Granite State Stuff : Art Exhibit

Local Views: A Valley of Art

AskLisa — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:18:00 GMT

The Margret & H.A. Rey Center announces the opening reception of LOCAL VIEWS: A VALLEY OF ART on Sunday, October 11 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., featuring a slideshow by photographer highlighting his stunning polar bear photos at 7:30 p.m. The exhibit will showcase seven local New Hampshire artists: Kirsten Carruth, Sarah Heidenis, Andrew Tyler, Mary Ellen Sakura, Willey Peckham, and James Schofield. The Margret and H.A. Rey Center is located on the second level of Waterville Valley Resort's Town Square. Admission is free and appetizers will be served. Artists will be in attendance to answer questions about their work and artistic process.

Kirsten Carruth uses a unique pallet of reclaimed wooden doors to create her illustrations of old fairy tales and children's books, which appeal to groups of all ages. Kirsten is based out of Groton, New Hampshire and her inspiration comes from hiking in the White Mountains. Sarah Heidenis is a graduate of Plymouth State College in Art Education. Sarah speaks of her art as part of "a natural world that I feel a true connection with living in. The White Mountains of New Hampshire is a true inspiration I feel lucky to be part of this beautiful landscape and to be able to splash color on paper and feel complete."

Maryellen Sakura says of her pieces, "my work reflects a concern for and a love of nature." Maryellen is an artist and printmaker who has lived and worked in Waterville Valley for the past ten years. James Schofield is a young, local artist who attends Plymouth State University and enjoys mixed media. James believes "art is an essential capacity within everyone, allowing us to cope with the extremes of our sometimes unbearable spectrum of emotions, regardless of culture or medium." Roberta Britton, an art educator for 25 years enjoys using natural materials and is inspired by the local views for her paintings.

Rounding out the group are Andrew Tyler and Willey Peckham. Andrew, a local photographer, enjoys the challenge of "trying to capture a subject that is ever changing with the seasons and the weather." Andrew shares his love for macro photography as being, "by far my most favorite medium of photography. Finding a new view on many things often overlooked." Willey Peckham travels around the world in search of capturing the true moments of living. Willey has been developing his photography since college in a variety of settings and locations. Willey will present a slideshow of his beautiful collection of Polar Bear photographs at 7:30 p.m. during the gallery's opening reception.

LOCAL VIEWS: A VALLEY OF ART will be on exhibit throughout the months of October and November. Margret and H.A. Rey, authors of the Curious George children's books series and former summer residents of Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, were artists and adventurers, historians and naturalists, gardeners and stewards. Today their spirit lives on in the Margret and H.A. Rey Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the Reys' legacy through art, science, and adventure programs for all ages. To register for this program or for more information please contact the Margret and H.A. Rey Center at 603-236-3308.

The Stahl Collection: first time on view

AskLisa — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:44:00 GMT

This fall the extraordinary collection of prints and drawings carefully assembled over a 50-year period by long-time New Hampshire residents David and Barbara Stahl will be on view for the first time at the Currier Museum of Art from September 26, 2009–January 3, 2010. Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection showcases their intellectual curiosity as collectors and their passions for art, history and social commentary.

The earliest prints in the collection are by some of the most important old master print-makers including Albrecht Dürer, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Jacques Callot. The strength of the collection is in American twentieth-century prints and drawings by internationally-known artists such as Edward Hopper, John Sloan, and Reginald Marsh. Also notable is a haunting group of impressions by German Expressionist artists George Grosz, Erich Heckel, Max Beckmann, and Max Pechstein. David and Barbara also sought out talented artists working in New England. Their collection includes outstanding works by Peter Milton, Ed and Mary Scheier, Robert Neuman, Hyman Bloom, Sigmund Abeles and very early examples by New Hampshire Artist Laureate James Aponovich.

As young collectors in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Barbara and David Stahl sought out the sage advice of Charles Buckley, director of the Currier from 1955 through 1964. The union of Mr. Buckley's art historical knowledge and academic acumen and the Stahls' willingness to learn were the guiding forces from which this distinguished collection was formed.

David Stahl encourages young art appreciators to begin collecting. "When we started collecting, there were many surprising purchases made for modest sums. It's not so easy for young collectors now, but there are younger artists working in various print media, and older artists as well, many of whose works are affordable for serious collectors of limited means," said Stahl. "There are still opportunities out there, and the quest itself is rewarding."

