Category: Visual Arts

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

• Three days of virtual literature: The Exeter LitFest will be held virtually over Zoom from Thursday, April 1, through Saturday, April 3. This year’s featured guest is Victoria Arlen, an Exeter native, television personality for ESPN and author of Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live, which tells her story of recovery after inexplicably falling into a vegetative state at age 11. The festival kicks off Thursday at 7 p.m. with a live conversation between Arlen and local journalist, author and podcaster Lara Bricker. Friday’s events will include a discussion about publishing with Exeter authors Alex Myers (Continental Divide, The Story of Silence and Revolutionary) and Lisa Bunker (Felix Yz and Zenobia July); and “Crime: Fact vs. Fiction,” a discussion with Renay Allen, author of a mystery trilogy set in Exeter, and Bricker, author of the true crime book Lie After Lie. On Saturday there will be a pre-recorded children’s story time presented by the Exeter Public Library and a discussion with Exeter native and author Susan Cole Ross (Sliding Home: Two Teachers Head for the Mountains to Teach Our Kids for a Year). All events are free and open to the public. Visit exeterlitfest.com.

• Kids speak out about mental illness: New Hampshire youth in grades 5 through 12 are invited to submit artwork for the Magnify Voices Expressive Arts Contest to raise awareness of and destigmatize mental illness and promote social and emotional health for children in the state. “Art lets children express themselves in a way that they may not be able to do in a conversation,” said Michele Watson, New Hampshire Family Network Coordinator for the National Alliance on Mental Illness and one of the organizers of the contest. “Instead of just talking about it, they can show it and demonstrate it. It’s good not only for them to be able to share their voice, but also because it gives [adults] a better understanding of what they are feeling.” Submit an original short film (two minutes or less), essay or poem (1,000 words or less), song or two- or three-dimensional art piece that expresses your experience with or observations of mental health in New Hampshire. The submission deadline is Wednesday, March 31. A showcase of the finalists’ pieces will be held during Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month in May. Prize money will be awarded for winning pieces. Visit tinyurl.com/magnifyvoices2021 or email [email protected].

• Concord needs sculptors: The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce are seeking professional sculptors for the fourth annual Art on Main, a year-round outdoor public art exhibit set up in Concord’s downtown. Sculptors age 18 and older are invited to submit up to two original sculptures for consideration. The deadline for submissions is March 31, and sculptors will be notified of their acceptance by April 30. Installation will begin on May 21, with the exhibit opening in June. The selected sculptors will receive a $500 stipend, and their sculptures will be for sale. To apply, visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].

• Art without boundaries: The New Hampshire Art Association presents its 35th annual Omer T. Lassonde exhibition March 31 through May 30 at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) and online. The juried exhibit honors Omer T. Lassonde, who helped found NHAA in 1940 to exhibit the work of contemporary artists throughout the state. It will feature works in a variety of media by NHAA members and non-members centered around this year’s theme, “Beyond the Boundaries.” 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. A virtual opening reception and awards ceremony is planned for Thursday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

Featured photo: “Peace Conference Assisi,” watercolor by Claudia Michael, NHAA Omer T. Lassonde exhibit 2020 Honorable Mention winner. Courtesy photo.

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

“45,000 Quilt Project” exhibit. Courtesy photo. Peter Josephson in NH Theatre Project’s production of A Tempest Prayer. Photo by Dan Derby.

• A quilted collaboration: Two Villages Art Society has an exhibit, “45,000 Quilt Project,” on display at the Hopkinton Town Hall (330 Main St., Hopkinton) now through March 24. The exhibit was created by Concord artist Glen Ring, who was inspired to speak out about U.S. immigrant detainment practices after learning that there were, on average, 45,000 men, women and children in detainment each day in 2019. “I needed people to see the enormity of the injustice being perpetrated on traumatized people seeking welcome and comfort in our country,” Ring said in a press release. More than 60 artists and activists from 12 states and Mexico contributed to the exhibit, which features six 9-by-9-foot quilted panels comprising 45 squares, each square with 1,000 marks to represent the on-average 45,000 individuals detained in the U.S. each day in 2019. “I imagined the impact of seeing 45,000 marks on a huge quilt would remain in viewers’ minds,” Ring said. At a virtual event on Thursday, March 18, at 7 p.m., Ring will discuss the exhibit and the role of art in social justice and activism. Registration is required. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

