Category: Visual Arts

The Art Roundup 23/11/23

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

• Pop-up art show: Artists Charlotte Thibault and Byron Carr will have a pop-up art show starting Friday, Nov. 24, and running through Dec. 29, according to an email. The show will feature New Hampshire landscape paintings and take place at the old CVS, 46 N. Main St. in Concord, the email said. Find work by Carr, which includes oil and watercolor of landscapes and waterfalls, at byroncarrfineart.com and find work by Thibault, who also works in oils and does landscapes, seascapes, harbor scenes, still life and concept paintings, at charlottethibault.com, the email said. The show will feature paintings, prints and cards and will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (open until 8 p.m. on Fridays).

• Three ghosts: The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) will kick off its month-long production of A Christmas Carol on Friday, Nov. 24, with a show at 7:30 p.m. The production will run through Saturday, Dec. 23, with shows Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $28 through $49.

• Holiday show: The New Hampshire Antique Co-Op (323 Elm St. in Milford; nhantiquecoop.com, 673-8499) will hold its annual holiday open house on Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring raffles, a scavenger hunt, refreshments and more. Current exhibits include “Celebrating the American Landscape,” featuring works from artists of the late 1800s through the present, according to a press release.

• A life: The Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) will present Man on the Hill, a musical theater production that follows the life of one man from boyhood through old age by New Hampshire composer and playwright John Stanley Shelley, on Friday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 26. The show’s music is performed by the Duncan Idaho Band, according to a press release. Tickets cost $22 to $28. The show runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

• A Nutcracker: The New England Dance Ensemble will present The Nutcracker on Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26, at 4 p.m. at the Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Dr. in Salem) in a show featuring live music by the New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets cost $35 to $55 and are available at nede.org.

• Pops: The New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra will return to the Seifert Performing Arts Center in Salem for its Holiday Pops shows on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $30 for seniors and $10 for students. The Dec. 17 show will have a streaming option for $15. See nhphil.org.

• Winter show: The Greater Salem Art Association will hold its 2023 Winter Art Show & Sale Thursday, Nov. 30, through Saturday, Dec. 2, at Kelley Library (234 Main St. in Salem) featuring original works of fine art by local artists and a fine art raffle, according to a press release. The show will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. See gsaa-nh.com.

• Holiday pops: The Manchester Community Music School (2291 Elm St. in Manchester; mcmusicschool.org, 644-4548) will present its Holiday Pops concert on Friday, Dec. 1, at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). The evening will feature a cash bar, refreshments, raffle prizes and a silent auction as well as performances by the Dino Anagnost Youth Symphony Orchestra of New Hampshire, the Flute Choir, the Queen City Youth Choirs and the NH Jazz Orchestra, according to a press release. Tickets cost $45 per person or $400 for a table for 10. Call or go online for reservations.

• Holiday spirit: Theatre Kapow will present the New Hampshire premiere of The Thanksgiving Play by Native American playwright Larissa FastHorse (a MacArthur Genius) Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3, at the Bank of New Hampshire Stage in Concord (Main Street in Concord; ccanh.com). “Three really REALLY well-meaning teachers and one actress walk into a school. The work at hand: a Thanksgiving pageant that won’t ruffle any features,” according to a press release description of this comedy. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. See tkapow.com for tickets.

• Contoocook Artisans fair: The annual Contoocook Artisans Holiday Craft Fair will be held Friday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Dec. 3, at the American Legion Post 81 E.R. Montgomery Event Center (169 Bound Tree Road in Contoocook). A juried fine arts and crafts fair, the event will feature more than 30 artisans with locally made items including gifts for the home, baked goods, maple sugar and honey, baskets, holiday items, dolls and children’s toys, wooden items, jewelry, leather items, clothing, oil cloth accessories and handbags, specialty paper and books, felted treasures, pottery, photography, soaps, folk art, beadwork, quilts, Shaker items, Christmas ornaments and more, according to a press release. The fair will run Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• A Celtic holiday: The Manchester Community Music School will also present upcoming faculty shows — “Spanish Renaissance” featuring Adriana Ruiz (voice) and Pablo Kennedy (lute and theorbo) on Thursday, Nov. 16, and “A Celtic Holiday” featuring Aubrie Dionne (flute), Erin Dubois (flute and piccolo), Kylie Elliot (flute) and Rose Hinkle (flute), according to a press release. The shows start at 7 p.m. and are free with preregistration, which is required. See mcmusicschool.org.