The Stahls' rise to erudite connoisseurs was hastened through impassioned study and frequent trips to galleries and museums throughout the United States and Europe. With the first major museum presentation of their collection, the Currier celebrates the extraordinary life of Barbara and David Stahl as collectors and patrons of the arts.

Learn firsthand about David Stahl's passion for collecting on Sunday, October 4 at 3pm as he speaks with Associate Curator Kurt Sundstrom about the works on view in the special exhibition Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection. Open to the public and free with museum admission.

This exhibition is generously supported by M. Christine Dwyer and Michael Huxtable.

About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi.

The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. To book a tour or get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, ext. 108.

Franco-American Centre's Love and Light Exhibit Continues Through August 31

AskLisa — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 14:31:00 GMT

Love and Light , a collection of luminous pastel paintings by acclaimed painter, José Anne Bernier, continues on display through August 31, 2009 at the Franco-American Centre in Manchester, NH. The Centre is located at 52 Concord St., and is open Monday through Friday, from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Ms. Bernier's artistic mission is to captivate the soul behind a veil of illusion; her works celebrate beauty and light. She selects colors that are so soft they seem bathed in a luminous glow. Her unique creations have been displayed from Canada to Sanibel Island and Venice, Florida. Individual pieces grace various private and public collections.

She is currently working on a book featuring about 50 of her art works, with snippets and comments from her personal journal and letters.

For more information, contact Lise Sutton at (603) 669-4045 or lsutton@facnh.com.

Eco Art Weeks for Kids at Waterville Valley's Curious George Cottage

AskLisa — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 01:33:00 GMT

The Margret and H.A. Rey Center in Waterville Valley is partnering with lo cal Eco Artist Cynthia Robinson to present a week of art and nature programs for youth at their Curious George Cottage Studio. Children between the ages of 4 and 9 will have the opportunity to create sculptures using natural materials, contributing to an art trail along the Curious George Cottage Nature Trail.

Art TrailWorks! is being offered for ages 7-9 on July 27-31 from 9:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. each day. Participants will explore natural materials and build "eco art" along the Curious George Nature Trail. Children will explore patterns, colors, lines, and shapes, while working together and individually with bark, sticks, rocks, pinecones, leaves, and more, highlighting the trail's natural beauty. Participants will also create drawings, use digital photography, and then work together to design a group book that tells the story of the Art Trail. Every participant will receive a published copy of the group Art TrailWorks! book. The cost ifor this age group is $145.

Exploring Nature and Art is being offered for ages 4-6 on July 27-31 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. each day. Participants will base explorations on questions such as "Who lives in our woods?" and "What kinds of creatures walk on the Curious George Nature Trail?". Using natural materials, children will build shelters, webs, and nests for the local creatures along the Nature Trail. The sculptures will become part of a growing Art and Nature Trail. Participants will also be working on drawing, painting, and printmaking that will become part of the Art Trail Book. Every child will receive a published copy of the group Exploring Nature and Art book. The cost for this age group is $120.

Cynthia Robinson is a Visual Artist with over twenty years experience designing, teaching, and directing learning and arts programs. Cynthia's business, Eco Art a la carte is based on her work as an "Eco Artist" (a new form of environmental artist) and her passion for teaching. She believes that visual art can provide a simple gateway to understanding and exploring the natural environment. Cynthia explains, "Developing this relationship between students and the places in which they live is, in my opinion, essential to educating socially and environmentally conscious future adults. My approach to teaching is based on creating a learning space where students can apply their natural creative ability to new materials and concepts."

Margret and H.A. Rey, authors of the Curious George children's book series and former summer residents of Waterville Valley, NH, were artists and adventurers, historians and naturalists, gardeners and stewards. Today their spirit lives on in the Margret and H.A. Rey Center , a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the Reys' legacy through art, science, and adventure programs for all ages. To register for this program or for more information please contact the Margret and H.A. Rey Center at http://www.reycenter.org or 603-236-3308.

Turning Wood Into Art: The Jane and Arthur Mason Collection Opens July 3 at the Currier Museum

AskLisa — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:51:00 GMT

The art of the master woodturner is a delicate balance between precise control and the forces of chance. With the skilled touch of the craftsman, the inherent, natural beauty of the wood is revealed and enhanced. Turning Wood Into Art: The Jane and Arthur Mason Collection, on display July 3 – September 27, 2009 at the Currier Museum of Art, features 65 exquisitely crafted objects from one of the world's foremost collections of contemporary lathe-turned wood and highlights the aesthetic achievements in this medium.

