The Art Roundup 21/05/06

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

The work of Roberto Lugo is currently on display at the Currier Museum of Art. Photo by Neal Santos, courtesy of Wexler Gallery.

Pottery joy: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) presents a new exhibition, “Roberto Lugo: Te traigo mi le lo lai – I bring you my joy,” from May 6 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. “The Currier Museum has a long history of collecting and displaying studio ceramics, and Roberto Lugo is undoubtedly one of the most significant voices working today,” Samantha Cataldo, the museum’s curator of contemporary art, said in a press release. “We are excited for the public to experience this unique installation and find their own connections to these important themes of community, value, and legacy.” Museum admission costs $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online in advance. Museum hours are Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Lugo will give a virtual talk on Tuesday, May 11, at 5 p.m. It’s free and open to the public. In July, Lugo and fellow ceramicist Margaret Kinkeade will be in residence at the museum and will lead community workshops on ceramics. Details on the workshops are TBA. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

Exploring opioid addiction through theater: The New Hampshire Theatre Project’s Elephant-in-the-Room Series, in partnership with the Seacoast Mental Health Center, presents a reading of A Wider Circle virtually over Zoom on Thursday, May 20, from 7 to 9 p.m. Now in its fourth year, the Elephant-in-the-Room Series presents play readings followed by open discussions about subjects that are difficult to talk about, such as human trafficking and sexual abuse, death and dying, mental illness and more. A Wider Circle, written by local playwright and social studies teacher Mary Ellen Hedrick, centers on the family of a woman in the aftermath of her opioid overdose death. Following the reading, there will be a panel discussion on the opioid crisis’ effect on families with Hedrick, Rebecca Throop of Seacoast Mental Health Center and other opioid addiction and recovery experts. The event is free, and registration is required. Visit nhtheatreproject.org.

Meri Goyette makes her artist debut: City Arts Nashua and The Nashua Telegraph present an exhibition, “Geometric Abstraction through Cut and Paste,” featuring the works of Meri Goyette, on display in the windows and lobby of the Telegraph offices (110 Main St., Suite 1, Nashua) now through June 11. Goyette, who is 95 years old, has been a longtime supporter and patron of the arts in Nashua and beyond, but has never publicly shown her own work until now. The exhibition will include statement collages and collectible greeting cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. “Meri is such an inspiration to all of us in the arts here in Nashua and we are so fortunate that she serves on our Advisory Board and partners with us to support City Arts Nashua’s mission,” City Arts Nashua president Lisa Bissonnette said in a press release. Visit cityartsnashua.org.

New artisan market: Henniker Community Market will host its first annual Henniker Handmade & Homegrown event at Henniker Community Center Park (57 Main St., Henniker) on Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nearly 40 local vendors and artisans will sell handmade items including jewelry, pottery, textiles, soaps and body care products, baskets, candles, birdhouses, fine art paintings and prints, home decor and more. See “Henniker Community Market” on Facebook or email [email protected].


Art

Classes & lectures

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.

Exhibits

DUO ARTIST EXHIBIT Features oils by Jim Ryan and watercolors by Lorraine Makhoul. On view during May. Seacoast Artist Association, 130 Water St., Exeter. Call 778-8856 or visit seacoastartist.org.

35TH ANNUAL OMER T. LASSONDE JURIED EXHIBITION The New Hampshire Art Association presents a group art show featuring works in a variety of media by NHAA members and non-members. NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth). On view now through May 30. Call 431-4230 and visit nhartassociation.org.

• “TRANSFORMATIONS: NATURE AND BEYOND” The New Hampshire Art Association presents works by digital artist William Townsend. Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 49 S. Main St., Concord. On display now through June 17. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “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.

• “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.

• “RETABLOS RECONSIDERED” Exhibit features works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). On view now through June 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

• “GEOMETRIC ABSTRACTION THROUGH CUT AND PASTE” City Arts Nashua and The Nashua Telegraph present an exhibition featuring the works of Meri Goyette, including statement collages and collectible greetings cards that she crafted from paper, fabric and glue during the pandemic. On display in the windows and lobby of the Telegraph offices (110 Main St., Suite 1, Nashua). Now through June 11. Visit cityartsnashua.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.

