Art & Theater – Page 61

The real New Hampshire

New photo exhibition, book capture 21st-century life in NH

The “New Hampshire Now” statewide photographic exhibition and accompanying book could just as accurately be called “The Real New Hampshire,” with its honest and heartfelt representation of the good, the bad and the beautiful that makes up the Granite State.

The exhibition and book are the culmination of a two-year project that saw nearly 50 photographers capturing the people, places and events that make the state what it is.

“I felt that we needed to make a photographic document that reflects New Hampshire in the 21st century,” said Gary Samson, who proposed the project to the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists. “I was really thrilled that the NHSPA wanted to take [it on].”

The photographers all volunteered their time and covered the state’s seven regions, taking pictures of whatever they personally thought represents the real New Hampshire, in this moment.

“I was not aiming to produce a pretty picture book of New Hampshire,” Samson said. “The story here, really, is the photographers digging in.”

That, of course, meant including the pandemic. Samson said meeting in person became impossible, but it gave them the chance to extend and change the direction of the project, and to safely document the pandemic.

“There were some photographers who really dug into that,” Samson said. “Like life, the project became somewhat unpredictable.”

The project also took an interesting turn when, several months into it, the New Hampshire Historical Society offered to collaborate on it. Originally the photos were going to serve as a sort of historical document that would be archived for future generations. But the Society raised funds to publish a book and arranged for eight cultural centers around the state to host exhibitions.

Each exhibition contains images from the collection that are most relevant to that region. But Samson said there are major themes that are included in most of them, like the pandemic, the presidential election, homelessness and Black Lives Matter.

“I think the shows are pretty fair in what they represent,” he said.

Still, what you see at the show at the Millyard Museum in Manchester is not the same show as the one you’ll get up north, to the west or on the Seacoast.

“I love the bucolic countryside photos that may have come to us from Lancaster or Colebrook or even the Seacoast, but that’s not the reality of Manchester,” Manchester Historic Association Executive Director John Clayton said. “Our particular slice of the state is far more populous, beset with the problems that come with urban areas.”

Samson said there’s a whole section of the book about homelessness in Manchester, which he saw firsthand when he spent part of a day photographing the city.

“I was stunned when I saw so many tents around the courthouse and the park,” he said. “This is also an important story to tell about New Hampshire; there are a lot of people who are in desperate straits.”

Clayton said he hopes that people who come to the Millyard exhibition will look at it and be able to think about the state in greater depth.

“I think this will be an eye-opener,” he said.

Fletcher Manley, one of the project’s most prolific photographers, captured a very different piece of New Hampshire.

“I live up here in the North Country and I wanted to represent the North Country,” he said. “This is not a terribly gentrified part of the state. It’s still “fringey” … and that’s part of the appeal to a good many.”

Manley said he focused on the area’s “tremendous natural resources,” like the White Mountain range. But he also took shots of people that symbolize what it means to live in northern New Hampshire. One was of a young woman working in her garden with a young child on her back; when he saw her, he thought of an earth goddess working the soil. In the image, the little girl’s smile is as big as her mother’s.

“You can’t plan for these shots,” he said.

There’s also an image of a man who has lived up north his whole life and used to work in the paper mills. He built his own home, tills his own soil and played a big part in the grassroots effort to stop Northern Pass.

“He’s typical of the resourcefulness of the people up here,” Manley said.

Manley used his own resourcefulness to take photos that he thinks outsiders wouldn’t have been able to get.

“You really need to be of an area so you know the nooks and crannies … and whose backyards you can cross through,” Manley said.

The “New Hampshire Now” flagship exhibition is at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, with images that represent the state as a whole, so it includes Manley’s North Country along with the six other regions.

The Millyard Museum will host a discussion panel on the exhibit on Saturday, Oct. 9, at 11 a.m. with photographers Samson, Claudia Rippee and Mark Bolton, with Clayton moderating.

“There are many different New Hampshires, and I think people who come [here] will see there’s much more of an urban flavor to the Manchester and Merrimack Valley exhibit.”