• SoloStage series concludes: New Hampshire Theatre Project’s new play development program SoloStage presents its third and final production, A Tempest Prayer, March 19 through March 21, in person (theater at 959 Islington St., Portsmouth) and online, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The new play, written and performed by Peter Josephson, is an original adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest for today’s times. Told through text, movement and music, The Tempest Prayer explores the social and political pressures of the last year and examines what it means to be a white male in America. Tickets cost $30 for in-person shows and $20 for virtual shows. A Tempest Prayer as well as the SoloStage program’s two previous productions, The Adventures of Sleepyhead by Gemma Soldati and Where Do I Begin? Stephanie Lazenby, will be available to watch on demand during SoloStage Encore from Thursday, March 25, at 10 a.m. through Sunday, March 28 at 10 p.m. “These artists, and their collaborators, have delved into three uniquely magical worlds that represent our dreams, our memories and our hopes for the future,” NHTP artistic director Catherine Stewart said in a press release. “It has been a true gift to witness this work come to our stage, and that’s why we wanted to give the audience one more chance to view these vitally important works.” Tickets to watch the shows on demand cost $10 per show. Additionally, there will be an event held over Zoom on Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m. featuring Stewart in conversation with the SoloStage playwrights. “We’ve met monthly since October to discuss making theater, both the joys and the challenges. We wanted to open the door on that conversation, for our final gathering,” Stewart said. “We hope artists and audiences alike will join us to explore the process of making, and the unique insights of that work which occured in the somewhat solitary world we find ourselves in.” The Zoom event is free, but registration is required. Call 431-6644 or visit nhtheatreproject.org.

• Big, happy art: The New Hampshire Art Association has two group art exhibits on view now through March 28, in person at NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) and online. “On the Bright Side” features art in a variety of media, with a bright and cheerful theme. “After a challenging year for everyone, what better way to look forward to a better year ahead than to focus on the positive,” NHAA board president Renee Giffroy said in a press release. “Art can heal and be uplifting to both the artist and the viewer.” “LargeWorks” features more than 30 works of art in a variety of media measuring 48 inches or larger. 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.

Featured photo: “45,000 Quilt Project” exhibit. Courtesy photo. Peter Josephson in NH Theatre Project’s production of A Tempest Prayer. Photo by Dan Derby.

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

Jane Oneail will discuss the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Rockwell during the Walker Lecture Series. Courtesy photos.

• Post-apocalyptic Hamlet auditions: Manchester-based Cue Zero Theatre Co. is holding video auditions for its reimagined production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. “Hamlet will be set in a ‘post-rapture’ world, with the characters of the play being those unworthy of the Kingdom of Heaven,” the company announced in a press release. “Described as ‘The Walking Dead without the zombies’ in mood and atmosphere, this production will place the world’s most famous play in a heightened and extra dangerous landscape.” Open roles include Gertrude, Laertes, Guildenstern/Bernardo and ensemble characters. Performers must be at least 16 years old by opening night. To audition, submit a one-minute video of yourself performing a Shakespearean monologue that showcases your theatrical abilities by 11:59 p.m., on Sunday, March 21. Callbacks will be held in person on Thursday, March 25, from 6 to 9 p.m. The production will run June 18 through June 27 at the Derry Opera House. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m., starting on March 28, mostly over Zoom, with some in-person rehearsals at the Granite State Arts Academy in Salem. Visit cztheatre.com or email [email protected].

