Visual Arts – Page 37

The Art Roundup 21/08/19

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

• Monster hunt: Monsters are on the loose again in downtown Manchester as Studio 550 Art Center hosts its 9th annual Monster Hunt. On Saturday, Aug. 21, starting at 3 p.m., there will be 100 small red clay monsters in various locations downtown to encourage people to explore the city. The monsters will be placed mostly on Elm Street between Studio 550 and Bridge Street, as well as in some parks and major side streets, hiding in places like a windowsill, the corner of a bench or a flower planter. If you find a monster, you get to keep it (one per person). The person who finds the special colored monster will receive a free paint-your-own-pottery session at Studio 550. Partnering businesses will be offering goodies, giveaways and discounts to monster-finders: Bring your monster to Dancing Lion Chocolate to receive a free chocolate; to the Bookery for discounts on monster-themed books; and to Double Midnight Comics for a free comic book. Additionally, Studio 550 will have a number of low-cost monster-themed outdoor activities, to-go art kits for sale and a $1 pottery sale to benefit the Clay for Kids Fund from 3 to 5 p.m. It’s free to participate in the hunt. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com.

• Textile works: The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group has an exhibit, “Tension: Process in the Making,” on view now through Sept. 4 at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). It features contemporary fiber art by 15 artists juried by textile artist Jenine Shereos. “Reflecting on the past year, there has been a collective stretching; a pulling and tightening, beyond what we ever imagined was possible,” Shereos said in a press release. “The works in this exhibition feature New Hampshire textile artists as they examine the theme of tension in both form and concept.” Current 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 or call 975-0015.

• August artists: The New Hampshire Art Association has work by two of its artist members on view now through the end of August in its new exhibit venue, Creative Framing Solutions, located across from the Palace Theatre at 89 Hanover St. in Manchester. Joe Flaherty of Portsmouth is an oil painter whose paintings “aim at being curious, mysterious and peculiar before they aim at being representational or affirmative,” he said in a press release. Maryclare Heffernan of Candia will present a series of paintings titled “A Spray of Sea Salt.” “This body of work is about the essence of the ocean, of the feelings that arise in us when we’re near the sea,” Heffernan said in the release. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 320-5988 or visit nhartassociation.org.

• Art in Prescott Park: The New Hampshire Art Association’s annual Sheafe Warehouse Exhibit and Sale is going on now through Aug. 29 at Prescott Park (105-123 Marcy St, Portsmouth). It features works in a variety of media by nearly 40 NHAA artists. “There’s a real sense of excitement on the part of our artists, who are anxious to share the new works of art they have been creating over the past year,” Renee Giffroy, NHAA board president, said in a press release. The Exhibit and Sale is open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

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

• “FRESH PERSPECTIVES” Exhibit features works by New Hampshire artists Peter Milton, Varujan Boghosian, Robert Hughes and others. New Hampshire Antique Co-op (323 Elm St., Milford). On view in the Co-op’s Tower Gallery now through Aug. 31. Visit nhantiquecoop.com.

• “FASHION FORWARD: AFRICANA STYLE” Exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 1. Gallery hours are Monday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; visitors must reserve a 45-minute time slot in advance. Walk-in guests will be accommodated as space permits. Tickets cost $10 for the general public and $5 for Historical Society members and are available through eventbrite.com. Visit saacc-nh.org.

• “SUMMER HAZE” Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnet hosts her first group art exhibit. Gallery located in the Patriot Investment building, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord. On view now through Sept. 3. Visit jessbarnett.com.

• 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.

Theater

Shows

• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• HOOLIGANS AND CONVICTS The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Aug. 18 through Sept. 4, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus matinees on Tuesday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S CEMETERY TOUR Presented by the Manchester Historic Association, this interactive nighttime cemetery tour will feature live actors from The Majestic Theatre telling first-person accounts of notable figures in Manchester history, such as Frank Carpenter and Nehemiah Bean. Thurs., Aug. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Ave., Manchester. Tickets are $20. Pre-registration is required, as space is limited. Visit manchesterhistoric.org/events or call 622-7531.

• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 18, and Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• SLEEPING BEAUTY The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 24, through Thurs., Aug. 26, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

Beauty in the park

Greeley Park Art Show returns to Nashua

More than 50 artists will display works ranging from watercolors and photography to wood and glass pieces at the annual Greeley Park Art Show in Nashua, which, now in its 68th year, has grown to draw thousands of visitors over the course of two days.

