Tag: 220818

Days of old

Hillsborough’s History Alive celebrates town’s 250th

By Katelyn Sahagian

ksahagian@hippopress.com

This year’s History Alive event in downtown Hillsborough is going to be even more special — the town will celebrate its 250th anniversary with reenactments featuring various members of society, from leaders of the Abenaki tribe to mill workers of the 19th century, during the weekend of Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21.

“We’ve got quite a diverse and interesting history and there’s always something new to learn,” said Marian Baker, the chair of History Alive.

Baker said that last year they had chosen to look at the people who were present before the settlers came. They worked with the Abenaki tribe and were pleased to see that they were willing to rejoin this year as well. They’ll present demonstrations on everything from how to build birch bark canoes to basket weaving and pottery.

Guest speaker Michelle Sherburne, author of Slavery & the Underground Railroad in New Hampshire, will give a presentation on how Granite Staters helped slaves escape to freedom before and during the Civil War.

One of the most important parts of the festival this year will be documenting oral histories of locals. Baker said that a local historian will be recording the stories of people who remember growing up working in the mills and what life was like when they were young.

“We’re trying to gather a more complete history of this area,” Baker said. “We want to not be just one person’s or one demographic’s viewpoint.”

As in previous years, there will be reenactors demonstrating the daily life of settlers, as well as live music from the colonial period through the jazz age. On Sunday, an old-fashioned version of baseball will be played by a group of volunteers. The rules vary in a number of ways — the most notable, Baker said, is that there is only underhand pitching, like in softball.

“This is about the history of the ordinary person, not the wealthy or military, but the person who does a lot of hard work throughout the town,” Baker said.

History Alive
Where: Multiple locations across Hillsborough, including Hillsborough Center (27 E. Washington Road), Kemp Park (21 River St.) and 44 Jones Road
When: Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21; most activities take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. See website for full schedule.
Cost: $8 in advance and $10 at the gate. Kids ages 16 and younger are free with an accompanying adult.
Visit: historyalivenh.org
Shuttle buses will operate between all three locations throughout both days.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

Kiddie Pool 22/08/18

Family fun for the weekend

Family fun

• Get kids interested in Manchester’s mural-creating event Community Canvas, which runs through Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Block Party held by My Turn and Arts Builds Community on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the rear of 50 Bridge St. in downtown Manchester, according to a post on Arts Builds Community’s Facebook page. The event will feature face painting and activities for kids as well as an opportunity to meet the artists involved in making the murals, the post said. Find out more about the Community Canvas event in the story on page 15 of the Aug. 11 issue of the Hippo. Go to hippopress.com to see the e-edition.

• The Elliot is holding a Summer Fest on Sunday, Aug. 21, from 10 am. to 2 p.m. at The Hill Bar & Grille at McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court in Manchester). The event, hosted by the Elliot Community Ambassador Circle, will feature field games, face painting, music and a buffet lunch (with hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue chicken, cookies, brownies and more), according to https://bit.ly/3QLZtAd, where you can purchase tickets for $15 per person or $50 for a family of four (children under 12 get in free).

Beach week

• The Hampton Beach Children’s Festival continues through Friday, Aug. 19, with daily events on the beach. On Thursday, Aug. 18, the lineup includes DrumatiX (a tap dance and percussion performance) at 10 a.m.; Showtime Steve (juggling) at 11 a.m.; Hampton Beach Casino daily raffle at noon; Wayne from Maine (musical sing-along) at 1 p.m., and paint with Alyssa Pine at 2 p.m. On Friday, the week finishes off with a children’s parade at 11 a.m. (meet at 10:15 a.m. wearing a costume to participate), a grand finale with every child receiving a prize at noon at the Seashell Stage and a musical performance by Mr. Aaron, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at 1 p.m. Find the full schedule at hamptonbeach.org.

• And if you are near Hampton Beach on Monday, Aug. 22, head to the beach across from the playground for an outdoor screening of Sing 2 (PG, 2021) at dusk (approximately 7:34 p.m., according to the website). The screening is the last of the scheduled Movie Night Mondays of the summer season (the next week’s film is Space Jam: A New Legacy). Admission is free and bring your own blanket or chairs.