“New Hampshire Now”

For more information about the exhibition and where to purchase the New Hampshire Now book, visit newhampshirenow.org.

Region-specific exhibitions
Belknap Mill Society, Laconia
Davidow Center for Art + Design, New London
Historical Society of Cheshire County, Keene
Millyard Museum, Manchester
Museum of the White Mountains, Plymouth
New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord
Portsmouth Historical Society, Portsmouth
Tillotson Center, Colebrook

Events
A Discussion with New Hampshire Now Photographers
Project Director Gary Samson and photographers Claudia Rippee and Mark Bolton for a panel discussion about their work on the project.
Where: Manchester Historic Association’s Millyard Museum
When: Saturday, Oct. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public. For advanced registration, call 622-7531 or email history@manchesterhistoric.org.

New Hampshire Historical Society: New Hampshire Through the Lens of a Camera
Join a panel of photographers who participated in “New Hampshire Now” and learn more about their experiences capturing the Granite State and Granite Staters.
Where: Virtual
When: Wednesday, Oct. 13, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free. Register through Eventbrite.com.

New Hampshire Historical Society: “More than Just a Pretty Picture”
Gary Samson and art historian Inez McDermott explore how “New Hampshire Now” fits in with other documentary photography projects in American history and discuss recurring themes that emerged during the project.
Where: New Hampshire Historical Society, Concord
When: Saturday, Oct. 16, 2 to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free with the price of admission ($7)

Featured photo: New Hampshire Now. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/09/30

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

• Fall fair: The Craftworkers’ Guild presents its Harvest Fair and Shop from Sept. 30 through Oct. 11, with in-person shopping at the Oliver Kendall House (5 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford), as well as online shopping with curbside pickup and shipping available. There will be a variety of handmade goods by juried artisans for sale, including textiles, sculpture, jewelry and more. Shop hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit facebook.com/craftworkersguild.

• Downtown theater tour: Intown Concord hosts its Upstairs Downtown Tour on Saturday, Oct 2, from 1 to 4 p.m., in downtown Concord. The tour highlights Concord’s arts and culture through downtown theater and music venues and live entertainment. “It has been a really hard year for our downtown theatres and performers,” Jessica Martin, Intown Concord’s Executive Director, said in a press release. “We are thrilled to be able to support them in person again, safely, as this will be a masked event.” A short film at Red River Theatres kicks off the tour at 1 p.m., followed by performances by Grateful Dead tribute band Crawl Space at the Capitol Center for the Arts; Walker Smith at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage; the Concord Community Players, with a preview of their upcoming production of Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park at Phenix Hall; and the Club Soda Band at Eagle Square. Tickets cost $40, which includes a guided tour, appetizers and the entertainment. Advance registration is required. Visit intownconcord.org or call 226-2150.

• A picture of New Hampshire: “New Hampshire Now,” a collaborative photography project presented by the New Hampshire Historical Society and the New Hampshire Society of Photographic Artists, will be on display in eight exhibitions opening on Friday, Oct. 1, at museums and historical societies across the state. Nearly 50 photographers participated in the project, taking more than 5,000 photos of New Hampshire people, places, culture and events from 2018 to 2020 to create a 21st-century portrait of life in the Granite State. Exhibition locations include Belknap Mill Society in Laconia; Colby-Sawyer College in New London; Portsmouth Historical Society; Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene; the Manchester Historic Association; Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University; and the Tillotson Center in Colebrook; with the flagship exhibition at the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord. Visit newhampshirenow.org and nhhistory.org.

• Neil Simon classic: Get your tickets now for the Community Players of Concord’s production of Barefoot in the Park, which will run at Concord City Auditorium (2 Prince St., Concord) on Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for adults and $16 for youth ages 17 and under and seniors age 65 and up if purchased by Oct. 13, and $20/$18 after Oct. 13. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

ART

Call for Art

• WOMEN’S ARTISAN FAIR Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, is seeking artists for this fair, which is set for Oct. 15 and 16. Women artisans are invited to submit handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts for consideration. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.

Exhibits

• “THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” Exhibit featuring experimental pieces in a variety of media created by local artists during the pandemic. On view through Sept. 30. Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St., Manchester, 668-6650, art3gallery.com).

• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, on view now through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit nhartassociation.org.

• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION Features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. Now through Nov. 28. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “AS PRECIOUS AS GOLD: CARPETS FROM THE ISLAMIC WORLD” Exhibit features 32 carpets dating from the 15th century to the 19th century. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). Opens Oct. 23. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “SALON 2021” Exhibition features offbeat and experimental works in a variety of media by regional artists with diverse studio practices and artistic approaches. The Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord, 225-3932, kimballjenkins.com). Nov. 6 through Jan. 6.

• “TOMIE DEPAOLA AT THE CURRIER” Exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibit in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.

• WOMEN’S ARTISAN FAIR Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, features handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts by women artisans. Fri., Oct 15, and Sat. Oct. 16. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.

Fairs and markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

Special events

• FALL IRON MELT Participants create an iron tile of their own design by scratching it into a 6-by-6-inch sand mold and coat it with a liquid graphite, then watch as molten iron is poured into their molds on site. Participants can pick up their mold from the Andres Institute of Art, 106 Route 13, Brookline. Pickup dates are Sept. 23, Sept. 25, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2. Dop-off dates are the same as pickup dates, plus Oct. 7. Designs will be poured and ready to pick back up on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16. Register anytime now until Oct. 2 to secure a kit. The cost is $40 per mold. Visit andresinstitute.org.

Workshops and classes

• GENERAL ART CLASSES In-person art classes for all levels and two-dimensional media. held with small groups of two to five students. Private classes are also available. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Students are asked to wear masks in the gallery. Tuition costs $20 per group class and $28 per private class, with payment due at the beginning of the class. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATER

Shows

• GLORIOUS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 22 through Oct. 9, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 30, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• CRUEL INTENTIONS THE ’90s MUSICAL Seacoast Repertory Theatre (125 Bow St., Portsmouth) presents. Sept. 23 through Oct. 23, with showtimes on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $32 to $50. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• GREATER TUNA The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Oct. 1 through Oct. 10, with showtimes Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets $22 for adults, $19 for students and seniors. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• 9/12 New World Theatre presents. Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Oct. 8 through Oct. 17, with showtimes Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets $25 for adults and $22 for ages 65 and up and students. Visit playersring.org.

Walk on

“Kick-Start!” art exhibition shows resilience through shoes

Stilettos, slippers, blue suede shoes — footwear can tell a story, and the “Kick-Start!” art exhibition currently on display at Twiggs Gallery is showing it through paintings, sculptures, installations and other expressive media.

“All the work is really different,” Twiggs Gallery Director Laura Morrison said. “No one piece is like the other. We have things that are very serious, things that are just plain silly, things that are really powerful.”

The exhibition, presented by the Women’s Caucus for Art’s NH Chapter, symbolizes resiliency, particularly in light of the pandemic.

“The call for art [was] … how are we kick-starting our lives after Covid?” Morrison said. “There are a few about that, but [also some that are] about more personal things, like personal power.”

“Filling Our Shoes with Talent and Leadership,” by Margaret Femia. Courtesy photo.

Morrison said that the idea came from Adele Sanborn, owner of Twiggs Gallery and a member of the board for the Women’s Caucus for Art’s NH Chapter.

“A few years ago we had a bra show, and that was a big hit, so she came up with the idea [that] maybe we can use some other piece of clothing,” Morrison said.

Shoes turned out to be a good choice; the artists took the theme in all kinds of directions.

“It just really runs the gamut in terms of media and content,” Morrison said.

One of the most unique pieces is a popup book called “Rude Shoes” by Donna Catanzaro, which tells stories of the shoes she’s hated — like the squeaky shoes she once wore to a quiet museum, and the very uncomfortable hiking boots that hurt her feet and ruined her hike. Creating the piece was, in itself, a nod to the “kick-start” theme.

“She had a lot of free time during the pandemic, so she taught herself how to make a popup book [through] online classes,” Morrison said.