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.

Special events

MAGNIFY VOICES EXPRESSIVE ARTS CELEBRATION Youth artwork showcased to help raise awareness and decrease stigma of mental illness and affect change to ensure social and emotional health for all children in New Hampshire. May, date TBA. Visit tinyurl.com/magnifyvoices2021 or email [email protected].

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.

Theater

Shows

•​ FAME JR. The Seacoast Repertory Theatre PAPA Jr. presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through May 12. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

•​ FUN HOME The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through May 28. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

•​ GODSPELL The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through May 30. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

QUEEN CITY IMPROV The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Fri., May 7, May 21 and June 4, and Thurs., June 17, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

COMEDY OUT OF THE ’BOX The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Sat., May 8, May 22 and June 5, and Thurs., June 24, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

42ND STREET Recorded live in London. Virtual screening presented by Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. May 12 through May 19. $15 per ticket. Call 225-1111 or visit ccanh.com.

DISCOVERING MAGIC WITH ANDREW PINARD The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Wed., May 19 and June 16, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

A WIDER CIRCLE The New Hampshire Theatre Project’s Elephant-in-the-Room Series, in partnership with the Seacoast Mental Health Center, presents a reading of the play, written by local playwright and social studies teacher Mary Ellen Hedrick. Virtual, via Zoom. Thurs., May 20, 7 to 9 p.m. Free. Registration is required. Visit nhtheatreproject.org.

ROTARY PARK PLAY FESTIVAL Presented by Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative and Community Players of Concord. Features short original plays by New Hampshire playwrights. Sat., May 29, and Sun., May 30. Outdoors at Rotary Park, 30 Beacon St., E. Laconia. See Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative on Facebook or email [email protected].

•​ PIPPIN The Seacoast Repertory Theatre PAPA Jr. presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. June 10 through July 18. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

HOLMES & WATSON Phylloxera Productions presents. The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). June 11 through June 27. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

•​ STEEL MAGNOLIAS The Majestic Theatre presents. Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester. June 18 through June 27, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.

HAMLET Post-apocalyptic reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic, produced by Cue Zero Theatre Co. June 18 through June 27. Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry. Visit cztheatre.com or email [email protected].

•​ ‘TIL BETH DO US PART The Majestic Theatre presents. Virtual and in person at Majestic Studio Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester. July 16 through July 25, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Visit majestictheatre.net or call 669-7469.

•​ CABARET The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. July 22 through Sept. 5. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

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.

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

The Art Roundup 21/04/29

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

Studio 550 bowls. Courtesy photo.

Group art show: The New Hampshire Art Association presents its “Body of Work: Series I” exhibition, featuring artwork in a variety of media by eight local artists, online and in person at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) now through May 2. NHAA holds several “Body of Work” exhibitions each year. “By exhibiting multiple works, the featured artists are able to present their overall artistic vision, sometimes difficult to do with one or two pieces,” the Association said in a press release. All works are for sale. Gallery hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

Art for sale: Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester) will have a Spring Cleaning and Community Fundraiser from May 3 through May 8. There will be a variety of handmade items by local artists for sale, including bowls for $15, with proceeds supporting Families in Transition – New Horizons’ efforts to end hunger and homelessness in the local community. A $1 pottery sale of abandoned workshop pottery will benefit Studio 550’s Clay for Kids Scholarship. Fundraiser hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday, from noon to 7:30 p.m., and Wednesday, from 2 to 6 p.m. Call 232-5597 or visit [email protected].

“The Boundaries of Our Love,” oil painting by Brittany Soucy, featured in NHAA’s “Body of Work” exhibition. Courtesy photo.