Trip to the farm

• Sunfox Farm (127 Mount Delight Road in Deerfield; sunfoxfarm.org, 244-9888) continues its Sunflower Festival through Sunday, Aug. 21. The farm is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; entry costs $10 per person on weekends and $8 per person on weekdays (children under 10 get in for free). Take pictures among the flowers and pick your own flowers for $2 per stem, according to the website. The weekends feature vendors and live music; this weekend’s lineup is Brad Myrick (10 a.m.), Rebecca Turmel (12:30 p.m.) and Joel Begin (3 p.m.) on Saturday, Aug. 20, and April Cushman (10 a.m.), John McArthur (12:30 p.m.) and Sam Hammerman (3 p.m.) on Sunday, Aug. 21, according to the website.

• Shop for some farm-fresh eats at Friday Family Fun at J&F Farms (124 Chester Road in Derry; jandffarmsnh.com, 437-0535) on Friday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 7 p.m. The evening will feature music from a Beatles tribute band, a food truck, hayrides, a corn maze, ice cream and the opportunity to meet and pet the farm’s animals, according to a post on the farm’s Facebook page. For $5 you can purchase a cup of grain to feed the animals, according to the website. Admission to the corn maze, which opened earlier in August, costs $10 per person, according to the website.

• Take the kids to meet some farm animals and climb on some tractors at the New Hampshire Farm Museum (1305 White Mountain Hwy. in Milton; nhfarmmuseum.org) for Truck and Tractor Day on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tractors, trucks, wagons and antique cars will be on display and tractor rides will take you around the farm to visit the cows, sheep, goats, horses, rabbits and chickens. Meet the blacksmith working the forge, purchase eats for a farm picnic and listen to music from Lance Maclean and the Moose Mountain String Band, according to the website. Admission costs $10 for adults, $7.50 for 65+ and $5 for ages 4 to 17; admission is free for kids under 4 and for active military, the website said.

On stage

• The Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St. in Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) finishes up its 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Series with two more plays on the schedule.Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs runs through this week: Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Disney’s Frozen Kidsends the season next week with shows Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10 per person.

• The young performers of the Palace Youth Theatre summer camp will present Legally Blonde the Musical Jr. on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

Treasure Hunt 22/08/18

Dear Donna,

Can you share some information on this child’s tin plate? Thanks for any help,

Ann in Salem

Dear Ann,

Your tin ABC child’s plate is in good condition for its age and a sweet piece of history.

Your plate was made in England as a child’s souvenir for the 1851 Great Exhibition.

It’s tough to find ABC plates in mint condition because they were played with. But even with some wear and minor denting yours would be in the $70 range. This is because aside from being a child’s plate it’s a souvenir commemorative plate.

I hope this was helpful, Ann. There are many different tin ABC plates and they would make for a fun collection! Thanks for sharing with us.

A few thoughts on planting trees

Think ahead and don’t buy on impulse

First, August is not the best time for planting trees. Most experts suggest spring or fall when it is cooler and rain more regular. But let’s face it, I’m a gardener, and if I see a nice tree for sale, especially one in bloom or one I’ve been looking for, I am going to get it, no matter what the experts say. And I bet many of you do the same.

I confess to acquiring four trees in late July. I bought three that I had been looking for, and I got a nice one as a gift. And since I have these new trees, I am not going to keep them in their pots until fall. I will plant them, and water them daily, if needed, through the heat of summer. They will do better in the ground than in a pot where roots can easily dry out on hot days. I have planted a few trees and shrubs in my garden this summer, and all are doing fine.

If you are planning on buying trees, allow me to give you some advice. First, NO IMPULSE BUYING! Learn everything you can about the particular tree you are considering well before you buy it. There are books and websites by universities or botanic gardens that provide excellent information. I suggest avoiding websites of companies selling trees. Talk to knowledgeable friends. Ask questions.