Artist Paulette Brace created a small installation featuring all of her children’s baby shoes, which she had collected and stored in the attic for years.

“It’s actually quite a powerful piece,” Morrison said.

There’s a feminist piece created by Margaret Femia, a salmon stiletto with flags that feature the names of female leaders. Linda Greenwood also went with stilettos, but hers are red with rhinestones and glitter, and they’re ready to fight a tiger.

“It’s called ‘Kick Butt and Go for the Gold,’ and it symbolizes getting rid of Covid and moving forward in a positive and energetic manner,” Morrison said.

Morrison, who is also president of the national Women’s Caucus for Art, created a very personal piece for the exhibition. During Covid, she was undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Sanborn organized a get-well card writing campaign while she was undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, and Morrison was sometimes getting three, four or five cards a week. She ended up with well over 100 cards and small pieces of art, which she used, along with cut-up suede stilettos and petals from roses that her husband had given her, to create her piece.

“It was really fun and also very emotional to go through [the cards] again,” she said.

Twiggs Gallery hosts shows for the Women’s Caucus for Art’s NH Chapter every couple of years, and Morrison said it’s a strong chapter with more than 100 artists. Anyone can join the caucus; it’s open to all artists and art lovers. Morrison said that Twiggs always enjoys working with the caucus, because their exhibitions are solid in terms of the number of artists who participate and the types of media. Plus, they fit with the gallery’s natural propensity to promote women’s creative ventures.

“We show a lot of women’s art here at Twiggs,” Morrison said. “We get a lot of support from women. … It’s a real community of women artists. [But] we welcome men [too]!”

“Kick-Start”

Where: Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen
When: On display through Oct. 31
Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
More information: 975-0015

Featured photo: “Lifespan Development” by Marcia Santore. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/09/23

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

• Urban pottery: There’s still time to see some urban art at the Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) in its exhibition “Roberto Lugo: Te traigo mi le lo lai – I bring you my joy,” on display through Sept. 26. Lugo is a Philadelphia-based potter, painter, social activist, spoken word poet and educator. His pottery reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture. In this exhibition Lugo pays homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and explores his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. Museum admission costs $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• One person, one performance: The Community Players of Concord will continue their run of Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit Red Rabbit at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) through Sept. 26, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. According to a press release, the one-person play is unique in that the actors who perform it can only perform it once and must have never seen it or read the script before their performance. There are no rehearsals or directors, and the actor will not get to see the script until it is given to them at the beginning of the play. Each show will be performed by a different actor. Tickets cost $22 to $25 for adults, $19 to $22 for members, seniors and students, and $16 to $19 for senior members. Visit hatboxnh.com.

• Family shows: The Kids Coop Theatre will perform Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka at the Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) from Friday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 25, at 1 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m. Tickets cost $15. See kids-coop-theatre.org for more on the show and kidscooptheatre.ludus.com to purchase tickets.

Cirque-Tacular will perform at The Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; anselm.edu) on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 4 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $45. The Dana Center’s website describes the show as a “high-flying carnival” featuring aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, illusionists, trapeze artists and fire performers.

• Book sales: Pick up some used books at one of these book sales happening this weekend. The friends of Brookline Public Library are hosting a two-day book sale at the library (4 Main St., Brookline) on Saturday, Sept. 25, and Sunday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. There will be hardbound and paperback books of all fiction and nonfiction genres, as well as CDs, DVDs and audio books. Visit brooklinenh.us/brookline-public-library.

Bring the kids to A Freethinker’s Corner(652 A Central Ave., Dover) on Saturday, Sept. 25, from noon to 4 p.m. for a multi-book children’s author signing and sale, where you can meet New England children’s, middle grade and young adult authors of all genres. Call 343-2437 or visit freethinkerscorner.com.