• Holiday sounds: The 35th annual Messiah Sing! performances will take place at Mont Vernon Congregational Church on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m., and at the Milford United Methodist Church on Sunday, Dec. 3, at 4 p.m., according to a press release. The performance will feature a live orchestra as well as the chorus. Admission is free (donations accepted).

• The Dickens, you say: Theatrical company Carpe Diem will present A Dickens of a Christmas, the tale of a writer’s-blocked Charles Dickens, at the Old Salt Restaurant (Lafayette Road in Hampton) Monday, Dec. 4, through Wednesday, Dec. 6, and Monday, Dec. 11, through Wednesday, Dec. 13, according to a press release. The doors open at 5:30 p.m., show starts at 6 p.m. and includes a three-course dinner as well as live music and holiday carols. Tickets cost $59.99 and must be reserved by calling the restaurant at 926-8322, the release said.

The Art Roundup 23/11/16

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

• New exhibit in Manchester: “The Power of Art,” a show featuring paintings, sculpture, photographs and mixed media, is on display now at Art 3 Gallery (44 W. Brook St. in Manchester; art3gallery.com, 668-6650). The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. and evenings and weekends by appointment.

• New exhibit in Concord: “The Balm for the Wounds We Bear,” an exhibit of paintings from artist Kathleen H. Peters, is on display through Wednesday, Dec. 20, at the New Hampshire Audubon’s McLane Center (84 Silk Farm Road in Concord; 224-9909, nhaudubon.org). The center is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. See mhfiber.com/home for a look at Peters’ work.

• At the Chapel: The Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center at Saint Anselm College (100 Saint Anselm Drive in Manchester; anselm.edu) is currently featuring “The Ten Essays Project” featuring reflections by faculty and staff on works in the permanent collection, according to a press release. The exhibit is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 8.

• Opening reception: Sullivan Framing & Fine Art Gallery (15 N. Amherst Road in Bedford; 471-1888, sullivanframing.com) will hold a reception for its exhibit of new works by Marcia Blakeman on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. Sullivan is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• Holiday spirit: The Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7649) presents In-Laws, Outlaws and Other People (That Should Be Shot), a Christmas Eve-set comedy, Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 and 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and 17 and under.

• Attention, young writers: The Center for the Arts (PO Box 872 in New London; 5nh-ARTS, centerfortheartsnh.org) is accepting submissions for its 4th annual teen writers contest through Friday, Dec. 15. Winners will be picked in poetry, short fiction and creative nonfiction and receive prizes from local businesses (as well as publication in the Teen Writers Journal), according to a press release. The entries will be judged by Megan Baxter, a local author and Colby-Sawyer professor, the release said. The contest is open to all writers ages 12 through 18 who live in Andover, Bradford, Danbury, Grantham, New London, Newbury, Newport, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner or Wilmot, the release said. Find all the rules at centerfortheartsnh.org/teen-writers.

• Craft fair in Salem: North Salem United Methodist Church (389 N. Main St. in Salem) will hold a craft fair Saturday, Nov. 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring handmade knitted and crocheted items, crafts, jewelry, homemade soups, baked goods, a silent auction, white elephant table and more, according to a press release.

• Pan-Latin sounds: The Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center (26 Main St. in Peterborough; mariposamuseum.org, 924-4555) will host Sol y Canto in concert on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. The ensemble features Puerto Rican/Argentine singer and percussionist Rosi Amador and New Mexican guitarist, singer and composer Brian Amador, according to a press release. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for children.

• Season opener: The Nashua Chamber Orchestra will present its season opener, “Beethoven and Schubert,” on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Nashua Community College (505 Amherst St. in Judd Gregg Hall, Nashua) and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. at Milford United Methodist Church (327 N. River Road in Milford). Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and college students (students under 18 get in for free). See nco-music.org for tickets.

• Choral show: Amare Cantare, an auditioned chamber chorus, will present its fall concert “More Love” on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at Middle Street Baptist Church (18 Court St. in Portsmouth) and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. at Oyster River Middle School Concert Hall (1 Coe Drive in Durham). Tickets cost $18 in advance and can be purchased at amarecantarge.org; limited tickets may be available at the door, according to a press release.