Of the tree books on my shelves, I depend most commonly on books written by Michael Dirr. A retired professor, he has been learning about trees and testing trees and talking to growers for more than 50 years. All his books are readable, dependable — and opinionated. His classic is Manual of Woody Landscape Trees: Their Identification, Culture, Propagation and Uses.

At nearly 1,200 pages, his Manual really does cover every tree I have ever wanted to learn about. It’s not flashy: there are no glossy photos to drool over. Just line drawings of the leaves for most species, and lots of good info. If you want a copy, it lists for $81.80 for the most recent (sixth) paperback edition from Stipes Publishing. Or get your library to order one. Secondhand copies are probably available, too.

So start by seeing what the hardiness of a tree is. No point in buying a tree you remember from your time living in North Carolina unless it is hardy in your zone, too, which it might well be. Then look at what he calls culture: soil, pH and sun/shade requirements.

Read what Dr. Dirr says about size. He generally tells you how big a tree will get in the garden, how fast it grows, and the biggest size known. Let that be a guide. It is so easy to buy a small tree and plant it without really thinking what it will be like in 50 years. I remember a little evergreen growing in front of our house when I was growing up. When we bought the` house in 1954, we decorated it with Christmas lights. Then in later years we used a stepladder to put more lights on. By the time I left for college, it was nearly as tall as the two-story house — and blocking the view from some windows.

So before buying a new tree, try to see what a mature specimen looks like in your town or state. Go to a public park or arboretum (a zoo, of sorts, for trees). Pay attention to the width of the tree, not just the height.

Looking in a forest to see how close trees grow together is not the answer. Trees are wonderful, and many people have done research on how trees communicate with each other (see The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How the Communicate, a New York Times bestseller in 2016 by Peter Wohlleben), but they aren’t very smart (by our standards, at least). And they don’t plan very well. Where a seed lands, it will try to grow — even if it is right next to another tree, or in a shady place where it will not thrive.

Some years ago I planted a spicebush (Lindera benzoin). This is a native shrub that thrives in the shade, even in dry shade. It has fragrant, spicy leaves, twigs and berries. I used to chew on the twigs when I was a boy in lieu of chewing gum, which was prohibited by my parents. Dr. Dirr says it grows 6 to 12 feet high “with a similar spread.” Mine now is 6 to 8 feet high with an 8-foot spread. My new specimens are in two-gallon pots, just 24 inches tall. I was about to plant them 3 or 4 feet apart, but stopped myself. If a mature tree is 8 feet wide, it is 4 feet from the center of the tree to the outside. So a pair of them should be about 8 feet apart, or at least 6.

In the past two years I’ve been working to develop a private arboretum on what was a 5-acre lawn, now a meadow. Last summer we planted about 100 native trees and shrubs of many species, including a dozen oaks of various kinds and sizes. It’s a five-year project.

A mature oak can be 75 feet tall with a spread of 50 feet or more. But I did not plant them 50 feet apart. I want the roots to interact, sharing nutrients and knowledge. And in a storm, intertwined roots can help prevent trees from toppling over. So I planted most about 30 feet apart. I’ve seen oaks in a meadow like the one I’ve been planting: the branches between trees touched but did not intrude on their neighbors. On the sides facing the meadow, the branches were longer. Yes, somehow they communicate.

So feel free to wait until the weather is cooler and rain more frequent to plant new trees. But if you must plant now, keep everything well-watered!

Featured photo: Spicebush is a great native shade shrub. Courtesy photo.

The Art Roundup 22/08/18

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

• A week of art in Boscawen: Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) is celebrating Boscawen’s Old Home Week with several free events highlighting local history, music, art and poetry, from Saturday, Aug. 20, through Sunday, Aug. 28, including a free chamber music concert, a fiber art show, barn stories and more. Twiggs is celebrating sheep farming roots with “BAA-scawen’s Flashy Flock,” a community art project featuring 30 sheep shapes cut out of wood. Boscawen residents used the cut-outs as a blank canvas to exercise their creativity and, on Saturday, Aug. 20, all of the painted sheep will be revealed in front of Boscawen homes and businesses as part of the “Flashy Flock Mob” of artsy sheep. Festivities will continue with “The History of Agriculture as Told by Barns,” a presentation by John Porter on Tuesday, Aug. 23; a free concert with the Kaia String Quartet on Wednesday, Aug. 24; a fiber art demonstration on Saturday, Aug. 27; and a poetry reading on Sunday, Aug. 28. See twiggsgallery.wordpress.com for the full schedule.