• Military authors: The Music Hall in Portsmouth presents a virtual event with former military officers and award-winning authors Elliot Ackerman and Admiral James Stavridis on Tuesday, March 16, at 7 p.m., as part of its virtual Writers in The Loft series. Ackerman and Stavridis will discuss their new novel, 2034, a geopolitical thriller in which a naval clash occurs between the U.S. and China. An interview with Jonathan Day, managing partner at Centrus Digital and major in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, will follow the authors’ presentation, along with an audience Q&A. Tickets cost $5 for access to the event, which will be livestreamed on Crowdcast. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• A look at two artists: The Walker Lecture Series continues on Wednesday, March 17, with an art history lecture on Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Rockwell, presented by Jane Oneail, to be held virtually over Zoom at 7:30 p.m. Oneail holds a master’s degree in Art History from Boston University and has taught at the college level for more than a decade. She previously served as the executive director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and as Senior Educator at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester. A recording of the lecture will also be available to watch starting the following day. The series will continue every Wednesday through April 21. Other upcoming events include a history lecture on New Hampshire revolutionaries John Stark and Henry Dearborn; a discussion with Michael Tougias about his memoir The Waters Between Us; a nature program about bears; travelogues about Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska and the deserts, coastline and safari parks of Namibia; and a faculty concert by Concord Community Music School. All are free and open to the public. Call 333-0035 or visit walkerlecture.org.

• Call for artist members: Applications for the New Hampshire Art Association’s spring jurying for new members are due by Thursday, March 18, with jurying to take place on Monday, March 22. The oldest statewide artist association in the state, NHAA provides many opportunities for New England artists to exhibit and sell their artwork throughout the year. Prospective members must submit original works of art in the same medium that “reflect the artist’s voice and are representative of their body of work,” according to the NHAA website. A jury of established NHAA artist members with backgrounds in a variety of media will review and judge the work. The jury looks for “maturity of artistic concept, mastery of the medium, composition, consistency of artistic concept and presentation,” the website said. For a prospectus and application form, visit nhartassociation.org and click on “Become a Member.” Applications and the application fee payment can be submitted online or in person at the NHAA headquarters (136 State St., Portsmouth). Instructions for dropping off and picking up artwork will be emailed after an application and payment are received. Visit nhartassociation.org or call 431-4230.

Featured photo: Jane Oneail will discuss the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Rockwell during the Walker Lecture Series. Courtesy photos.

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

• Virtual play: Manchester-based theater company Theatre Kapow continues its 13th season with a livestreamed production of Gidion’s Knot March 5 through March 7, with showtimes on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. The play follows a conversation between a mother whose son has been suspended from school and his teacher. It explores themes like bullying, failures of the system, culpability, freedom of expression and the breakdown of communication between children and the adults who are meant to nurture them. “This play makes you wrestle with so many tough questions and [as] we explored [them] we kept uncovering more,” actress Rachael Chapin Longo, who plays the teacher, 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.

• New book of poetry: The Hobblebush Granite State Poetry Series releases its 14th volume of poetry, Loosen by local poet Kyle Potvin. Loosen is Potvin’s first full-length collection. “She employs a sparkling lyric craft to ask, ‘How will I live?’” Lee Briccetti, Executive Director of Poets House, said in a press release. “While balancing the anxieties of breast cancer and its treatment — backed into the corner of her own existence — [Potvin] creates a way to live with grace, finding pleasure in close observation … children, memory and reading.” Visit hobblebush.com/product-page/loosen to buy the book and to watch a recorded virtual launch event.

• Art classes in Manchester: A new art studio for drawing and painting classes has opened at 66 Hanover St., Suite 202, in Manchester. “I’ve crafted a space, a pleasant place to develop technical skills and creative thinking,” lead instructor Jason Bagatta said in an email, adding that he has been teaching art at the undergraduate and graduate level for 20 years and holds a master’s degree in fine art and interdisciplinary art with a focus on drawing, painting and conceptual art. Classes include Drawing Fundamentals, Painting in Acrylic, Drawing: Observation to Abstraction, Exploring Mixed Media, and Figure Drawing. Class sizes are limited to six students, with “plenty of personal space to work,” Bagatta said. Visit arthousestudios.org.