“I think it’s the history of the show that brings people to Nashua,” said Lauren Boss, co-president (with Jackie Berry) of the Nashua Area Artists’ Association, which hosts the event. “It’s a great park, and we get a great turnout. We’re very fortunate that it’s the same weekend every year, so people know we’re going to be there.”

The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

The artists represent a variety of media, many traditional and some unexpected, like colored pencil fine art artist Tina Gagnon.

“They’re amazing,” Boss said of Gagnon’s pieces. “You wouldn’t believe that they’re colored pencils.”

Visitors get the opportunity to watch Gagnon at work when they visit her tent.

“I set up a ‘studio’ for the two days and demonstrate my process and technique for the public,” Gagnon said.

Boss said all of the works are juried in and include fine art and fine crafts, like jewelry — Boss herself will have a tent set up to show her jewelry — plus pottery, glasswork, woodwork and soapwork.

“I enjoy creating a multitude of unique turned wooden objects for the yearly show, including bowls, lidded vessels, pens and other odds and ends,” said woodturner David Bower. “Each piece is a unique one-of-a-kind item.”

Bower attends the show each year with his daughter, Katie DiTullio.

“She enjoys painting and I enjoy woodturning and the two different art mediums complement each other in our joint display booth,” he said.

Carl Cooley of Concord calls himself an “eclectic photographer” but said that in recent years he’s been focusing his camera on birds.

“Photographing birds provides a challenge both for the amateur birder to find and recognize them and for the photographer to capture sharp evocative portraits of subjects that rarely stand still,” Cooley said.

Boss said one of the benefits of attending the Greeley Park show is that you get to talk to artists like Cooley, who is a retired pediatrician.

“You get to know a little bit about their story and how they create,” Boss said.

The event is a highlight for the artists too.

“I love the outdoor venue,” said Deb Wolf, who does oil on canvas, wood and tile, often using repurposed materials. “It’s a beautiful wide open park with such a wide array of talented local artists.”

Jessica Perez, an en plein air painter, said she loves interacting with the people who attend.

“The art show offers a window to what the community desires, and how they respond to work is an element key to success,” Perez said.

Bower agrees.

“It’s always inspiring seeing other artists’ work and receiving feedback on our own creations from the general public,” he said.

This will be Ian Bailey’s first time attending the Greeley Park Art Show, and he’s enjoyed the process of getting ready to show his work, like building his booth and framing his artwork.

“My artwork is … fairly large, so I had to plan to transport it safely,” he said. “I create emotionally charged abstract paintings using mixed media such as acrylic paints, plaster [and] foil.”

On Saturday, any of the participating artists can take part in the show’s adult art competition. Their work will be on display in the competition tent, and judges will go through the tent in the early afternoon and give out awards.

On Sunday, there’s a kids art competition for ages 6 to 18. Boss said participants can drop off their art Sunday morning, and it will be judged later in the day. There are four age categories, and winners will receive ribbons and prizes like art supplies.

“We want to encourage them to keep on creating, to keep on growing,” Boss said.

The show will also feature a raffle and an auction, a puppet show, woodworking demonstrations and a hands-on art project called “Kindness Rocks.”

“We’ll have rocks there for people to paint and they can give it to someone who might need some extra love or leave it out for a stanger to find,” Boss said.

Boss said she’s looking forward to having a full slate of artists back this year, since last year’s show was about half the size because of Covid. She said she’s always amazed at what the artists can create.

“We have some newer artists that we haven’t seen before so that’s going to be nice to go around and see new work, fresh work,” Boss said. “I genuinely like all our artists … and I enjoy going and trying to stop at everyone’s booth.”

Boss encourages everyone to come out and support local art.

“They need it and we all need to get out and do something normal and do something that makes us happy — and you’re going to find something there that makes you happy,” she said. “There’s something for everyone.”