• The shows will go on: An increased number of Covid cases among staff members of the New London Barn Playhouse (84 Main St.) has forced the postponement of the production’s opening of Footloose, according to a statement from the theater. “We are hopeful to have a safe and successful opening day on August 17,” reads an Aug. 9 statement posted to the venue’s website and Facebook page. An Aug. 15 post announced the reopening of the box office on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. Children’s Theater Series performances of Matilda are set for Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and on Sunday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m., while performances of Almost, Maine have been delayed to open on Aug. 26. Visit nlbarn.org or call the box office at 625-6710.

Frederick Moyer piano recital
Local pianist Frederick Moyer is hosting a recital on Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church (461 Main St., New London). The program, titled “Classical Jazz,” will feature solo piano works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Rachmaninoff and Gershwin. The second half will feature jazz works by Oscar Peterson, Chick Corea and Bill Evans, with Bob Savine on drums and Evan Palmer on bass. This concert is part of a series called “Notes and Footnotes,” in which Moyer mixes commentary with music. Tickets are $25 each and available online at summermusicassociates.org.

• Canterbury Shaker Village hosts artists: This summer and fall, Canterbury Shaker Village (288 Shaker Road) welcomes artist Hilary Irons as part of its Artist-in-Residency program. The program brings together contemporary artists to live at the Village while they produce works inspired by the landscape and culture of the Shakers. Irons is scheduled to be in residence from Aug. 15 through Aug. 25 to work on her paintings. Other artists-in-residence include Maria Molteni, Anna Hepler, David Whelan, Kreh Mellick and Andrew Hayes, and Anastatia Spicer. Visit shakers.org.

• Off-Broadway offers free student tickets: The Village Players are now offering free admission to high school and college students for ReEntry: Actors Playing Jazz, directed by Wolfeboro summer native and Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons. It’s coming to Wolfeboro for two nights, on Wednesday, Aug. 17, and Thursday, Aug. 18, at 7:30 p.m. at The Village Players theater (51 Glendon St., Wolfeboro), a nonprofit community theater that welcomes onstage and non-stage members of all ages. ReEntry: Actors Playing Jazz is the story of six formerly incarcerated men who have come together after release from prison to start a theater group with a goal to keep them on the right side of the law. The performance is a benefit for The Village Players. Tickets for adults and non-students, $25, will be on sale at village-players.com.

• World War II presentation: Join the Wright Museum of World War II (77 Center St., Wolfeboro) for “When You Ride Alone, You Ride With Hitler,” a lecture by Prof. Marion Dorsey on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. on World War II rationing programs. According to a press release, the Wright Museum features more than 14,000 items in its collection that are representative of both the homefront and battlefield during World War II. Admission to the lecture is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. Visit wrightmuseum.org/lecture-series or call 569-1212.

• Book talk with Ken Gloss: On Thursday, Aug. 25, at 6 p.m., Ken Gloss, proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston, will discuss the value of old and rare books during an event at Gilford Community Church (19 Potter Hill Road). Gloss, a rare book specialist who often appears on television, will discuss the history of his bookshop and his life in the book business, and will answer questions and provide free verbal appraisals of books. Registration is not required. Visit gilfordcommunitychurch.org.

• Bachelors of Broadway: The Colonial Theatre (609 Main St., Laconia) hosts Bachelors of Broadway: Gentlemen of the Theatreon Sunday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m. The three-man show features arrangements of songs from many popular musicals including Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables and more, all performed by talented Broadway performers. Tickets are free and will be available starting Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m., via coloniallaconia.com. You can also call 1-800-657-8774.