One of a kind

New League of NH Craftsmen members bring ornate paper ornaments to Nashua gallery

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen has been fostering the art of craft making for nearly a century, bringing crafts to the community through its seven galleries and craft fairs. The Nashua Fine Craft Gallery has added the work of several new crafters, including glassblower Emery Wenger, fiber artist Elaine Farmer, and Ann Desmarais and Martha Whitney, a duo who specialize in paper ornaments.

“We’ve worked with a lot of materials in the past, but right now the work we’re doing for the league are paper ornaments that are either folded or woven and bent into position … using beautiful papers that we’re sourcing from around the world,” Whitney said.

The two met in art class in high school and have been friends since, exploring various art forms over the years. With a shared familiarity with paper — Desmarais a retired graphic designer — it eventually became their preferred medium.

“The real appeal for us is we get to work with beautiful papers and create beautiful things,” Whitney said. “We get to visit each other a couple of days a week.”

The three classic ornament shapes that they create are triskele, an orb shape made from three strips of intertwined paper; pleated ornaments configured into a diamond-like shape; and the traditional German bell. Without many unique options available domestically, they often use paper imported from other countries.

“Some of the Florentine papers that we use on the pleated ornaments are very ornate, they’re often five, six, seven colors,” Desmarais said. “They often have metallics in them and the patterns have been around since the Renaissance period.”

“Of all the beautiful handmade papers that we can find around the world … some are too soft to hold a crease or [they] absorb the glue too quickly or they have other characteristics that make them unusable for the type of work we’re doing,” Whitney adds. “[With] these Italian papers, there’s quite a bit of variety available and we’re able to find the papers we need for each of the three ornaments. They require different papers because of the structure of them.”

While Whitney was living out of state, Whitney and Desmarais got together during holiday breaks and school vacations. She eventually moved back to Amherst and the two were able to work on their ornaments more regularly, eventually getting involved with craft fairs, where their ornaments were well-received. Once the pair felt they had perfected their craft, they went ahead with the jurying process and became members of the league this past summer.

“Eventually you just have so many beautiful ornaments, you need an outlet for them,” Whitney said.

League of NH Craftsmen Nashua
Where: 98 Main St., Nashua
November hours: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Mondays.

Featured photo: German Bell. Courtesy photo.

Wednesdays we wear pink

Ovation Theatre Company presents Mean Girls

Upon returning to Ovation Theatre Company to sit in on a rehearsal for Mean Girls after having observed a rehearsal for Newsies this past summer, I was excited to again be privy to the inner workings of an Ovation production, and I was not disappointed. Filled with humor, relatability and lots of talent, the show will be at the Derry Opera House on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11.

The 2004 teen comedy starring Lindsay Lohan, a classic for anyone who grew up in the 2000s as I did, was adapted into a musical in 2017.

“It only came out for licensing around last January or February … [and] I knew it was very popular among this age range and so I wanted to do it because I knew that they wanted to do it,” said director Meg Gore. “I don’t always do shows they’re begging for, but I like this one and I really wanted to take it on.”

About a week away from opening night, the cast ran through the second act of the show, pausing periodically to work out blocking and to refine, and unrefine, certain aspects, some songs requiring vocal grit, such as “World Burn” and “I’d Rather Be Me,” the latter of which contains a mouthful of words that Lorelei Stahl, playing Janice, executes with diction, attitude and power, after Regina George discovers and spreads the pages of the infamous “burn book.”

Regina is portrayed by Hanna Carroll, who embodies the role of queen bee with a “mean girl” demeanor as well as a dramatic and controlled belt and fantastic vocal runs. Regina is less than pleased when her throne is stolen by new girl Cady Heron.

“My favorite part about playing Cady is … [that] she’s kind of fun,” said Lily Gennetti, who landed her first lead role as Cady. “She’s so excited about everything all the time and you really see her development throughout the show. … I think the hardest part of playing her is the roller coaster of Cadys. … There’s pre-plastic Cady, plastic Cady, really plastic Cady [and] post-plastic Cady.”

Regina’s boyfriend turned ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels is played by Greer Danzey.

“My favorite part of being Aaron is getting to be genuinely nice and just being a real person,” Danzey said. “He’s probably one of the realest, besides Janice and Damian. He doesn’t really care.”