• Questioning psychics: The Walker Lecture Series is going on now through April 21, with virtual events every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Next up is mentalist and author of Psychic Blues Mark Edward presenting a lecture, “Psychics, Mediums, and Mind Readers: How do they do it?” on March 10 on Zoom. “He talks about the fraudulence of people who pretend they can talk to the dead and encourages people to use critical thinking to examine the trick nature of it before they believe that someone has magical powers,” Walker Lecture Series trustee Jon Kelly said. “I think our audience will be really interested in that.” Other upcoming programs in this spring’s Walker Lecture Series will include an art lecture on Frank Lloyd Wright and Norman Rockwell; a history lecture on New Hampshire revolutionaries John Stark and Henry Dearborn; an author event with Michael Tougias, discussing his memoir The Waters Between Us; a nature program about bears; travelogues about Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska and the deserts, coastline and safari parks of Namibia; and a faculty concert by Concord Community Music School. Call 333-0035 or visit walkerlecture.org.

Featured photo: Theatre Kapow presents a virtual production of Gidion’s Knot. Photo by Matthew Lomanno.

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

• Lovely art: The New Hampshire Art Association has an exhibit, “Perfect Pairings,” on view online and at the NHAA’s Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery (136 State St., Portsmouth) now through Feb. 28. The Valentine’s Day-inspired exhibit, focused on the themes of twos, pairs and relationships, features pairings of works that relate to each other. All pieces are for sale individually, with a 10-percent discount if both pieces are bought as a pair. “We encourage customers to consider purchasing both works as a set,” NHAA board president Renee Giffroy said in a press release. “They can purchase the pair either for themselves or as a gift, or they can keep one piece for themself and give the other one to that special someone. The art will always connect them.” Gallery hours are 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. Call 431-4230 and visit nhartassociation.org.

Don’t miss “Let Me Show You What I Love,” an art exhibit by the Seacoast Artist Association on view now through the end of February in the windows at the gallery (130 Water St., Exeter) and inside by appointment. The Valentine’s Day themed exhibit features a variety of art by gallery members depicting “what they love — what seizes their hearts, minds and souls,” according to a press release from the Association. Visit seacoastartist.org or call 778-8856.

• Virtual music and comedy: The Palace Theatre in Manchester presents “2020 Good Riddance,” a virtual comedy special with Juston McKinney, on Friday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15. Visit palacetheatre.org or call 668-5588.

The Capitol Center for the Arts in Concord also has a few virtual shows coming up, including a concert by the band Trampled by Turtles on Thursday, Feb. 25, at 9 p.m. (tickets cost $15); “Stream of Consciousness,” an improv comedy special featuring Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood of Whose Line is it Anyway? on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m. (tickets cost $35); and a pre-recorded concert by Irish music and dancing group Rhythm of the Dance on Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m., Sunday, March 14, at 2 p.m., and Saturday, March 20, at 7 p.m. (tickets cost $20). Call 225-1111 or visit ccanh.com.

• Classical concert: The First Music Concert Series of The First Church in Nashua presents Franz Schubert’s 1827 song cycle “Winterreise” (Winter Journey) in person at the church (1 Concord St.) on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. The piece will be performed by bass-baritone Mark Andrew Cleveland and pianist Eliko Akahori. Masks are required. Admission is free. Visit first–music.org, email info@first–music.org or call 882-4861.

• Sculptors wanted: The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce are seeking professional sculptors for the fourth annual Art on Main, a year-round outdoor public art exhibit set up in Concord’s downtown. Sculptors age 18 and older are invited to submit up to two original sculptures for consideration. The deadline for submissions is March 31, and sculptors will be notified of their acceptance by April 30. Installation will begin on May 21, with the exhibit opening in June. The selected sculptors will receive a $500 stipend, and their sculptures will be for sale. To apply, visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email [email protected].

• Discussing plays: Goffstown Public Library presents a virtual event, “The Play’s the Thing: Or is it?” on Saturday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m. Participants will analyze, act out and dissect Bathsheba Doran’s play Parents’ Evening and discuss what important statements are being made on Broadway today, how Broadway productions speak to the American experience outside of New York City, the long-term relevance of Broadway productions and how Broadway pertains to life in New Hampshire. Registration is required. Copies of the play are available for registered participants at the library circulation desk (2 High St.). Visit goffstownlibrary.com/calendar, call 497-2102 or email [email protected].