African fashion: The Seacoast African American Cultural Center (located inside the Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle St., Portsmouth) presents an exhibit, “Fashion Forward: Africana Style,” on view May 1 through Sept. 1. The exhibit showcases Black fashion and explores connections between African American and African design aesthetics from past to present. See photos from Sapeurs: Ladies and Gentlemen of the Congo by London-based photographer Tariq Zaidi; vintage African fashion pieces from 1930s Liberia reflecting influences of Islam and African American immigration; and more than a dozen contemporary fashion and fabric art pieces created or owned by African and African American women living and working on the Seacoast and throughout the East Coast. 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. Call 430-6027 or visit saacc-nh.org.

“Pastoral,” watercolor painting by Ellen Hopkins Fountain, featured in NHAA’s “Body of Work” exhibition. Courtesy photo.

Irish playwright showcase: Manchester-based theater company Theatre Kapow continues its 13th season with a livestreamed production of Room April 30 through May 2, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The show features three stories by two Irish playwrights: A Girl’s Bedroom and Room 303 by Enda Walsh and the American premiere of I Used to Feel by Ailís Ní Ríain. “What I love about Room is that, at the heart of it, the piece is really just about one character in a single room at one point in his or her life,” artistic director Matt Cahoon said in a press release. Tickets cost $10 per streaming device. Ticket holders will be sent the link to watch the show. Visit tkapow.com.

Art

Call for Art

FIBER ART EXHIBIT The Surface Design Association’s (SDA) New Hampshire Group invites New Hampshire fiber artists to submit work for its upcoming exhibit of fiber art and textiles, “Tension: Process in the Making.” Exhibit will run July 24 through Sept. 4 at Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). Submission deadline is Fri., May 1. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

SUMMER ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) is accepting applications for its two-week summer residency. Open to visual artists of all media who are interested in creating art inspired by the architecture, landscape, traditional crafts, furniture, artistic endeavors and culture of the Shakers. Resident artists will live and work onsite at the village and talk with visitors about their creative process. To apply, email [email protected] with a bio or resume, an artist’s statement, a paragraph about why you’re interested in the residency and what you hope to accomplish, and five images of your most recent artwork. Deadline is Fri., May 1. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

Exhibits

• “BODY OF WORK: SERIES I” New Hampshire Art Association presents an exhibition featuring artwork in a variety of media by eight local artists. On view now through May 2. Online and in person at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. All works are for sale. Gallery hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

35TH ANNUAL OMER T. LASSONDE JURIED EXHIBITION The New Hampshire Art Association presents a group art show featuring works in a variety of media by NHAA members and non-members. NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth). On view now through May 30. Call 431-4230 and visit nhartassociation.org.

• “TRANSFORMATIONS: NATURE AND BEYOND” The New Hampshire Art Association presents works by digital artist William Townsend. Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 49 S. Main St., Concord. On display now through June 17. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

• “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.

• “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.

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.

• “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.

• “RETABLOS RECONSIDERED” Exhibit features works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen). On view now through June 6. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

Special events

MAGNIFY VOICES EXPRESSIVE ARTS CELEBRATION Youth artwork showcased to help raise awareness and decrease stigma of mental illness and affect change to ensure social and emotional health for all children in New Hampshire. May, date TBA. Visit tinyurl.com/magnifyvoices2021 or email [email protected].

Theater

Shows

•​ GODSPELL The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through May 30. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

•​ FUN HOME The Seacoast Repertory Theatre presents. 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. Now through May 28. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

COMEDY OUT OF THE ’BOX The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Sat., May 8, May 22 and June 5, and Thurs., June 24, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

•​ FAME JR. The Seacoast Repertory Theatre PAPA Jr. presents. Virtual and in person at 125 Bow St., Portsmouth. May 5 through May 12. Visit seacoastrep.org or call 433-4472.

QUEEN CITY IMPROV The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord). Fri., May 7, May 21 and June 4, and Thurs., June 17, 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

42ND STREET Recorded live in London. Virtual screening presented by Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord. May 12 through May 19. $15 per ticket. Call 225-1111 or visit ccanh.com.