“Although it’s kind of highlighting stereotypes and larger-than-life characters, it really has a strong message about being yourself and addressing those issues that high schoolers have every day, so that’s kind of what I hope people take away from it,” Gore said. “We’re not highlighting the meanness [and saying] that’s a good thing, we’re saying this is what people deal with every day and how to navigate that path and still be supportive and empathetic.”

Ovation Theatre Company presents Mean Girls
When: Friday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: Derry Opera House, 29 W. Broadway, Derry
Cost: Tickets are $25
More info: Visit ovationtc.com

Featured photo: PILLAR Gallery. Courtesy photo.

The season of giving

Mosaic Art Collective presents new exhibit with donation drive

Fancy Florals by Mariah Sample. Courtesy photo.

Just in time for the holiday season is Mosaic Art Collective’s “A Few of My Favorite Things” exhibit, showing pieces that are 12×12” or smaller in size from Monday, Nov. 6, through Wednesday, Dec. 18, with an opening reception on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. The gallery will run an art supply donation drive for the Webster House concurrently with the exhibition.

“We had 112 pieces submitted and there will be 94 pieces on display,” said Liz Pieroni, owner of the gallery. “There are many different mediums represented.”

They include oil paintings on metal as well as on canvas, linoleum black prints, eraser prints, digital work, portraiture and acrylic paintings and other works depicting floral bouquets and mandala-like designs. The opening reception will include refreshments and music.

In addition to “A Few of My Favorite Things,” See Saw Art will have a 120-square-foot exhibition space within Mosaic Art Collective throughout November and December, so there will always be something new to see.

“It’s usually just a lot of really wonderful people gathering together to talk about art and life. It’s really a celebration,” Pieroni said of the opening reception. “We’re also going to be doing a collection of art supplies for the Webster House, so I’m hoping that people will come with art supplies to donate.”

The Webster House is a Manchetser residence for children ages 8 to 18 who are currently displaced from their homes. It offers services such as counseling and crisis management as well as trips and recreational programming. Donations can include any new or lightly used art supplies, such as crayons, paint brushes and paper.

“Art supplies especially are so helpful for kids who are in transition in one way or another to be able to express themselves,” Pieroni said. “Even if they’re not sharing the artwork that they’re making, it’s still cathartic in one way or another and I think most artists recognize that need to create work and just fully express their inner worlds. … It seems like such a simple thing, but it’s … a fun way of giving back to children in need.”

While most of the pieces in the gallery are done by New Hampshire artists, the venue features work from artists all around New England with various backgrounds and experience levels.

“What I think is incredibly unique about Mosaic is that we have artists that are very new [who are] creating [and] showing [their art] and then we have very seasoned professional artists who have been showing all their lives,” Pieroni said. “I think what’s wonderful about that is everyone has so much to learn from each other, the artists who have been exhibiting longer come with a lot of experience and the [emerging] artists have this really fresh perspective.”

Mosaic Art Collective
Where: 66 Hanover St., Manchester
Hours: Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 2 to 6 p.m.

Featured photo: Happy Hippie by Terri Cote. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 23/11/09

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

Make place cards for Thanksgiving

• For the Thanksgiving table: Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. at the junction of Routes 3 and 4 in Boscawen; twiggsgallery.com) is offering a Thanksgiving-themed make & take craft on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 1 to 3 p.m. Make place cards for the Thanksgiving table with mixed media artist Shela Cunnigham; all the supplies will be available, according to a press release. The gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

• Celebration: Taste and Art of Greece (32 Hanover St. in Manchester; tasteandartofgreece.com) will celebrate the grand opening of its store and the fifth anniversary of the business with events Friday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 12. On Friday, the shop is open from noon to 7 p.m. and will feature Kefi FM Boston Greek music radio station from 5 to 7 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 11, the store will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with Greek Girl Artisan Soaps (from noon to 3 p.m.) and an olive oil tasting with Lakonian Olive Oil (2 to 5 p.m.). On Sunday, Nov. 12, the store will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the store will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. with Koukla’s Bus-Tique from 4 to 7 p.m., according to a press release.

• From Mass.: Isaac Fitzgerald will discuss his memoir Dirtbag, Massachusetts: A Confessional at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com) on Monday, Nov. 13, at 6:30 p.m. Author Peter Orner (whose book is Still No Word From You: Notes in the Margin) will join Fitzgerald in conversation.

• Holiday comedy: Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; 669-7469, majestictheatre.net) will present the comedy In-Laws, Outlaws and Other People (That Should Be Shot) at its theater on Friday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 19, with shows at 7 p.m on Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $15 for 65+ and 17 and under.