See for yourself how wood is turned into art on Saturday, July 11 during a FREE day of wood-themed activities. The day features family art activities relating to the exhibition from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm; a docent-led exhibition tour at 11:30 am; and a reception celebrating the exhibition Turning Wood Into Art from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. The reception features light refreshments, demonstrations of woodturning by New Hampshire Furniture Master Jon Siegel and turner Scott Ruesswick, and a tour of the exhibition with Chief Curator Andrew Spahr.

Turning Wood Into Art showcases the work of well-known, first-generation turners like James Prestini, Bob Stocksdale, and Ed Moulthrop and important younger artists such as David Ellsworth and Philip Moulthrop. An international collection, it includes artists from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States with representatives from the West Coast, Southwest and eastern states as well as Vermont artists Alan Stirt, Johannes Michelson, Michelle Holzapfel and former New Hampshire resident Mark Lindquist.

Through their imagination and technical mastery, these turners have created three dimensional canvasses for the exploration of the drama of wood's color and pattern and the surprising intricacies of its grain. Familiar woods like maple, ash, and walnut and exotic species including orangewood and manzanita have been turned, carved, laminated, burned, gilt and painted to form beautiful vessels and decorative sculptures.

The exhibition is generously supported by Patrick and Kendra O'Donnell and by David and Barbara Roby. This exhibition is courtesy of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Charlotte, North Carolina. Tour management by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services, Kansas City, Missouri.

About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi.

The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. To book a tour or get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, ext. 108.

Celebrate Dad: Special Lunch, Tours, Art-Making

AskLisa — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:40:00 GMT

This Father's Day, take a tour of the museum, create some art of your own, and treat dad to a special lunch at the Winter Garden Café featuring a Bloody Mary bar, specialty beers, hoagies, and grinders.

At 1 pm the Currier offers a "Welcome to the Currier: Highlights of the Collection" tour followed by drop-in art-making from 2-3 pm. The tour and art-making are free with museum admission. No reservations are necessary.

Does dad enjoy drawing? From 1-3 pm, sketch amongst the works of art on view. An art educator will be available to offer advice and encouragement. Pencils and paper will be provided, or bring your own.

If dad is an architecture buff take him on a tour of the Zimmerman House, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Tours are available at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Reservations are required and can be made at www.currier.org or by calling 603.669.6144 x108.

About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi.

The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. To book a tour or get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, ext. 108.

Last Chance to See Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay At the Currier Museum of Art through June 14

AskLisa — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:30:00 GMT

The exhibition featuring the whimsical and enchanting original drawings, paintings, and sketches of best-selling author and illustrator David Macaulay is coming to a close at the Currier Museum of Art on Sunday, June 14.

Macaulay's gift for conveying complex concepts in a fun and understandable way has delighted children and adults for decades. He has a special genius for explaining the wonder of the way things work—from gadgets to gargantuan buildings—and for bringing readers on extraordinary journeys of the imagination. Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay is the first in-depth museum exhibition to explore the work and process of this popular artist.

"David Macaulay is one of the most creative and innovative artists working today. His books have inspired and intrigued more than two generations of readers around the world. We are delighted to bring his original work to northern New England," says director Susan Strickler.

Don't miss the opportunity to see this terrific family-friendly exhibition!

Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Currier Museum of Art presentation of the exhibition is supported in part by TD Charitable Foundation and RiverStone Resources LLC. Media sponsor is WZID.

About the artist:
As a young boy in Lancashire, England, David Macaulay was fascinated by the way objects are made and how they operate. Out of cigar boxes, he constructed elevators. Using yarn, he made intricate systems of moving cable cars. In 1988, using his remarkable talents for translating concepts and information to the printed page, he was asked to illustrate The Way Things Work: From Levers to Lasers. Macaulay has since expanded the book to include digital technology. The artist's books have sold two million copies in America and have been published in a dozen languages, and Cathedral, Castle, and Pyramid have been made into popular PBS television programs. Macaulay is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards and a MacArthur Fellowship.