Migraciones
The Pontine Theatre in Portsmouth begins its season next week with a production of Migracionesby Paradox Teatro, from Friday, Aug. 26, through Sunday, Aug. 28. Showtimes are at the 1845 Plains Schoolhouse (1 Plains Ave., Portsmouth) at 7 p.m. on Friday; at 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Following the Sunday performance will be a workshop with company members. Written by Sofia Padilla and Davey Steinman, Migraciones is a “meditation on the global migration situation,” according to a press release. Tickets are $29 and are available for purchase at pontine.org.

• Photo finish: The Art Center (1 Washington St., Dover) presents “Images of the Past…The Thom Hindle Collection” from Sept. 3 through Sept. 30, along with an An Evening with Thom Hindle, an in-person book signing on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 6 to 9 p.m., celebrating Hindle’s newest release, Dover, New Hampshire Through Time Volume Two. The collection, according to a press release, is “an insightful, historically significant exhibition dedicated to the rich history of Dover, New Hampshire, and surrounding areas.” Hindle himself has taught classes at UNH and is a past president of Dover’s historical society. He’s perhaps best known as a local photographer, the release said, with a longtime photography business on Atkinson Street in the Garrison City. The exhibit features photographs Hindle reproduced from original glass negatives representing the works of never-before-exhibited local and Boston-area photographers. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit theartcenterdover.com or call 978-6702.

• ’Tis (almost) the season: Tickets are on sale now for the Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra’s production of “Christmas with the Crooners,” happening at The Colonial Theatre (609 Main St. in Laconia) on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. The show features a mix of traditional carols and modern holiday tunes by crooners Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Andy Williams and more. Tickets range from $22 to $32 for adults and from $12 to $22 for students. Visit coloniallaconia.com or call 1-800-657-8774 to purchase tickets.

ART

Exhibits

• JESSICA KELLY, a local artist, whose work will be featured at the New Hampshire Boat Museum (399 Center St., Wolfeboro, 569-4554, nhbm.org) in the museum’s gallery in August. Working in photography, the art depicts coastal scenes and other natural beauties. Kelly’s work is available for viewing with paid admission to the museum. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and free for children under 13, members, and active military personnel.

• STANDING TOGETHER The Seacoast LGBT History Project holds its sixth annual show, titled “Standing Together,” at RiverStones Custom Framing and The Franklin Gallery (33 N. Main St. in Rochester; riverstonescustomframing.com) through Wednesday, Aug. 31. The Gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the Seacoast NH LGBT Facebook page, email seacoastnhlgbthistory@gmail.com or call RiverStones at 812-1488.

• ARGHAVAN KHOSRAVI Artist’s surrealist paintings explore themes of exile, freedom and empowerment; center female protagonists; and allude to human rights issues, particularly those affecting women and immigrants. The Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St., Manchester). On display now through Sept. 5. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday. Call 669-6144 or visit currier.org.

• “GEE’S BEND QUILTS” The exhibit, on display at the Currier Museum of Art (50 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org), features five quilts from Gee’s Bend in Alabama where several generations of women collectively developed a distinctive style of quilt making, according to the website. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday.

• “MEMOIRS OF A GHOST GIRLHOOD: A BLACK GIRL’S WINDOW” In the exhibit on display at the Currier Museum of Art (50 Ash St. in Manchester; 669-6144, currier.org), “artist Alexandria Smith has created an immersive multi-media environment using wallpaper, paintings on wood, found objects and sculpture. It will be accompanied by an original site-specific composition //windowed// by Liz Gre,” according to the website. Museum admission costs $15 for adults, $13 for seniors age 65 and up, $10 for students, $5 for youth ages 13 through 17 and is free for children age 12 and under and museum members. Current museum hours are Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Monday through Wednesday.