• A trip to Bikini Bottom: Kids Coop Theatre presents The Spongebob Musical on Friday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. at Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry). Tickets cost $15 in advance; $20 at the door. See kidscooptheatre.ludus.com

• Holiday concert: Save the date for a Saturday, Dec. 2, holiday concert at First Parish Church (47 E. Derry Road in Derry; fpc-ucc.org). The Granite Statesmen men’s chorus group will present a holiday-themed concert at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20, and $5 for kids, according to the website, where tickets are on sale.

Courtesy photo

Lungs
Described as “a bracing two-person comedic drama about a couple deciding whether or not to have a child in the age of climate collapse,” Lungs, presented by Bolt Cutter Productions, will play at the Hatbox Theatre (Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road in Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) starting Friday, Nov. 10, according to a press release. The show will run through Sunday, Nov. 19, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students, the release said.

The Art Roundup 23/11/02

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

• Whodunit: The Hillsborough Community Center will present Murder at the Malt Shop, billed as a “zany mystery … with a heap of nostalgic 50s references,” on Friday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 5, at 1 p.m at Hillsboro-Deering Middle School (6 Hillcat Dr. in Hillsboro). Tickets cost $20 ($10 for 60+ and15 and under). See hccnh.org/play.

• New London stroll: The Center for the Arts will hold a gallery stroll on Friday, Nov. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring six New London locations — New London Inn (353 Main St.) with the works of Peter Anderson; Bar Harbor Bank (32 Main St.) with the creations of Carole Sanetti; Blue Loon Bakery (12 Lovering Lane) with oil painter Tatiana Yanovskya-Sink; the Fleming Center at the New London Barn Playhouse (88 Main St.) with the “Art Cafe” exhibit; Candida Clayton Gallery (210 Main St.) with five featured artists, and Tatewell (277 Newport Road) with Ludmila Gayvoronsky, according to a press release. See centerfortheartsnh.org.

• Gallery show: There’s still time to catch “Images of Life Re-Envisioned” at Two Villages Art Society (846 Main St. in Contoocook; twovillagesart.org) featuring the work of Barbara Morse, an Amherst artist who specializes in graphic drawings, according to a press release. The exhibit closes on Saturday, Nov. 11; the gallery is open to the public Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 4 p.m.

Route 3 Art Trail
Enjoy art, open studios, demonstrations, a raffle and more during the Route 3 Art Trail on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 15 locations from North Concord through Penacook, Boscawen and into Franklin. A map and passport are available at route3arttrail.com; visit (and get the passport stamped at) five places to be entered in a raffle, the website said.

At Twiggs Gallery (254 King St. in Boscawen; twiggsgallery.org, 975-0015), one of the spots on the tour, Sleighbell Studio, the gallery’s annual holiday art fair, will open on Saturday, Nov. 4. The gallery will feature fine art and craft times from more than 20 artists, according to a press release. The gallery is open Thursday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Through Saturday, Dec. 16, the gallery will feature events on Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m., such as make-and-take crafts.

• More symphony: The Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra opens its season on Sunday, Nov. 5, at 3 p.m. with the world premier of “At This Point,” a piece commissioned in honor of Portsmouth’s 400th anniversary, according to a press release. The concert will take place at the Music Hall in Portsmouth; tickets cost $25 to $35 for adults ($30 for seniors, $15 for students). See portsmouthsymphony.org.

• New show: Creative Venture Gallery (411 Nashua St. in Milford; creativeventuresfineart.com, 672-2500) will open its annual “Small Works — Big Impact” show on Tuesday, Nov. 7, and hold an opening reception where you can meet many of the participating artists on Friday, Nov. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. The show features work in a variety of media from more than 30 area artists and most pieces are smaller than 12 inches in diameter, according to a press release. The gallery is open Tuesday and Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m.; Thursday from noon to 6 p.m.; Friday from noon to 4 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., according to the website.

• Yes, those mittens: Vermont author and fiber artist Jen Ellis will visit Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com, 224-0562) on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss her book Bernie’s Mitten Maker: A Memoir, according to a press release. Ellis is the maker of the internet-famous mittens Bernie Sanders wore to the 2021 presidential inauguration and the book discusses her life and the fame those mittens brought her, according to a press release.

