Category: Visual Arts

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

• Look within: The Women’s Caucus for Art/New Hampshire and Kimball Jenkins present “The Invincible Within” Saturday, Jan. 18, through Thursday, Feb. 27, at Kimball Jenkins Carriage House and Mansion (266 N. Main St. in Concord; kimballjenkins.com). The exhibition will feature nearly 75 pieces including paintings, printmaking, photography, fiber art, sculpture and other media, according to a press release. The exhibition is on view on Wednesdays (Jan. 22, through Feb. 26, except for Feb. 5) from 2 to 6 p.m.; Thursdays (Jan. 30 through Feb. 27, except for Feb. 6) from 4 to 6 p.m.; Friday, Feb., 7, from 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Jan. 18, Feb. 1 and Feb. 22, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and as part of the reception on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m., the release said. The exhibition will also be on display during the Concord Garden Club’s “Art and Bloom” show on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 2 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• MLK Celebration: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org) will hold its “Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day” on Monday, Jan. 20. The museum will be open, free admission, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The day will “celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., the vision of Black American artists, and the power of self-expression,” and is hosted in partnership with volunteers from the Racial Unity Team with the support of Citizens, according to the museum’s website. The day will feature an educator-designed art activity; tours of Black American artists in the museum’s collection; a presentation from Dr. Kenneth Nivison, history professor at Southern New Hampshire University, on “The Promissory Note: Selma, Voting Rights, and the Work of Equality,” and spoken-word poetry performed by Manchester West High School students, the website said.

• Winter exhibit: Four new artists have their works on display at the Sandy Cleary Community Art Gallery in the lobby of the Nashua Center for the Arts (201 Main St. in Nashua; nashuacenterforthearts.com). The winter artists are Kathy Bouchard, Rebecca Fredrickson, Carolyn Maul and Denise Thompson-Coutu, according to a Facebook post from the Center.

• Author visit: Rebecca Dinerstein Knight, author of 2015’s The Sunlit Night (which was made into a movie starring Jenny Slate) as well as 2020’s Hex and a 2012 collection of poems called Lofoten, will speak at the Monadnock Writers’ Group’s monthly speaker series on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 9:45 a.m. at Peterborough Town Library, 2 Concord St. in Peterborough, according to a press release. See more about the author at rebeccadinersteinknight.com. The event is free and open to the public; see monadnockwriters.org.

• Movement: Truepenny Arts will hold a workshop on “Power and Presence Through Bone Awareness” on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The workshop will be facilitated by Truepenny’s Michael Cobb, according to an email notice that describes it this way: “Our bones provide a physical foundation to draw upon for acting, performance, presentation and life. Come explore and revitalize your relationship with your skeletal structure!” The workshop is designed for ages 16 and up and will be held at Diamond Rolfing & Movement Studio (210 N. State St. in Concord); the cost is a suggested $30. Email [email protected] to reserve a spot.

• Camera photography: “More Exploring Photography,” a six-week series led by local photographer Alan MacRae, will take place at The Belknap Mill (25 Beacon St. East in Laconia; 524-8813, belknapmill.org). The series starts Thursday, Jan. 30, and runs Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The class “will be an adventure looking at different areas of photography, structured around the interests of the group members,” according to a press release. Bring a camera (not a cell phone camera) that allows you to adjust the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings, the release said. Register at belknapmill.org/classes. The cost is $200, according to the website.

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

• Baroque Beatles: The Concord Community Music School hosts Bach’s Lunch: “A Baroque Beatles Renaissance,” a lecture, on Thursday, Jan. 2, from 12:10 to 12:50 p.m. “Travel through time” as Cody Switzer and Emily Adams discuss similarities between the music of the English Renaissance (which includes John Dowland, William Byrd and Thomas Morley) and that of The Beatles. They will discuss how lute songs, as well as the music of Lennon and McCartney, translate well to solo voice and guitar, with plenty of musical examples and stories, according to the press release. This event is free and open to the public, “thanks in part to the generosity of the Walker Fund.” Visit ccmusicschool.org.

• History of the American poor house: Stephen Taylor presents “Poor Houses and Town Farms: The Hard Row for Paupers”on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at Charlie’s Barn Loudon Community Building (29 Village Road, Loudon). Early Northeastern colonies followed the lead of England’s 1601 Poor Law, which led to the establishment of alms houses and poor farms and, later, county institutions. Taylor will examine how paupers were treated in these facilities and how reformers eventually succeeded in closing them down. Call 783-0307 or visit nhhumanities.org.

• New on staff: TheBarnstormers Board of Directors announced the appointment of Jordan Ahnquist as the new Artistic Director of The Barnstormers Theatre heading into their 2025 season. In addition to working as a director and actor over the past 13 years, he worked closely with the board and artistic staff, finding new grant opportunities, enhancing patron engagement, and contributing to the theater’s growth in the role of Development Associate, according to the press release. Visit barnstormerstheatre.org or call 323-8500.