ART

Call for Art

Exhibits

• “THE SHOP” Photographs of European Auto of Rye by Carol Van Loon. New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. On view through Sept. 26. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION Features artwork in a variety of media by regional NHAA members and non-members that follows the theme “Portals.” On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth, Sept. 29 through Nov. 28. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “KICK-START!” Also known as “the shoe show,” this themed art exhibition from the Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter opens at Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen. The exhibit runs through Oct. 31. The shoe theme is expressed in a variety of works like paintings, sculptures, artist books, drawings and mixed media pieces. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “AROUND NEW HAMPSHIRE” On exhibit at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Center, 49 S. Main St., Concord, from Sept. 21 through Dec. 16. Featuring the work of New Hampshire Art Association member Elaine Farmer, the exhibit features her oil paintings embodying New Hampshire’s iconic views and ideals, ranging from mountain lakes and birch tree woods to historic landmarks. Visit concordnhchamber.com or nhartassociation.org.

• “1,000 CRANES FOR NASHUA” Featuring more than 1,000 origami paper cranes created by hundreds of Nashua-area kids, adults and families since April. On display now at The Atrium at St. Joseph Hospital, 172 Kinsley St., Nashua. Visit nashuasculpturesymposium.org.

• GALLERY ART A new collection of art by more than 20 area artists on display now in-person and online. Creative Ventures Gallery (411 Nashua St., Milford). Call 672-2500 or visit creativeventuresfineart.com.

• “THE DYSFUNCTION OF SOCIAL PRACTICE” Kelley Stelling Contemporary presents an exhibition featuring paintings, sculpture and performance works by five New Hampshire artists. Kimball Jenkins Estate (266 N. Main St., Concord). Opens Nov. 20. Visit kelleystellingcontemporary.com.

Fairs and markets

• CANTERBURY ARTISAN FESTIVAL The event celebrated artisanal, handcrafted works, also featuring live music and demonstrations. Sat., Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury. Admission is $12 for adults, $6 for Village members and free for kids, teens and young adults under 25. Visit shakers.org.

• 40TH ANNUAL FALL FESTIVAL AND NATURE ART SHOW Event hosted by the Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis, 465-7787, beaverbrook.org) will feature art by regional artists, children’s art, live music, live animal demonstrations, guided hikes and natural products for sale. Sat., Sept. 25, and Sun., Sept. 26, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Special events

THEATER

Shows

• WHITE RABBIT RED RABBITProduced by the Community Players of Concord. Hatbox Theatre, 270 Loudon Road, Concord. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m., Sept. 10 through Sept. 26. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

Arts city

Concord arts scene on display at Capital Arts Fest

Concord’s arts scene will be bustling this weekend, both downtown and at locations throughout the city, as Capital Arts Fest kicks off Friday, Sept. 24, with a salsa lesson, dance performance, art exhibit and outdoor movie at Kimball Jenkins School of Art.

The three-day event also features the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s juried Fine Art and Craft Fair on Saturday and Sunday, theater performances, author and poet readings, live music and more throughout the event — which, this year, is also a celebration of the capital city’s ability to thrive during tough times.

“We wanted to showcase our region as a cultural center for the state and also celebrate things getting more or less back to normal after a hellacious period of time with Covid,” said Tim Sink, president of the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, which co-sponsors the event along with the League of NH Craftsmen and the Capitol Center for the Arts. Despite the recent spike in cases, “We’re still looking forward to a fantastic event,” he said, with much of it being outdoors and safety precautions in place.

Capital Arts Fest started five years ago, when the city had completed its Main Street renovation, as a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and the Cap Center.

“It was meant to be a one-time celebration of the reopening of downtown Concord,” Sink said. “We had lots of cultural organizations … and huge bicycles with fire-breathing dragons, [which] was a sight worth seeing. … It was a day-long event, and it was meant to be a one-shot deal.”

The next year, he said, the League wanted to host a fair on South Main Street and asked if they could use the Capital Arts Fest brand.

“They ran a mini version of the Sunapee fair,” Sink said. “Then last year [we] said, ‘It would be cool to supersize this event. … [Now] the craft fair is the anchor on South Main Street. … That’s what we’ve built around, but we’ve built a lot around it. … We’ve got lots of events focused on downtown, and then we’ve got a lot of satellite [locations] participating.”