Greeley Park Art Show

Where: 100 Concord St., Nashua
When: Saturday, Aug. 21, and Sunday, Aug. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Cost: Free to attend
More info: nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow

Schedule

Saturday
All day – raffle/silent auction tent (blue tent on sidewalk)
9:30 a.m. – adult participant competition dropoff at art show tent
10 a.m. – 68th annual GPAS opens
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – kindness rock painting (near Booth 1)
11:15 a.m. – marionette show (near Booth 98)
2 p.m. – marionette show (near Booth 98)
5 p.m. – Greeley Park Art Show closes for the day

Sunday
All day – raffle/silent auction tent (blue tent on sidewalk)
10 to 11:15 a.m. – student show dropoff at art show tent
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – woodturning demonstration with Ron Marcoux (near Booth 65)
10 a.m. – 68th Annual GPAS opens
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. – kindness rock painting (near Booth 1)
11:15 a.m. – marionette show (near Booth 98)
2 p.m. – marionette show (near Booth 98)
3 p.m. – scholarship, student show awards
4 p.m. – Greeley Park Art Show closes for the year

Featured photo: Art by Jessica Perez. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/08/12

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

• Stories from history: The Manchester Historic Association presents A Midsummer Night’s Cemetery Tour at Pine Grove Cemetery (765 Brown Ave., Manchester) on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The interactive nighttime cemetery tour will feature actors from The Majestic Theatre telling first-person accounts of notable figures in Manchester history, such as Frank Carpenter and Nehemiah Bean. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. Tickets cost $20 for general admission and $10 for Manchester Historic Association members. Visit manchesterhistoric.org/events or call 622-7531.

• Calling women artists: Girls at Work, a Manchester-based nonprofit that empowers girls through woodworking and building, is seeking artists for its inaugural Women’s Artisan Fair scheduled for Oct. 15 and Oct. 16. Women artisans are invited to submit handcrafted fashion pieces, home goods, paintings and other visual arts for consideration, according to a press release. There is an online form to request more information about how to submit artwork. Visit girlswork.org or call 345-0392.

• Outdoor violin concert: The Suzuki Strings return to Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) on Sunday, Aug. 15, at 4 p.m. as part of the Village’s Music on the Meeting House Green outdoor summer concert series. The Suzuki Strings is a group of student violinists from all over New Hampshire who have learned to play violin using the methodology of Japanese musician and music educator Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998). There is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

• Authors in Warner: In-person author events have returned to MainStreet BookEnds (16 E. Main St., Warner), the bookstore announced in a newsletter. Meet local author, teacher and thru-hiker Michael “Sy” Sisemore on Saturday, Aug. 14, at 2 p.m. Sisemore will discuss his book In the Real World I Hike: Transformation of Purpose and Self in 5 Million Easy Steps, which features a collection of stories from long-distance Appalachian Trail thru-hikers about how hiking changed their lives. Other upcoming author appearances include New Hampshire middle-grade novelist Amy Makechnie on Saturday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m., and New Hampshire poet L.R. Berger on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 4 p.m. Call 456-2700 or visit mainstreetbookends.com.

• Last chance for these shows: Don’t miss thePrescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth) summer theater production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, going on now through Aug. 15, with showtimes on Thursday and Sunday at 7 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. The show, presented by Wilcox, features a revue of songs and vignettes based on Charles Shulz’ beloved comic strip. General admission is a $5 donation at the gate, or reserved seating is available for $49 to $99. Visit prescottpark.org.

The Peterborough Players present Our Town. Courtesy photo.

The Peterborough Players (55 Hadley Road, Peterborough) continue their production of Our Town through Aug. 15, with showtimes Wednesday through Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Performances take place at the Players’ outdoor theater space, located off Phoenix Mill Lane in downtown Peterborough. The 1938 play by Thornton Wilder tells of love, life and death in the fictional small New Hampshire town of Grover’s Corners. According to the Players’ website, the company first produced the play in 1940 with consultation from Wilder himself. It has since become the Players’ most produced play to date. Tickets cost $47. Visit peterboroughplayers.org or call 924-7585.

Exhibits

SHEAFE WAREHOUSE EXHIBIT AND SALE Featuring works in a variety of media by nearly 40 artists with the New Hampshire Art Association. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, from noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, from noon to 7 p.m., now through Aug. 29. Prescott Park, 105-123 Marcy St., Portsmouth. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• NEW HAMPSHIRE ART ASSOCIATION EXHIBITS Featuring the work of painters Joe Flaherty of Portsmouth and Maryclare Heffernan of Candia during August. An opening reception will be held on Fri., Aug. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Creative Framing Solutions, 89 Hanover St., Manchester. Visit nhartsassociation.org or call 320-5988.

• “THE BODY IN ART: FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO THE SENSUAL” Exhibit provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression. On view now through Sept. 1. 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.