The Art Roundup 21/04/22

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

“If Hands Had a God” by Donna Catanzaro, featured in “Retablos Reconsidered” exhibit. Courtesy photo.

The Hatbox reopens: Several performance series return to The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord) this month, including Queen City Improv on Fridays, April 23, May 7, May 21 and June 4, and Thursday, June 17; Comedy Out of the ’Box on Saturdays, April 24, May 8, May 22 and June 5, and Thursday, June 24; and Discovering Magic with Andrew Pinard on Wednesdays, May 19 and June 16. Mainstage theater productions will return in June with Holmes & Watson, presented by Phylloxera Productions, running June 11 through June 27. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for members, seniors and students, and $16 for senior members. Call 715-2315 or visit hatboxnh.com.

A modern take on retablos: Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) presents a new art exhibit, “Retablos Reconsidered,” on view April 24 through June 6. The exhibit features works by 12 artists inspired by retablos, the honorific art form of devotional paintings that relate to miraculous events. “[The works] reveal themes that personally, socially and politically affect [the artists’] lives,” the gallery stated in a press release. “Some reflect traditional religious themes within a contemporary context. Others are non-religious but are created to draw awareness to broad issues in our times and some reveal deeply personal stories.” Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Call 975-0015 or visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com.

Virtual poetry events: National Poetry Month in New Hampshire continues with virtual poetry writing workshops on Sunday, April 25, at 3 p.m., and Tuesday, April 27, at 7 p.m., led by graduate students interning with New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary; and a virtual poetry reading and conversation with Peary and Margot Douaihy on Monday, April 26, at 7 p.m. “[Participating in] one of these events might give you ideas for your own writing,” Peary told the Hippo earlier this month. “I think it could also give you a sense that, with so many opportunities for engagement with the creative writing [community] in the state, it could become a really rich part of your life and social life.” All events are free, and registration is required. Visit newhampshirepoetlaureate.blogspot.com and hobblebush.com/national-poetry-month for a complete schedule and list of National Poetry Month activities.

Shaker Village seeks artists: Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road, Canterbury) is accepting applications for its Summer Artist-in-Residence Program now through May 1. The two-week residency is open to visual artists of all media who are interested in creating art inspired by the architecture, landscape, traditional crafts, furniture, artistic endeavors and culture of the Shakers. Resident artists will live and work onsite at the village and talk with visitors about their creative process. To apply, email [email protected] with a bio or resume, an artist’s statement, a paragraph about why you’re interested in the residency and what you hope to accomplish, and five images of your most recent artwork. Call 783-9511 or visit shakers.org.

The Art Roundup 21/04/15

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

Capitol Center for the Arts Executive Director Nicolette Clarke has announced her retirement. Courtesy photo.

Big news at the Capitol Center: Nicolette Clarke, executive director of the Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord, announced at a board meeting last week her plans to retire, according to a press release from the Center. The second executive director in the CCA’s 25-year history, Clarke significantly expanded the venue’s programs and facilities during her 14-year tenure. Her accomplishments include establishing the Spotlight Cafe, a Salon Series and MET Live in HD broadcasts and spearheading the CCA’s adoption of its second venue, the Bank of NH Stage, which opened in 2019. In response to the pandemic, she instituted numerous organizational development and safety projects, such as new analytic and marketing tools, HVAC filters and hands-free restroom equipment, and maintained the CCA’s programming through outdoor performances and a virtual series of livestreamed and recorded shows. “It has been an honor to lead an organization that provides such rich and diverse arts experiences,” Clarke said in the press release. “I am very proud of the number of lives we have touched and the service to the community we continue to provide despite the limitations of the pandemic.” She will officially step down at the end of July. Call 225-1111 or visit ccanh.com.

“Common Ground: Weaving Nepali & American Musical Traditions,” a concert by Concord Community Music School faculty. Courtesy photo.