The satellite location kicking everything off Friday is Kimball Jenkins, with a faculty art exhibit, a salsa lesson, a performance from Ballet Misha and an outdoor showing of Moonrise Kingdom presented by Red River Theatres. Those events are free; also happening that night are a couple of ticketed events: Eaglemania at the Capitol Center for the Arts and Blaggards at the Bank of NH Stage.

On Saturday and Sunday, the juried Fine Art and Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. Sunday), with tents lining South Main Street. Also in the downtown area will be outdoor music starting at 11 a.m. and a beer garden. Gibson’s Bookstore will host poetry readings, there will be historical tours at the Statehouse, and the Bank of NH stage will feature performances from NHSCOT and Fruit Flies Like a Banana, plus Strike Anywhere Soundpainting Ensemble’s interactive musical improvisation.

Over at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center there will be two art projects available: nebula spin art and straw rockets.

“They’re sort of intertwining arts culture with science,” Sink said. “This is hands-on stuff for people to do. … A lot of the things that are going on are going to be participatory.”

Also on the schedule is an improv workshop at Hatbox Theatre, a chance to do some community art at NHTI and activities hosted by the Concord Community Music School, like Music & Movement and a folk jam. Ticketed events include David Sedaris at the Cap Center Saturday night; White Rabbit Red Rabbit at Hatbox Theatre, and Canterbury Shaker Village’s Artisan Market, featuring live music, food and handmade crafts.

Sink said schedules of all activities and shows taking place during the event will be available at the visitors center downtown, with QR codes for more information.

Capital Arts Fest

Where: Downtown Concord and various satellite locations throughout the city
When: Friday, Sept. 24, through Sunday, Sept. 26, with events starting at 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
Cost: Most activities and performances are free, with some ticketed events. See the full schedule at visitconcord-nh.com/capital-arts-fest.

Featured photo: Diana Beaulieu and customers. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/09/16

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

• Saturday market: This month’s Concord Arts Marketwill take place on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rollins Park (off Broadway Street, with parking at 33 Bow St.). The outdoor artisan and fine art market features 50 vendors, live music and a food truck. This is the second to last market of the season, with the final market to be held on Saturday, Oct. 16. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.

• Call for art: The New Hampshire Art Association is still accepting online submissions of artwork for its 22nd annual Joan L. Dunfey Exhibition, which will go on display at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) on Sept. 29. The juried show is open to all regional artists, both NHAA members and non-members. Works in all media will be considered and should be related to this year’s theme, “Portals.” Artists can submit up to two pieces. The submission deadline is Monday, Sept. 20, by 5 p.m. The exhibit is one of NHAA’s most prestigious exhibits of the year, according to a press release, and is held in honor of Joan L. Dunfey, who was a resident of the New Hampshire Seacoast and a steadfast patron of the arts. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• Molten fun: The Andres Institute of Art (106 Route 13, Brookline) will host its annual Fall Iron Melt remotely this year. Traditionally, the public is invited to the Institute’s studio space, where they can create an iron tile of their own design. Participants scratch their design into a 6-by-6-inch sand mold and coat it with a liquid graphite, then watch as molten iron is poured into their molds on site. For the remote event, participants will pick up a mold from the Institute — pickup dates are Sept. 23, Sept. 25, Sept. 30 and Oct. 2 — and scratch their design at home. Then, they can drop off their scratched molds back at the Institute — drop-off dates are the same as pickup dates, plus Oct. 7. Designs will be poured and ready to pick back up on Oct. 14 and Oct. 16. Register anytime now until Oct. 2 to secure a kit. The cost is $40 per mold. Visit andresinstitute.org.

The TEAM Fall Equinox Festival returns to Exeter. Vernon Family Farm at Exeter Arts Fest. Courtesy photo.

• Arts festival in Exeter: The annual TEAM Fall Equinox Festival will return to Swasey Parkway in downtown Exeter on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The festival features live music at the main stage and at the singer-songwriter tent; local food vendors; artist vendors; cultural exhibitions; yoga on the lawn; activities for kids and more. A Racial Unity Celebration will take place at the mainstage from 4 to 6 p.m., with a musical performance by Kaia Mac and Clandestine, a dance performances by Anthony Bounphakhom and The BLOCK with Groove Lounge; and guest speaker Lovey Roundtree Oliff. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person or $20 per family. The event is rain or shine. Visit teamexeter.com.