Intown Concord’s Art Walk
Intown Concord will hold an Art Walk for the First Friday event on Friday, Nov. 3, from 4 to 8 p.m. At the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St.), Saad Hindal, an Iraqi artist, will discuss his newly completed mural, according to a press release. Concord Arts Market will have a pop-up in Bicentennial Square with live music from Brian Burnout from 4 to 5 p.m. The New Hampshire Art Association and Queerlective will hold an artist pop-up at the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce office (49 S. Main St.) featuring the exhibit “Magical Realism” from artist William Turner. Penumbra (10 N. State St.) will feature demonstrations by Meadows Madsen (pottery) and Heidi Pauer (jewelry). Pillar Gallery (205 N. State St.) will show off its new exhibit “Flora & Fauna” and Pompanoosuc Mills (28 N. Main St.) will feature works by artists Jess Barnett, Michelle Motuzas, Helen Fitzgerald and more, the release said. See intownconcord.org and find a map of participating locations on Intown’s Facebook page.

A community pillar

New gallery brings art hub to Concord

Mike Howat and Fallon Andrews had been deliberating their vision for about a year before officially opening the doors to PILLAR Gallery and Projects at 205 N. State St. in Concord on Saturday, Sept. 30. The pair will showcase art across a variety of media. Their inaugural exhibition, “Flora & Fauna,” is on display now through Friday, Nov. 17.

“I think there’s a need for it in the area,” Howat said. “There’s a lot of amazing artists and art-minded people and I think [there’s] a need for a place for professional artists to show their work and for the community to have a gathering place outside of bars and restaurants.”

Andrews adds, “With the New Hampshire Institute of Art dismantling over the years and there not being a lot of hubs for artists, we wanted to be a pillar in the community.”

Andrews and Howat met a few years ago through mutual friends. With over a decade of combined experience — Andrews having worked on different events throughout the state and Howat being a working artist and an art teacher for about eight years — the duo decided to team up to curate two salon-style exhibitions, Salon 2021 and Salon 2022, at Kimball Jenkins in Concord.

“It held over 700 works of art and over 350 or so artists,” Andrews said. “With that momentum going in the community and feeling like we just wanted to be something that people still could get excited about, that’s why we wanted to collaborate and work together to open this up.”

On their opening day, they debuted their first ever exhibition, “Flora & Fauna,”with acrylic work by Lauren Welch, fabric art and stoneware by local artist Rachel Montroy and ceramics by Cierra Vigue, among others.

“We wanted it to be something that caught people’s eyes and attention and be the opposite of what people thought of when people hear the subject, [flora and fauna],” Andrews said. “Normally around these parts you see traditional landscapes and things that are pretty digestible, and we wanted to do something radically different, and that’s why ‘Flora & Fauna’ is bright and it almost looks like a little alien world inside of this small sleepy town.”

Their upcoming exhibition “As the Light Wanes”follows the theme of the changing seasons and the losing of light that comes with descending into the winter months and will be on display from Saturday, Dec. 9, through January 2024. The gallery also includes a shop where stickers and prints are for sale, and Andrews hopes to start offering coffee, tea and treats in the coming weeks.

“We’re definitely really excited to bring something else to [this] side of the neighborhood,” Andrews said. “My goal in the next few years is to extend downtown Concord and really have it reach more of those suburban areas and really connect the whole city.”

PILLAR Gallery and Projects
Where: 205 N. State St., Concord
Hours: Sunday and Monday, noon to 4 p.m.

“Flora & Fauna”
When: On display through Nov. 17

Featured photo: PILLAR Gallery. Courtesy photo.

Memory Café

Currier program helps those experiencing memory loss and their care partners

On the first Wednesday of every month, Currier Museum of Art in Manchester holds Memory Café, a program for individuals experiencing memory loss along with their care partners.

“The Memory Café is something that the Currier has done for quite some time, but we stopped doing it during the pandemic,” said Corey Lyford, who administers and designs the program. “We were only able to relaunch the program this past June. It’s designed to be a really joyful art looking experience for people in early stages of memory loss along with their care partners. A care partner could be a spouse, an adult child [or] a friend. … Any and all are welcome.”

Each session starts in one of the studio spaces at the museum, where attendees gather for light refreshments and socialization to get to know each other before heading to the gallery.