• Childhood health author: The Toadstool Bookshops (locations in Nashua, Peterborough and Keene) will host a virtual author event via Zoom on Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Dr. Daniel O’Neill will present and discuss his new book Survival of the Fit, which provides a look at different approaches to childhood health through physical education in schools. The event is free. Visit toadbooks.com or call 352-8815.

Featured photo: “Loves Me” and “Loves Me Not,” paired colored pencil drawings by Katie Mae Pollard, featured in NHAA’s “Perfect Pairings” exhibit. Courtesy photo.

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

• Architecture preserved: The Currier Museum of Art in Manchester announced in a press release that it has purchased the George Byron Chandler House, a 19th-century architectural landmark located across the street from the museum. The main floor of the building features stained glass windows, original wallpaper and fine wood carving. “The Chandler House is one of the most beautiful Victorian houses in New Hampshire but has been almost unknown,” Stephen Duprey, president of the museum’s board of trustees, said in a press release. “We can now begin the challenging job of restoring the house so that it can be enjoyed by the community.” The museum had worked closely with the City of Manchester’s Planning and Community Development Department and supporters from the community to acquire the property. “I am thrilled that this historically and architecturally significant building in Manchester is saved for generations to come,” Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. “I’m also grateful for the support and advocacy expressed by our community in preserving this piece of Manchester’s heritage.” The Chandler House is the third architectural landmark to be purchased by the Currier Museum, joining two houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• Virtual author event: The Music Hall in Portsmouth presents a virtual event with radio host and bestselling author Diane Rehm on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m., as part of its virtual Writers on a New England Stage series. Rehm will discuss her new book, When My Time Comes, which provides a look at the Right-to-Die movement through extensive interviews with terminally ill patients, doctors, ethicists and others with personal links to the issue. She will be joined in conversation by Peter Biello, host of New Hampshire Public Radio’s All Things Considered and The Bookshelf, an ongoing segment featuring local and regional authors. An audience Q&A will follow the discussion. Tickets cost $5 for access to the event, which will be livestreamed on Crowdcast. The virtual Writers on a New England Stage series will continue with Nobel Prize winner and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman presenting his new book, Arguing with Zombies, on Tuesday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Visit themusichall.org or call 436-2400.

• Storytellers unite: True Tales Live, a Seacoast-based monthly storytelling showcase, has returned, virtually via Zoom, with its next show on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. The series is free and open to all who want to watch or participate as a storyteller. Additionally, there are free virtual storytelling workshops every first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.“We think our approach — you don’t have to be a professional storyteller, everybody has a story to tell and there’s no rating or competition — makes True Tales Live fun and relaxed for both tellers and audience,” Amy Antonucci, one of the program’s organizers, said in a press release. Each month’s showcase is centered around a different theme or featured storyteller, including featured storyteller Tina Charpentier for the February show, “Activism” on March 30, “Lessons Learned” on April 27, “Blunders” on May 25, a featured storyteller TBD on June 29, an open theme on Sept. 28, “Harbringers” on Oct. 26, “Transformations” on Nov. 30 and a holiday theme on Dec. 28. Visit truetaleslivenh.org to register for a workshop or attend a show, and email [email protected] if you’re interested in being a storyteller.

• In-person art exhibit: The Lane House Arts Center (380 Lafayette Road, Hampton) has a community arts exhibit, “Winter Blues,” on view in person now through Saturday, Feb. 27. The exhibit features art in a wide range of media created by more than a dozen local artists. “Community art exhibits provide much-needed opportunities for area artists, while enabling us to invite a broader segment of the community into the gallery,” Karen Desrosiers, founder and curator of Lane House Arts Center, said in a press release. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and by appointment. Call 926-1111 or visit lanehousearts.com.

Featured photo: “Winter Blues” art exhibit at The Lane House Arts Center in Hampton. Courtesy photos.