• Just married: The Players’ Ring Theatre (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) performs Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park from Sept. 18 through Oct. 3, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $22 for seniors age 65 and up and students. The play, set in the 1960s, follows a newlywed couple, Corie and Paul Bratter, during their first week of marriage. Living together in a top-floor New York City brownstone apartment, they are confronted with their personality differences; Corie, a free spirit, wonders why Paul, a straight-laced lawyer, can’t be more carefree and do things like running barefoot in the park. Visit playersring.org.

ART

Call for Art

• JOAN L. DUNFEY EXHIBITION On display at the New Hampshire Art Association’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth, beginning in November. The NHAA is accepting online submissions of artwork now. Works in all media will be considered and should be related to this year’s theme, “Portals.” Artists can submit up to two pieces. The submission deadline is Mon., Sept. 20, by 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

Exhibits

• “ROBERTO LUGO: TE TRAIGO MI LE LO LAI – I BRING YOU MY JOY” Philadelphia-based potter reimagines traditional forms and techniques with inspiration from urban graffiti and hip-hop culture, paying homage to his Puerto Rican heritage and exploring his cultural identity and its connection to family, place and legacy. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On view now through Sept. 26. On view now. Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester. Museum admission tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “KICK-START!” Also known as “the shoe show,” this themed art exhibition from the Women’s Caucus for Art’s New Hampshire Chapter opens at Twiggs Gallery, 254 King St., Boscawen. The exhibit runs through Oct. 31. The shoe theme is expressed in a wide variety of works that include paintings, sculptures, artist books, drawings and mixed media pieces. Gallery hours are Thursday and Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

Fairs and markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET Outdoor artisan and fine art market. Every third Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now through October. Rollins Park (33 Bow St., Concord). Visit concordartsmarket.net.

• CAPITAL ARTS FEST Event hosted by the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen will feature contemporary and traditional crafts by League members and invited artisans, live music, pop-up street theater, dance performances, author presentations and more. Outside the League of NH Craftsmen headquarters (49 S. Main St., Concord). Sat., Sept. 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., Sept. 26, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit nhcrafts.org or call 224-3375.

Special events

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

• DRAWING & PAINTING CLASSES Art House Studios, 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, Manchester. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students. Visit arthousestudios.org.

THEATER

Shows

• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Sept. 18, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday at 4 p.m., plus matinees on Saturdays, Sept. 11 and Sept. 18, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $20 to $37. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Hatbox Theatre, 270 Loudon Road, Concord. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, 2 p.m., Sept. 10 through Sept. 26. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• TRUE TALES LIVE Monthly showcase of storytellers. Held virtually via Zoom. Last Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., September through December. Visit truetaleslivenh.org.

• NEIL SIMON’S BAREFOOT IN THE PARK Produced by the Community Players of Concord. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., Oct. 15, and Sat., Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 17, 2 p.m. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Presented by Cue Zero Theatre Company. Oct. 22 through Oct. 24. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com.

• ALL TOGETHER NOW! Produced by the Community Players of Concord’s Children’s Theater Project. Concord City Auditorium, 2 Prince St., Concord. Fri., Nov. 12, 7 p.m., and Sat., Nov. 13, 2 p.m. Visit communityplayersofconcord.org.

• THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW: A PUPPET PARODY at the Capitol Center for the Arts (44 S. Main St. in Concord; ccanh.com) on Sat., Nov. 20, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $35.

Classical

• OPENING NIGHT Symphony New Hampshire’s opening night concert will feature Frank Ticheli’s There Will Be Rest, a tribute to health care workers and those lost during the pandemic, followed by Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante for Four Winds and the concert chamber orchestra suite of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Sat., Oct. 9. Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St., Nashua). Visit symphonynh.org.

• “FROM DARKNESS TO HOPE” The New Hampshire Philharmonic concert will feature Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem). Sat., Oct. 16, and Sun., Oct. 17. Visit nhphil.org.