• Landscape show: Starting on Friday, Jan. 3, The New Hampshire Audubon at the McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) will be hosting the exhibit “Painting the Natural Landscape Exhibit” from artist Diane Crespo. It will run until Saturday, Feb. 22, according to the NH Audubon calendar. Crespo is a landscape painter living in southeast New Hampshire and she earned her BFA from New Hampshire Institute of Art in 2011, according to the event’s website. Prior to pursuing a fine art degree she painted only with pastels, and now she paints primarily in oils and pastels and commonly paints over acrylic under-paintings or tonal under-paintings with oil paint, according to the website. Her paintings can be viewed at Diane Crespo Fine Art (27 Front St., Exeter; dianecrespofineart.com). Visit nhaudubon.org or call 224-9909 for more information on the exhibit.

• On stage: The Players’ Ring (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) will start the new year with Whispering to Dostoevsky Friday, Jan. 3, through Sunday, Jan. 19. The play was written and directed by Richard McElvain, who said in a statement, “The Players’ Ring feels like a good place to give my wacky play a first full production. … It’s a ‘big play.’ At the readings audiences gave it standing ovations with tears in their eyes. I’m very curious to see if that will be the case with a full production.” Find out for yourself on Thursdays at 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; as well as Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets range from $26 to $29 and the show is included in subscription packages. Visit playersring.org or call 436-8123.

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

• Still time for Carol: Head to the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester, palacetheatre.org) to catch the last few shows of A Christmas Carol, which will still be running there through Sunday, Dec. 29, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.Tickets cost $39 to $45.

• Cook and Kettner exhibit: “Caterpillar,” featuring works by Emma cc Cook and Em Kettner, will be on display at Outer Space (35 Pleasant St., Concord) through Saturday, Jan. 18. Emma cc Cook graduated with a BFA in painting from University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and studied at the Angel Academy in Florence, Italy, according to the event page. Cook often combines dark paintings on canvas with abrupt insertions of walnut sticks, textural variations and intriguing thematic ventures that are inspired by rural American West landscapes and the broad discourses surrounding identity, history, environment and erasure, according to the website. Outer Space will donate 5 percent of its profits from any sales of her work to a nonprofit of the artist’s choosing, according to the same website. Visit outerspacearts.xyz. The gallery is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to its Facebook page.

• Are you choral curious? Join the Granite State Choral Society for their 50th anniversary season as they are recruiting new members throughout January for the spring concert season. No audition is required and all are welcome to join who have an interest in singing and learning, according to a press release. The current members have a range of ages and are based in New Hampshire and Maine, according to the release. On Sundays, Jan. 12, and Jan. 19, prospective members may stop by to meet members, ask questions, and express interest in joining, and new members are welcome to attend rehearsals starting at the beginning of each season on Sundays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at First Church Congregational (63 S. Main St., Rochester). Visit gschoralsociety.org.

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

• Still some Nutcracker: The Nutcracker season is not over yet. Ballet Misha will present The Nutcracker on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester). Ballet Misha’s production is performed by professional dancers in the company, as well as apprentice company members and students at its affiliate school, Dimensions in Dance, according to a press release. The cast consists of more than 130 dancers who have rehearsed for months for this production involving hundreds of vibrant costumes, five beautiful sets and the music of Tchaikovsky, according to the press release. Tickets cost $30 to $35. Visit tickets.anselm.edu to purchase tickets online or call 641-7700.

The New Hampshire School of Ballet presents a full-length version of The Nutcracker on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 2 p.m. at the Concord City Auditorium (14 Canterbury Road, Concord). Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $25. There will be an additional performance on Sunday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St.,Manchester). Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased at the box office or online at palacetheatre.org or by calling 668-5588.

• Choir and strings: The First Church (1 Concord St. in Nashua; first-music.org) will present the 4th Advent worship services “Christmas at First” with Cantata 61 with the Chancel Choir and First Music Chamber Strings on Sunday, Dec. 22, at 9 and 11 a.m.

• Seasonal music: The Word Barn (66 Newfields Road, Exeter, 244-0202, thewordbarn.com) wraps up its 12 Nights of Christmas series of shows at the Orchard Chapel (143 Exeter Road in Hampton Falls). The last installments include A Celtic Christmas with Lunasa on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 5 and 8 p.m.; The Orchard Chapel Candlelight Carol Sing on Friday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22, at 5:30 p.m., plus a family matinee version on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 3 p.m.; A Winter Solstice Celebration with Low Lily on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m., and A Holiday Family Story Hour on Monday, Dec. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m.

