases artists boldly approaching abstraction in completely different ways with a wide variety of media,” Twiggs gallery director Laura Morrison told the Hippo in April. “Most of the artwork in this exhibit is on the smaller side, yet each piece really stands out on its own. It’s very powerful work.” Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

Voices of the past
Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) has a new art exhibition, “Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me,” opening on Saturday, May 28. It features sculptures and two-dimensional works created by Lesley Dill as part of Dill’s ongoing investigation into the voices and persona’s of America’s past. “These personas and their times stir something deep in my own family history and sense of self,” Dill said in an artist statement. “I am compelled to this restrictive time period of limited access to a diversity of written word, and the bravery of these figures’ response.” The exhibition will remain on display in the Village’s Hubbard Gallery through Sept. 11. Visit shakers.org or call 783-9511.

• Memorial Day craft shopping: Head to the Mill Falls Marketplace (312 Daniel Webster Hwy., Meredith) for the Meredith Memorial Day Weekend Craft Festival, happening on Saturday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, May 29, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Monday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be more than 100 juried craftsmen and artisans from all over New England displaying and selling their work, including fine jewelry, folk art, quilts, aerial photography, fiber arts, wood burning, candles, leatherwork, ornaments, floral designs, pottery, pet accessories, paintings, upcycled items, mixed media pieces, custom signs, stained glass, metalwork, furniture, specialty food items and more. Admission is free for this rain-or-shine event, and pets on a leash are welcome. Call 332-2616 or visit castleberryfairs.com.

• Call for printmakers: The New Hampshire Art Association is inviting submissions for its upcoming “New England Printmakers” exhibition. The juried printmaking exhibition, which will run from June 29 through July 31 at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, is open to both NHAA members and non-members. Artists may submit up to three pieces created within the last five years. The online submission deadline is Friday, May 27. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 421-4230. — Angie Sykeny

ART

Exhibits

• “IMPACT! ABSTRACT! Exhibition featuring the abstract work of six local artists, including Ann Saunderson, who works in acrylic, mixed media, oil and cold wax and monotype; Daniela Wenzel, who does oil painting, assemblage, ink drawing, driftwood pyrography and improvised quilt-making; Kate Higley, who does printmaking; Ethel Hills, who works in acrylic; and Grace Mattern, who does mixed media collage. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). On view now through May 28. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• “APPEAL OF THE REAL: 19TH CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD” exhibition features photographs taken throughout the Mediterranean to record the ruins of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through June 12. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

• “WARHOL SCREEN TESTS” In the mid-1960s, American multimedia artist Andy Warhol had shot more than 400 short, silent, black-and-white films of his friends at his studio in New York City. Warhol referred to the films, which were unscripted and played in slow motion, as “film portraits” or “stillies.” The exhibition will feature 20 of those films, provided by the Andy Warhol Museum, in loops across four large-scale projections. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through July 24. 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 children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org for more information.

Fairs and markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are June 11, July 30, Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html for more information.

• FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND CRAFT FESTIVAL There will be more than 100 artisan booths indoors and outdoors. Sat., June 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., June 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Deerfield Fairgrounds (34 Stage Road, Deerfield). Admission costs $8 for adults and covers both days. Youth age 13 and under get in for free. Visit castleberryfairs.com.

• CRAFTSMEN’S FAIR The annual nine-day outdoor craft fair hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen features hundreds of craftspeople with vendor booths, plus special craft exhibitions, demonstrations, hands-on workshops and more. Sat., Aug. 6 through Sun., Aug. 14. Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury. Call 224-3375 or visit nhcrafts.org for more information.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW The annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua. Sat., Aug. 20, and Sun., Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow.

Special events

• NASHUA INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM The 15th annual event is at the Picker Artists (3 Pine St. in Nashua) and features the three artists — Anna Miller from Connecticut, Brent Howard from New Jersey and Corinna D’Schoto from Massachusetts — who will be creating pieces on this year’s theme “Merriment.” Visit the sculptures Mondays through Saturdays from May 16 through June 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., to see them work. Or get even more involved by signing up to bring a meal or volunteer at the site, according to the press release. Go to nashuasculpturesymposium.org for more on this year’s Symposium or a look at the pieces from previous years and to find a map to go tour the pieces for yourself.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

• CHILDREN OF THE GRIM Presented by Bitter Pill. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Now through June 5, with showtimes on Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $28 for adults and $25 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test are required. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) presents. June 3 through June 26, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon. Tickets cost $25 to $46. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

• OLIVER! JR. The Palace Youth Theatre presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., June 7, and Wed., June 8, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 to $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

•​ A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Seven Stages Shakespeare Company performs. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). June 10 through June 19, with showtimes Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m., and an additional show on Sat., June 11, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. Masks and proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test are required. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

CLASSICAL

Events

•​ “IMAGES OF AMERICA THROUGH MUSIC AND ART” The Strafford Wind Symphony presents. Sat., June 18, 7 p.m. Rochester Opera House (31 Wakefield St., Rochester). Visit rochesteroperahouse.com or call 335-1992.

Open calls

• THE RHYTHM OF NEW HAMPSHIRE SHOW CHORUS Women’s a cappella chorus is looking for female singers in the region to join. The group, an affiliate of the North American singing organization Harmony, Inc., performs a wide variety of music, including Broadway musical songs, patriotic songs, pop, jazz and seasonal pieces, for community and veterans’ events and private functions. Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursdays from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Marion Gerrish Community Center, 39 W. Broadway, Derry. Masks are required for singing, but both vaccinated and unvaccinated singers are welcome. Visit rnhchorus.org or email [email protected] for more information.

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