• “MANAGING MISCELLANEA” The Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy (11 Tan Lane, Exeter) hosts “Managing Miscellanea,” an art exhibition that draws from the gallery’s “undefined” collection. It centers around questions of defining and maintaining collections, and showcases unseen works from the storage vault, including works by Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Motherwell. The exhibition runs through Sept. 24, available for viewing during the gallery’s normal hours: Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free but reservations are required. For more information, visit www.exeter.edu/lamontgallery.

• “THE PEOPLE’S SCULPTOR: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF JOHN ROGERS” Exhibit celebrates the art of American sculptor John Rogers, who came to Manchester in 1850, and explores the influence that Manchester had on Rogers’ life and work. Presented by the Manchester Historic Association. On view now through September. Millyard Museum (200 Bedford St., Manchester). Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $8 for adults, $6 for seniors age 62 and up and college students, $4 for youth ages 12 through 18, and is free for kids under age 12. Call 622-7531 or visit manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.

• “WOOL: CONTEMPORARY FIBER ART EXHIBITION Twiggs Gallery (254 King St., Boscawen) through Sept. 2. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit twiggsgallery.wordpress.com or call 975-0015.

• ART ON MAIN The City of Concord and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce present a year-round outdoor public art exhibition in Concord’s downtown featuring works by professional sculptors. All sculptures will be for sale. Visit concordnhchamber.com/creativeconcord, call 224-2508 or email tsink@concordnhchamber.com.

• “PIXELS, WOOD, CLAY” Two Villages Art Society presents an exhibition of work by artists Tony Gilmore, Rick Manganello and Caren Helm. The Bates Building (846 Main St., Contoocook). through Sept. 9. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Sat., Aug. 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Visit twovillagesart.org or call 413-210-4372.

Fairs and markets

• CONCORD ARTS MARKET The juried outdoor artisan and fine art market runs one Saturday a month, June through October, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Market dates are Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15. Rollins Park, 33 Bow St., Concord. concordartsmarket.net. The first market will be held on Saturday, June 11. Visit concordartsmarket.net/summer-arts-market.html.

Tours

• NASHUA PUBLIC ART AUDIO TOUR Self-guided audio tours of the sculptures and murals in downtown Nashua, offered via the Distrx app, which uses Bluetooth iBeacon technology to automatically display photos and text and provides audio descriptions at each stop on the tour as tourists approach the works of art. Each tour has 10 to 15 stops. Free and accessible on Android and iOS on demand. Available in English and Spanish. Visit downtownnashua.org/nashua-art-tour for more information.

Workshops and classes

• ART CLASSES Art classes for teens and adults, including Pottery, Stained Glass, Intermediate Watercolor and Clay Hand Building. Studio 550 Art Center (550 Elm St., Manchester). Five-week sessions. Classes met for two hours a week. Call 232-5597 or visit 550arts.com for the full schedule and cost details.

• 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 or email arthousejb@gmail.comfor more information.

• GENERAL ART CLASSES Weekly art classes offered for both kids and adults of all skill levels and cover a variety of two-dimensional media, including drawing and painting with pastel, acrylic, watercolor and oils. Classes are held with small groups of three to eight to five students. Diane Crespo Fine Art Gallery (32 Hanover St., Manchester). Kids classes, open to ages 10 and up, are held on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4:15 to 5:45 p.m. Adult classes are held on Thursdays, from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tuition is pay-as-you-go at $20 per student per class, due upon arrival. Call 493-1677 or visit dianecrespofineart.com for availability.

THEATRE

Classes/workshops

• STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Monthly workshop series hosted by True Tales Live storytelling showcase. First Tuesday (except November), from 7 to 8:30 p.m., virtual, via Zoom. Registration is required. Visit truetaleslivenh.org for more information.

Shows

• NUNSENSE, the musical that has been updated with new jokes, will be presented by the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net, 669-7649) on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $15 to $20.

• SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Thursday, Aug. 18, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

• LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL JR.presented by Palace Youth Theatre summer camp at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) on Friday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 20, at 11 a.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 for adults and $12 for kids.