Classical diversity: The Walker Lecture Series will conclude with a virtual screening of “Common Ground: Weaving Nepali & American Musical Traditions,” a concert by Concord Community Music School faculty, airing on Concord TV (Channel 22 and yourconcordtv.org) on Wednesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. Recorded in May 2019 as part of the School’s Bach’s Lunch Concert Series, it features jazz, folk and South Asian classical music performed by a group of five faculty members with diverse backgrounds: Harimaya Adhikari, vocals and harmonium; Prem Sagar Khatiwada, tabla; Scott Kiefner, bass; Matt Langley, saxophone; and David Surette, guitar and mandolin. The screening will include a conversation among the performers as they reflect on the concert and the experience of learning about each other’s musical traditions. All previously aired programs from this year’s Walker Lecture Series are still available to watch on YouTube, including a performance and discussion of traditional New England tavern music, hymns, sailor songs and more; travelogues about Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska and the deserts, coastline and safari parks of Namibia; an art history lecture on Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Rockwell and more. Call 333-0035 or visit walkerlecture.org.

Art tour for Spanish-speakers: The self-guided audio tour of public art in downtown Nashua, launched last May by Great American Downtown, is now available in Spanish. Offered through the Distrx app (accessible on Android and iOS), the tour uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provide audio descriptions as tourists approach the tour’s 14 murals and sculptures. The original audio was translated into Spanish by Oscar Villacis and read by Jasmine Torres Allen, both of WSMN’s “First Gen American,” a radio talk show aimed at people who are the first in their families to be born U.S. citizens. “This art tour is a great way to explore our vibrant art scene on and around Main Street … [and] has been an especially valuable option [for] social distancing as it is an outdoor activity [users can] experience at their own pace while following health guidelines,” Paul Shea, Great American Downtown executive director, said in a press release. Search “Nashua Public Art Tour” on Facebook.

Virtual reception: The New Hampshire Art Association hosts a virtual opening reception and awards ceremony for its 35th annual Omer T. Lassonde exhibition on Thursday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m. The exhibit honors Omer T. Lassonde, who helped found NHAA in 1940, and features works in a variety of media by NHAA members and non-members centered around this year’s theme, “Beyond the Boundaries.” It’s viewable online and at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth; open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., and Monday and Tuesday by appointment) now through May 30. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

The Art Roundup 21/04/08

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

Art by digital artist William Townsend, featured in the New Hampshire Art Association exhibition, “Transformations: Nature and Beyond.” Courtesy photo.

Thirty days of poetry: April is National Poetry Month, and New Hampshire Poet Laureate Alexandria Peary, New Hampshire Magazine, Concord-based publisher Hobblebush Books and others have organized all kinds of opportunities for poets and poetry lovers in the state to celebrate. One is a series of poetry writing prompts, created by Peary, with one prompt posted each day in April on New Hampshire Magazine’s Facebook page. The prompts are meant to be “a reflection of the past year,” Peary said, particularly in regard to the pandemic, and cover a wide variety of poetry styles. “They’re just something to get people started,” she told the Hippo earlier this month. “You could look at the prompts and just see what comes to mind and do a free-write every day, or you could pick just one or two [prompts] and try to write a whole poem — whatever works for you.” Now through May 15, original poems by state residents can be submitted for review and possible publication in an anthology of poetry about the pandemic experience in New Hampshire — a follow-up to COVID Spring: Granite State Pandemic Poems, an anthology edited by Peary and published by Hobblebush Books in September 2020. Virtual poetry workshops and readings and conversations with Granite State poets are also being held throughout the month. Visit newhampshirepoetlaureate.blogspot.com and hobblebush.com/national-poetry-month for a complete schedule and list of activities.

Emerging artist from Nashua: Nashua native Tayla Cormier has been making a name for herself in the regional arts scene, according to an email from Clark University in Worcester, Mass., where she is currently pursuing a graduate degree in biology. “I am a 23-year-old artist specializing in portraiture,” Cormier states on her artist Facebook page. “My art is often inspired by music. I sell art prints, but I am always open to commissions.” Cormier’s art, which she originally started selling on the online marketplace Etsy, is now displayed around Clark’s campus and has been featured in ClarkNow and Worcester Magazine. She recently won top prize at the 17th annual Arts Worcester College Show. Visit facebook.com/taylacormierart to connect with Cormier and see her art.