• “DON GORVETT: WORKING WATERFRONTS” Exhibit features more than 60 works by the contemporary Seacoast printmaker. The Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). On view now through Sept. 12. Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “TWILIGHT OF AMERICAN IMPRESSIONISM” Exhibit showcases New England painters and masters of impressionism Alice Ruggles Sohier and Frederick A. Bosley. On view now through Sept. 12. Portsmouth Historical Society (10 Middle St., Portsmouth). Gallery hours are daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission costs $7.50 for adults and is free for kids under age 18, seniors age 70 and older and active and retired military. Admission is free for all on the first Friday of every month. Visit portsmouthhistory.org.

• “CRITICAL CARTOGRAPHY” Exhibit features immersive large-scale drawings by Larissa Fassler that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. On view now through fall. 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.

• “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.

• “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.

• 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.

• 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 [email protected].

• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. July 24 through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

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.

• GREELEY PARK ART SHOW Annual outdoor juried art show hosted by Nashua Area Artists Association features a variety of artwork for sale. Sat., Aug. 21, and Sun., Aug. 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 100 Concord St., Nashua. Visit nashuaareaartistsassoc.org.

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

• 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.

• 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

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus a matinee on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 11, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• CINDERELLA The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 17, through Thurs., Aug. 19, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

• IT HAD TO BE YOU The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Sept. 1 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.

• 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.

Concerts

• SUZUKI STRINGS Violin students perform. Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury). Sun., Aug. 15, 4 p.m. Suggested donation $10 per person.

Inspired by the season

Summer Haze group art exhibition at Concord studio

Diverse pieces that capture the essence of steamy summer days will be on display during a group art exhibition at Jess Barnett Art Studio in Concord. The art is hanging now through Sept. 3, with an opening reception on Friday, Aug. 13, when the artists will be in the gallery to talk about their work.

The Summer Haze exhibition features pieces from five artists and is the first group exhibition Barnett has hosted since she opened her studio in November 2019.

“Covid kind of put a damper on [the studio opening],” Barnett said, “so this is really exciting to be able to have the group show.”

Earlier this year Barnett put out a call for entries to New England artists, asking for submissions that were based on the Summer Haze theme.

She ended up working with artists from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, plus one from New York, and between the five of them — Barnett included — there are about 10 to 12 pieces in the exhibition.

“It’s a good size for the gallery,” Barnett said. “It was pretty easy to fit everything in there and make [it] look good next to each other. It takes up one wall of the gallery, and then I have [my work] hanging on the other walls.”

Barnett’s pieces include a couple of new paintings that she hasn’t shown yet, including an abstract painting called “Lilac Season,” plus a couple of older pieces that go well with the theme, she said.

The exhibition is diverse, Barnett said, with paintings, drawings and glass art.

“I can’t really do installation art [because of space], so I wanted to have two-dimensional pieces and glass,” she said.

Karen Mehos, a glass artist from Boscawen, produces mainly stained glass and small glass works. She’s showing a glass bowl called “Small Town Sunset,” featuring a cityscape against a sunset background. It was made by melting glass in a kiln, using colored glass powders on a clear glass base, fusing them together into a flat disk in the 1,450-degree kiln, then softening them with heat again before using a ceramic mold to give it shape.

“It’s pretty innovative and cool how she did that, and she made it just for the show,” Barnett said.

Kathy Bouchard from Nashua has two acrylic paintings of kimonos in the show.

“It’s a cross between realistic and abstract,” Barnett said. “Her art is just really cool.”

The other two artists are Jason Michael Rielly of New York and Lorna Ritz of Massachusetts. Rielly’s art represents both the abstract and expressionism genres of artistic style, Barnett said. She said the work he put in the exhibition highlights these styles and communicates strong emotion, mood and vibrancy.

“They’re almost floral, but more abstract,” she said.

Ritz is a third-generation abstract expressionist-impressionist who paints landscapes.

“I paint the changing seasons as they occur, the light that emanates from seasonal color combinations that occur in landscape,” Ritz wrote about her work.

All of the work in the show is for sale, and for those who can’t make the reception and meet the artists, there will be labels with the artists’ information on the pieces for anyone who wants to learn more about them and their work.

For the reception, Barnett will be giving out a small gift bag with a piece of art to everyone who attends, and she encourages the general public to check it out.