• THE GREAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SHAKESPEARE COMPANY presented by Granite Playwrights at the Hatbox Theatre (inside the Steeplegate Mall, 270 Loudon Road, Concord; hatboxnh.com, 715-2315) from Aug. 19 through Aug. 28, with showtimes on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $22 for adults, $19 for students, seniors and members and $16 for senior members.

• DISNEY’S FROZEN KIDS presented by the 2022 Bank of New Hampshire Children’s Summer Seriesat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester; palacetheatre.org, 668-5588) Tuesday, Aug. 23, through Thursday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., and Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $10.

Classical

Events

• ORCHESTRAL SHOWCASE “NATURE & MYTH” at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sun., Oct. 16, at 2 p.m., and Sat., Oct. 22, at 7:30 p.m. Featuring sounds from Beethoven, Walker, Grieg and Sibelius. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

• HOLIDAY POPS at Seifert Performing Arts Center (44 Geremonty Drive, Salem; 893-7069) will run Sat., Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m., and Sun., Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. Featuring Christmas carol sing-alongs and classical and popular holiday favorites, as well as an appearance from a special visitor from the North Pole. Presented by New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range from $5 to $30 for in-person seating. Visit nhpo.booktix.com.

The art of community

Greeley Park Art Show returns

By Hannah Turtle

hturtle@hippopress.com

In its 69th year, the Greeley Park Art Show returns to Nashua with a whole host of artists both familiar and new. It’s happening on Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21, when visitors will be able to view hundreds of works by local artists and even take some home.

“We have over 45 artists this year, and they’re all different mediums. Some do impressionism, some do abstract, watercolor, oils, acrylics [and] sculpture,” said Lauren Boss, co-director of the show, which is hosted by the Nashua Area Artists’ Association. “A lot of the artists will actually work on their art while they’re there. It’s really cool to watch. … They explain things [and] answer questions, [so] there’s always learning to be had.”

Over the years, the show has cultivated its own reputation as a place to not only appreciate, but learn.

“A few years ago I had an artist tell me that they could tell the people who come every year because they stop and talk to the artists, and they know certain things that not every crowd knows,” Boss said. “The people who come year after year are getting an education on art and art mediums.”

Each artist has a unique story to tell through their work. One such artist who will showcase her paintings is Zoe Brooke of Portsmouth, who has a unique eye for art.

“My favorite things to paint are portraits. People or animals,” Brooke said. “Anything with eyeballs.”

Brooke, whose solo exhibition, “Wellspring,” is also currently running through Aug. 28 via the Seacoast Artist Association, said her artistic eye is often at odds with her actual eyes. Last year she was diagnosed with a rare degenerative eye condition that is eroding her vision.

In response to the diagnosis, Brooke has been painting as much as she can.

“I wanted to focus on moments in time,” she said. “I looked at the little things that happened throughout the day or throughout the week that bring me joy, or that encapsulate the feelings of what’s going on.”

This includes paintings of everything from her cats taking a nap, to the natural landscape of Portsmouth and the various scenes that have unfolded throughout the past few years. The experience, Brooke said, has been a therapeutic one.

“Painting helped me to notice more of those moments, to stay in a place of gratitude and a place of appreciation,” she said.

Brooke began taking her art seriously during the pandemic, painting as much as she could and developing her signature style. Her prognosis is unclear, as her condition is so rare it doesn’t yet have a name. Her macula is degenerating due to her eyes’ inability to process vitamin A. She describes the condition as mainly deteriorating her central vision.

“The things that usually make people’s eyes stronger make mine weaker,” she said.

Showing her work around the state and meeting other members of the local arts community has been a boon to Brooke.

“It is a big inspiration to see local artists,” she said. “I think, ‘Wow, you’re so talented and you’re just my neighbor!’”

It’s something Boss also looks forward to experiencing at the show.

“We have found that our artists are exceptionally willing to share,” Boss said.

Greeley Park Art Show
When: Saturday, Aug. 20, and Sunday, Aug. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Greeley Park, 100 Concord St., Nashua
Cost: Free admission
Visit: nashuaarts.org/greeleyparkartshow

Featured photo: Painting by Zoe Brooke. Courtesy photo.

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