Nature reimagined: The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibition, “Transformations: Nature and Beyond,” featuring the work of digital artist William Townsend, on view at the gallery in the Concord Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center (49 S. Main St.) now through June 17. Townsend uses digital tools and techniques to alter line, form and color in photographs of natural objects, such as trees in a forest or seaweed on a beach. In some pieces, Townsend duplicated and inverted parts of the photograph and merged the parts into a symmetrical form, or converted the scene into an oval shape. “These effects transform the original photographed objects into images beyond nature,” an NHAA press release said about the exhibit. “His goal is to reveal the mystery and wonder that live within the realm of the mystical imagination.” All works are for sale. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

We have a winner: The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has named Newmarket High School student Lilla Bozek the winner of the 2021 New Hampshire Poetry Out Loud High School Championship. The national poetry recitation program invites students to memorize and recite poems chosen by the National Poetry Foundation. Competition begins at the classroom level, then advances to school championships, a series of semifinals, and finally the state championship. Students are judged on their recitations by their physical presence, voice and articulation, dramatic appropriateness and evidence of understanding and accuracy. Bozek received a $200 prize as well as a $500 stipend for her high school to purchase poetry books. She will represent New Hampshire at the national finals, which will be held as a video submission-based competition this year. Rachel Budd from Bow High School has been selected as the alternate winner and received $100, plus a $200 stipend for Bow High School’s poetry book collection. Visit nh.gov/nharts.

The Art Roundup 21/04/01

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

Currier reopens: The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester) is reopening to the public on Thursday, April 1, with several new exhibitions on display. “The Body in Art: From the Spiritual to the Sensual” provides a look at how artists through the ages have used the human body as a means of creative expression; The Tomie dePaola exhibition celebrates the illustrator’s life and legacy through a collection of his original drawings; and “Critical Cartography: Larissa Fassler in Manchester,” features immersive large-scale drawings that reflect the Berlin-based artist’s observations of downtown Manchester while she was an artist-in-residence at the Currier Museum in 2019. Tickets cost $15, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, and must be booked online. Museum hours are Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (free after 5 p.m.); and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the hour of 10 to 11 a.m. currently reserved for seniors and museum members. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

Growing up wild: The Walker Lecture Series continues with a virtual author event featuring Michael Tougias (michaeltougias.com) on Wednesday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m. Tougias will discuss his new bestselling memoir The Waters Between Us: A Boy, A Father, Outdoor Misadventures and the Healing Power of Nature, which chronicles his experience growing up and exploring nature in the 1960s and ’70s. “I was a wild kid by nature and choice who sought out wild places,” Tougias said in a press release. “I feel lucky to have grown up in a time when a kid could spend the entire day on their own in the great outdoors with no parental interference.” The memoir also looks at his complex relationship with his father, Tougias said. A recording of the event will be available to watch starting the following day. The Walker Lecture Series will continue every Wednesday through April 21, with a travelogue about the deserts, coastline and safari parks of Namibia presented by Rick Ray on April 14 and a faculty concert by Concord Community Music School on April 21. Events are free and open to the public. Call 333-0035 or visit walkerlecture.org.

Virtual screenings: The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord presents a series of virtual screenings for a variety of performances. “Double Take,” a dance concert by Repertory Dance Theatre and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Co., will screen on Thursday, April 1, and Friday, April 2, at 8 p.m., and Saturday, April 3, at 4 p.m., for $25 per ticket. War Horse, a National Theatre Live Encore Presentation, is available on demand through Tuesday, April 6, for $15. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, filmed live in London, is available on demand now through Sunday, April 11, for $25. Finally, “The Art of Circus” will be screened on Thursday, April 8, at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 10, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 11, at 2 p.m., for $25 per ticket. Call 225-1111 or visit ccanh.com.

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