“It’s a very laid back atmosphere. [We] aren’t snobby art people,” she said.

Barnett said she hopes to have more group exhibitions in the future, and she will invite artists of all levels, even those who are just dipping their toes into art, to participate.

“I just really feel that everyone, if they want to, should experiment with art,” she said. “Art can be a really good release for people to express emotion. … You don’t have to go to art school [to be an artist].”

Summer Haze group art exhibition

Where: Opening reception Friday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
When: Jess Barnett Art Studio, 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord.
The reception is free, and light refreshments will be served. RSVPs are encouraged on the gallery’s Facebook page but are not required. The exhibition will be hanging through Sept. 3.

Featured photo: The Summer Haze exhibition is on display now at Jess Barnett Art Studio. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 21/08/05

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

• A legacy of supporting the arts: Artist and lifelong supporter of the arts in Nashua Meri Goyette died at her home on July 23, according to an obituary released by Farewell Funeral Service. She was 95 years old. Goyette was a founding board member of the Nashua Arts and Science Center in the 1960s and created a space for artists to show their work in the grand lobby at the Hotel Meridien in Boston in the 1980s. In 2008, she co-founded the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium, an annual event during which three renowned sculptors spend three weeks in Nashua creating outdoor sculptures for permanent installation in the city. Goyette served on the advisory board for City Arts Nashua and founded the organization’s Meri Goyette Champagne Art Awards Luncheon to help raise funds for the arts in Nashua. In 2020, the Wall Street Journal awarded Goyette its Lifetime Achievement Award for being a Patron of the Arts. This past spring, Goyette showed her own art publicly for the first time. The exhibition, “Geometric Abstraction through Cut and Paste,” was on display in the windows and lobby of the Nashua Telegraph offices and featured statement collages and collectible greeting cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. Contributions in Goyette’s honor can be made to the Nashua International Sculpture Symposium or Nashua City Arts, according to the Farewell Funeral Service’s website. Visit farwellfuneralservice.com/meri-r-goyette to read the full obituary.

• First group art show: Concord artist and gallery owner Jess Barnett presents the first group art exhibition at her gallery (located in the Patriot Investment building at 4 Park St., Suite 216, Concord) from Aug. 6 through Sept. 3. Barnett, who does primarily abstract art, opened the gallery in December 2019 to provide a venue for herself and other local and regional abstract artists to show their work. The exhibition, titled “Summer Haze,” invited regional artists to submit work in a variety of media, including paintings, drawings, collage, encaustic, fiber art, digital art, book and paper art, textiles, mixed media, photography, printmaking and 3D art. Five artists will be featured: Kathy Bouchard of Nashua, Karen Mehos of Boscawen, Jason Michael Rielly of Auburn, New York, Lorna Ritz of Northampton, Mass., and Barnett herself. An opening reception will be held at the gallery on Friday, Aug. 13, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call 393-1340 or visit jessbarnett.com.

• Uncommon Art: Goffstown Main Street will host its 13th annual Uncommon Art on the Common arts and crafts fair on Saturday, Aug. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, outside on Goffstown’s Main Street and at Night Owl Quilting Studio, located at 35 Main St. The fair will feature more than 40 area artists and artisans displaying and selling paintings, photography, prints, jewelry, pottery, beads, fiber arts, mixed media pieces, sculpture, glasswork and woodwork. Additionally, visitors can take part in the Uncommon Bling Project, collecting unique beads and handcrafted items from participating artists, which can be strung together on a cord to commemorate the day. Admission is free. Call 497-9933 or visit goffstownmainstreet.org.

Exhibits

• “TENSION: PROCESS IN THE MAKING” The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group presents an exhibit featuring fiber art and textiles by New Hampshire artists. Now through Sept. 4. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

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.

Theater

Shows

• BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Wed., Aug. 4, and Thurs., Aug. 5, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• TELL ME ON A SUNDAY The Winnipesaukee Playhouse presents. 33 Footlight Circle, Meredith. Now through Aug. 14, with showtimes Tuesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m., plus a matinee on Thursday, Aug. 5, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 to $39. Visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org.

• YOU’RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN Prescott Park Arts Festival (105 Marcy St., Portsmouth). Now through Aug. 15, with shows daily at 7 p.m. Visit prescottpark.org.

• CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

• RAPUNZEL The 2021 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series presents. Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). Tues., Aug. 10, through Thurs., Aug. 12, 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10. Visit palacetheatre.org.