Before Covid, the entirety of the session would take place in the studio, where the art would be presented on slides. While this approach made it possible to look at multiple pieces, including ones that were not in the Currier collection, the team felt it was important to offer the true gallery experience.

While looking at the art, program facilitator Lucie Chmura likes to encourage people to use the method of “slow looking.”

“People get to really take time and relax into looking at a piece of artwork, much longer in front of it than one normally would when moving through the gallery spaces,” Lyford said. “Folks get to think about engaging their different senses, such as looking at a painting and thinking about what [they] hear when looking at this painting. Are there any sounds that come to mind? Everything is very open-ended. There are no wrong answers. People don’t have to draw on memory. This is really about what we’re all experiencing together in the moment.”

When deciding what art to select for the program, Lyford said she and Chmura think about the conversations the pieces may inspire, going for ones that are likely common to everyone in the group, to create an enjoyable, positive experience for both those experiencing memory loss and those who are not. Prompts are used to help viewers engage with the piece and to enliven conversation.

“We’re trying to blur that line between a care partner and someone with memory loss,” Lyford said. “We’re trying to help people not feel stigmatized and not feel like they’re standing out [or] like the attention of the program is on the fact that they have memory loss.”

She says the purpose of Memory Café is to create a support system and build connections while enjoying a creative experience.

“We hope for people to find respite and to find the museum as a resource for them and to keep engaging with these creative opportunities even if they are in a place in their life where they may have felt like that wasn’t possible anymore,” Lyford said. “We want people to feel safe and that applies to the person with memory loss and also for their care partners. They can be going through some pretty difficult times, so we’re hoping that this provides a creative space for them and one that they’ll want to come back to and see familiar faces from month to month.”

Memory Café
When: The first Wednesday of every month. The next session is Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Where: Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester

Featured photo: Memory Cafe. Photo Courtesy of the Currier Museum of Art.

The Art Roundup 23/10/26

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

  • Bard-adjacent: Actorsingers presents the musical farce Something Rotten at the Keefe Center for the Arts (117 Elm St. in Nashua) on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students. The production is set in the 1590s when brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are trying to write a hit play that will get them out from the shadow of “The Bard” and are told by a soothsayer that the future of theater is singing and dancing and acting, according to actorsingers.org.
  • Spooky soiree: The Windham Concert Band and the Amherst Town Band will play a Halloween-themed selection of music including Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries,” Edvard Grieg’s “March of the Trolls” and more on Sunday, Oct. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Souhegan High School (412 Boston Post Road in Amherst), according to a press release. Costume-wearing is encouraged; the event is free.
  • Quoth the raven: “Nevermore,” an exhibit that “pays homage to the mesmerizing allure of the darkness,” is on display at the Mosaic Art Collective (66 Hanover St., Suite 201, in Manchester; 512-6209, mosaicartcollective.com) through Tuesday, Oct. 31, according to a press release. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m., and by appointment.

NH Furniture Masters
The New Hampshire Furniture Masters are collaborating with the League of NH Craftsmen for the exhibit “Connecting through Craft” on display through Thursday, Dec. 14, at the League of NH Craftsmen Headquarters Gallery (49 S. Main St. in Concord). The pieces in the exhibition were created during a partnership that paired New Hampshire Furniture Masters with League members, according to a press release. The gallery is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m., the release said.

On Saturday, Oct. 28, from 5 to 7:30 p.m., the Furniture Masters will hold a Signature Fundraising Gala at the gallery. Attendees can explore the exhibit, talk to the makers and bid on silent auction items as well as enjoy food, drink and live music from Hot Skillet Club (a jazz band trio), the release said. Tickets cost $50 and are available at furnituremasters.org/the-main-event.

  • Landscapes: The New Hampshire Antique Co-Op (323 Elm St. in Milford; 673-8499; nhantiquecoop.com) is currently featuring the exhibit “Celebrating the American Landscape” featuring pieces from the late 1800s to the present, highlighting The White Mountain School, the Dublin Art Colony and the Hudson River School, according to a press release. The exhibit is on display through Jan. 31. The Co-op is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Veterans’ art: New Hampshire Veterans Home (139 Winter St. in Tilton; nh.gov/veterans, 527-4400) will host an art show in the Town Hall great room on Friday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. featuring veterans’ art displays as well as live music, demonstrations and conversations with veteran and visiting artists (from The Galleries at 30 Main in Meredith), according to a press release.

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!