• New exhibit: The exhibit Searching for Natural Moments: Scenes from African Safaris and Costa Rican Rainforests will be at the New Hampshire Audubon McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road, Concord) on Dec. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will showcase photographs by Howard Muscott, according to their website. Muscott will be sharing images from two of Kenya’s most prolific wildlife locations and various habitats in Costa Rica and will take those who attend “on Safari … in the Masai Mara National Reserve and Amboseli National Park looking for iconic mammals like lions and cubs, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and zebras and other wildlife and on trails in the rain forests of Costa Rica in search of monkeys and birds,” according to the website. The exhibition will be on display until Saturday, Dec. 28. Visit nhaudubon.org or call 224-9909.

• Calling artists: The Seacoast Artist Association in downtown Exeter has announced its 2025 Theme Show calendar and all Seacoast artists are invited to enter, in person at the gallery or online at seacoastartist.org., according to a press release.The first show of the year is “Winter Wonderment” and artists can submit up to two pieces of framed work with wire hanger up to the 16” by 20”; pieces over 16” by 20” count as two pieces. It costs $10 per piece up to two pieces but participants may enter one large under 22” by 26” and one small. Artists are instructed to email their submissions by Friday, Jan. 3, with name and phone number as well as the label information of title, medium and price, along with a good jpeg for publicity, to [email protected]. The dropoff is scheduled for Saturday, Jan 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A committee chooses Best in Show and the winner will receive free entry in a future Theme Show. Visit seacoastartist.org for more information and the drop-off form.

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

• Show reception: Glimpse Gallery’s (Patriot Building, 4 Park St., Concord) newest exhibit begins on Monday, Dec. 9, and runs through Jan. 9, featuring works from artists Pat Arzillo, Byron Carr, Julie Daniels, Mark Ferland, David Wiggins, Barbara Morse and Michael McCormack, as well as a selection from curator Christina Landry-Boullion. The opening reception will take place on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 5 to 8 p.m.; RSVP by emailing contact@ theglimpsegallery.co. Visit theglimpsegallery.com or call 892-8307.

• Pops! The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra is holding its annual Holiday Pops Concert at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem) on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit nhphil.org or call 647-6476.

• Christmas from the Cape: At the Dana Center (Saint Anselm College, 100 Saint Anselm Drive, Manchester, tickets. anselm.edu) catch A Cape Breton Christmas with Coigon Thursday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Nova Scotia’s own Còig will bring their renditions of timeless Christmas classics in a Celtic holiday mix that includes everything folk, classical and swing, and will give favorite carols a fresh and original sound, according to their website. Visit tickets.anselm.edu.

• Holiday show: Peacock Players present their Holiday Spectacularat Court Street Theatre (14 Court St., Nashua). This musical cabaret features holiday favorites and musicaltheater classics. Shows are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 and 7 p.m. The show is slated for a two-hour run time with one 15-minute intermission and the performance is rated PG. Tickets range from $12 to $18. Visit peacockplayers.org or call 889-2330.

• You’ll shoot your eye out: Majestic Productions brings to stage A Christmas Story: The Musical at Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway, Derry). Performances are on Friday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for seniors 65+ and $15 for children age 17 and under. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.

• Handel for the holidays: Saint Joseph Cathedral (145 Lowell St., Manchester) will present a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” and Vivaldi’s “Gloria” on Friday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 per person online or at the door. Visit stjosephcathedralnh.org/cathedralconcert or call 622-6404.

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

• Small works: Pillar Gallery + Projects’ newest exhibit is “NANO” and the show runs until Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Pillar gallery (205 N. State St., Concord). “NANO” is a juried exhibition focused on smaller works. Visit pillargalleryprojects.com.

• Doo-wop Christmas: SH-Boom: A Christmas Miracle is presented by the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St., Manchester) on Friday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Dec. 8. The Majestic’s website describes the play as being full of ’60s doo-wop hits and holiday classics. The play is a holiday sequel to one that takes place in 1965 when Denny and the gang achieved overnight fame via the WOPR Radio “Dream of a Lifetime Talent Search” as “Denny and the Dreamers,” according to the website. Now the gang is “reunited” to perform again as a group for the Christmas Bazaar at Wally’s church, but not all is going well. Tickets range from $15 to $22. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.

• Holiday comedy: Christmas Belles is a comedy presented by Bedford Off Broadway will run at the Bedford Old Town Hall (3 Meetinghouse Road, Bedford) Friday, Dec. 6, through Sunday, Dec. 15, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15, $12 for seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the door or via Brown Paper Tickets. See bedfordoffbroadway.com.

• View on a classic: The Pinkerton Players will present Eurydiceon Friday, Dec. 6, and Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. as well as Sunday, Dec.8, at 2 p.m. at the Stockbridge Theatre at Pinkerton Academy (5 Pinkerton St., Derry). In Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl reimagines the classic myth of Orpheus through the eyes of its heroine; she must journey to the underworld after dying on her wedding day to reunite with her father and struggles to remember her lost love, according to the press release. Tickets are $15. Visit stockbridgetheatre.showare.com or call 437-5210.