• MAD HAUS The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Sun., Aug. 18, 8 p.m. Tickets cost $15. The show is also available to livestream. Visit seacoastrep.org.

Concerts

• SUZUKI STRINGS Violin students perform. Canterbury Shaker Village(288 Shaker Road, Canterbury). Sun., Aug. 15, 4 p.m. Suggested donation $10 per person.

An artisans’ affair

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen celebrates return of its annual fair

After a year without an in-person fair, artisans from the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen overwhelmingly agree about one thing: They can’t wait to see the crowds and their fellow artisans at this year’s annual fair at Mount Sunapee Resort.

“The craftspeople are as excited to be back at the mountain as you can possibly imagine,” said Laury Nichols, a woodcarver from Chichester.

Lisa DeMio of Hampstead, who makes fiber wearables, echoed that sentiment.

“The artists are super excited to be back there,” she said. “It’s one of those places where I feel very at home. … This particular show has so many amazing artists. I’m looking forward to being able to see and touch and feel everything and connect with friends.”

The 88th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair is happening Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, and is one of the few arts events of its scope and size this year, according to Miriam Carter, executive director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

“We’re in New Hampshire and we’ve gotten through Covid in a way that a lot of states haven’t,” Carter said. “I’m expecting a great response from the public.”

The fair will look a little different, with booths spaced farther apart and fewer artisans, and visitors are encouraged to buy their tickets online to get through the gate quickly. But beyond that, the fair should be everything it has been in past years — and then some.

“[The artisans have] had a year off to create work, so I’m really excited to see what they’ve done in that time,” Carter said.

She said she’s already seen some of the work that will be in the Art, Craft & Design Exhibition —‌ a gallery that’s set up in the middle of the fair —‌ and it’s some of the best she’s seen.

“I think they took advantage of their time off the road to … be creative and innovative,” Carter said.

There will be demonstrations this year, Carter said, following Covid precautions. Instead of the more intimate clay turning booth, for example, they will have precreated clay tiles, which people can use to create a textured piece that they can bring home and paint. Many of the demonstrations and hands-on activities are free, Carter said.

There’s also the Art, Craft & Design Exhibition and the Sculpture Garden, plus new food offerings, and, for the first time, alcohol will be available for purchase on the fairgrounds. The Adventure Park at Mount Sunapee Resort will be open, and the lift will be running for people who might want to ride up and hike down. But that’s all gravy.

“The best part of the fair is you get to meet the artists and you get to see what they’ve been up to,” Carter said.

Meet five of those artists, who talked about their work, what’s new this year and why they can’t wait for the fair.

Clay

Michael Gibbons of Derry

What he makes: Functional stoneware for everyday use, like coffee mugs, bowls and teapots. “I’ve been making pottery since about 1980 and I love doing it,” Gibbons said. “I love the fact that it starts off as almost nothing and transforms into something nice and functional.” Gibbons’ work focuses on nature, with mountains adorning many pieces and a line of products made with white clay that look like birch bark.

What’s new this year: With a year off from fairs, Gibbons said he focused on producing, and he developed some new glazes. “My color palette is much broader than it was two years ago,” he said. “I have a red raspberry glaze, and I have a green glaze that I introduced. … I came up with a different glaze for my birch [products] too —‌ less shine and more matte.”

Why he can’t wait for the fair: “It’s the highlight of my year just being around so many talented, great people,” he said. “I’m also excited to see how well-received the new colors are.”

Fiber wearables

Lisa DeMio of Hampstead

What she makes: Accessories, predominantly for women, like handbags, totes and cosmetic bags. They feature hand-printed linen, leather, cotton and waxed canvas. DeMio started sewing years ago, and as her four children got older, she became interested in fabrics and textiles. She found a handbag pattern and made one for herself, then was promptly asked by one friend after another to make bags for them. “It’s one of those things that everybody needs,” she said. “Everybody needs to [carry stuff], and you might as well look good doing it.”

What’s new this year: “I have some new hand-printed fabrics that I’m really excited about,” DeMio said. She said one of the artists that she admires has started to make hand-printed fabrics again, so she’s been able to create some of her products using those. “I have a very limited number of those bags,” she said.

Why she can’t wait for the fair: “Just seeing people again —‌ this is the first live event I’ll have done since February of 2020,” she said. “It’s one of those places where I feel very at home —‌ with my products in my booth and [on the fairgrounds].”

Fine jewelry

Kristin Kennedy of Concord

What she makes: One-of-a-kind jewelry pieces made with precious metals and gemstones. Her inspiration is based on nature and her outdoor experiences, like hiking the mountains and swimming in the ocean.

What’s new this year: Kennedy has a few new collections, including the Everlasting collection that features pieces with rose-cut emeralds and London Blue topaz, and a Nuevo Deco collection that features pieces with rose-cut aquamarines, step-cut chocolate diamonds and champagne diamonds.

Why she can’t wait for the fair: “I’m definitely looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces, being able to celebrate being together, enjoying art together,” she said. “Most of my customers I’ve had for 20 years, so it’s fun to see them.” Kennedy said she typically checks out the fair herself on the last day. “It’s fun to get to know the artists and handpick some of their special designs,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to support local artists and appreciate some of the finer things.” This is Kennedy’s 20th year at the Craftsmen’s Fair, and she said it’s the only one she participates in. “I think it’s one of the most highly acclaimed art shows in the country.”

Wood carvings

Laury Nichols from Chichester

What she makes: Whimsical woodland animal characters and custom woodcarving projects. The carvings are mainly characters she designs herself, and she has a few characters from children’s books like The Wind in the Willows and Beatrix Potter’s tales. With the carvings just inches tall, Nichols said she’ll be bringing about 500 of them to the fair.

What’s new this year: Nichols said she always has new carvings, and this year her booth itself is brand new. She took an online wooden puppet making class during the pandemic, so she’ll have a few puppets and will be taking orders for them. She has also created cards with pictures of her woodcarvings, but since she’s juried as a woodcarver, she’s not allowed to sell anything but woodcarvings. So instead, she’s giving away a free pack of “Celebrate” cards to anyone who asks.

Why she can’t wait for the fair: “I’m so excited to see everyone again, and I know the public is excited to be back to the fair,” Nichols said. “I [especially] love it when children come into my booth. They are so great. … I make free stuff for kids —‌ I was an art kind of kid, and talking to real artists was very inspirational and influential.”

Wood sculptures

Donna Zils Banfield of Derry

What she makes: Sculptural art made out of wood. “Most of my work will appeal to about 10 percent of the people who will be at the fair,” Zils Banfield said. “It’s sculptural art —‌ it’s not utilitarian, it’s not functional.” One example is her Wood Ffolkkes, a community of sculptural wood people that come in various shapes and sizes, with different moods, personalities, wardrobes, loves and hates, but all created from the same core. “At our basic core, we’re all the same,” she said. Zils Banfield started participating in the Craftsmen’s Fair in 2012 as a bowl turner. “I’ve slowly moved into the more nonfunctional artwork,” she said. “I knew early on that I had to be more than a bowl turner.” Zils Banfield said this kind of work is much more intricate, taking days, weeks or months to complete one piece, so she usually has several pieces going at a time. “Nothing is done quickly, which is unusual for the wood turning world,” she said.

What’s new this year: “I have a new sculptural piece that is going to be titled ‘Cityscapes,’” she said. It features 3D images carved into the wood with small particles of 24k gold leaves and silver leaves for the skyscrapers and the stars.

Why she can’t wait for the fair: “Seeing the people that I miss, both my fellow peers and the people who come to the fair to see me and to see my work,” Zils Banfield said. She said she loves showing her new pieces to past customers. “Every year I have at least one new idea that appears in my booth.”

More than a craft fair
Woodcarver Laury Nichols shared her recommendation for how to approach the fair.
“If you go to the fair only to buy stuff … you miss a huge amount. If you look for only acquisition you will miss the staggering artwork and craftwork. If you go with the mindset to just marvel … it is just amazing. … If you buy something and you’ve talked to the person who made it … there’s something about knowing that it’s handmade and knowing the face of the person who made it and having the conversation with that person.”

The 88th Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair

Where: Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Route 103, Newbury
When: Saturday, Aug. 7, through Sunday, Aug. 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, rain or shine
Cost: General admission for one day is $16 for adults, or $24 for two days. Seniors are $14, and children under 12 get in free. Online ticket sales prior to the event are encouraged at nhcrafts.org.

Featured photo: Wood Ffolkkes by Donna Zils Banfield. Courtesy photo.

Category: Visual Arts

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An artisans’ affair

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