About the Currier:
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy café filled with light and equipped with WiFi. The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages.

The Currier is located at 150 Ash Street, Manchester, New Hampshire and is wheelchair accessible. Museum hours are: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 11-5; Saturday, 10-5. Closed Tuesday. Open 11-8 the first Thursday of each month. Museum admission: adults $10; seniors $9; students $8; children under 18 free. Free to all on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, x 108.

Currier Family Day to Play, Art Center Fundraiser

AskLisa — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:28:00 GMT

Visit the Currier on May 30 from 1-5pm for a campus-wide day of family fun. Participate in hands-on art-making in the Art Center and Museum all afternoon. Learn how to create your own pottery, silk-screen a t-shirt to take home, participate in community weaving, add your artistic touch to a mural, get your face painted, or draw monster cartoons with Boston Herald's editorial cartoonist Jerry Holbert.

As a special highlight of the day, award-winning artist David Macaulay will demonstrate how he illustrates his books in the auditorium at 2pm (reserved seating required). After the demonstration, Macaulay will be available to sign his books.

While at the museum you can walk through the galleries and view the Macaulay exhibition, dance with your kids to the sounds of the "Toe Jam Puppet Band" at 3:30pm, and view and bid on special silent auction items in the lobby. The silent auction includes original works of art, international travel, local shows and restaurants, tickets to the Red Sox and other local sporting events, and a number of unique experiences. All proceeds benefit the programs of the Currier Art Center. The auction concludes at the museum on Thursday, June 4 at 7:30pm.

The day wraps up at the Art Center Gallery at 4:30pm with a celebration of the Art Center's 70th birthday. Enjoy some birthday cake and take your chance at a raffle for two seats to a Red Sox/ Tampa Bay Devil Rays game.

Family Day to Play Admission fee is $15 for all adults, $5 children (under 18). For an additional $2/person see David Macaulay demonstrate how he illustrates his books at 2pm in the auditorium. Space is limited for this special Macaulay program to support the Art Center Fundraiser, so purchase your tickets early.

All ticket proceeds fund the programs of the Currier Art Center.

About the Currier:
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi. The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages.

The Currier is located at 150 Ash Street, Manchester, New Hampshire and is wheelchair accessible. Museum hours are: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 11-5; Saturday, 10-5. Closed Tuesday. Open 11-8 the first Thursday of each month. Museum admission: adults $10; seniors $9; students $8; children under 18 free. Free to all on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, x 108.

Deadline May 15 for Creative Club entries

AskLisa — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:14:00 GMT

CALL FOR ENTRIES
For the New Hampshire Creative Club's 21st Annual Exhibition!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE May 15

Public Awards Ceremony and Exhibition Opening June 23, 2008 from 6-9:00 PM

Manchester, NH – Public Awards Ceremony & Exhibit Opening Reception Event

WHAT: Call for Entries deadline EXTENDED to MAY 15th
When: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Where: McIninch Art Gallery at Southern NH University
Time: Social: 6 – 9 PM; Awards Presentaion: 7:55 PM
Show Admission: Free

The Creative Club's Annual Show is New Hampshire's premier juried exhibition showcasing creative excellence from northern New England's graphic and web designers, videographers, copywriters, illustrators, photographers and students. Our distinguished panel of judges will select the most brilliant entries. These winning entries will be honored at the opening reception on June 23 at the McIninch Art Gallery at Southern NH University in Manchester.

Entrants can visit the NHCreativeClub.org website to register their entries online. Deadline for submission is: May 15th. There are three drop off locations for getting registered entries to the club, and there is also a mailing address for those who wish to ship their entries.

Entry categories include:
Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Web Design, Video/ Interactive, Advertising/Copywriting, Student

Entry Fees: The registration fee is $20 per entrant. NHCC members add $15 per piece entered. Non members add $30 per piece entered.

The New Hampshire Creative Club is a non-profit association of creative professionals in Northern New England, including graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, copywriters, desktop publishers, printers, videographers, and others in related fields. The Club serves as a creative forum for networking and professional development through its monthly meetings, panel discussions, presentations and workshops on timely topics relevant to professionals in the advertising and visual communications fields.

For more information about this event or New Hampshire Creative Club membership, please call the NHCC hotline at 603-382-5530 or visit us online at http://www.nhcreativeclub.org.

Mother's Day Weekend: Art, Flowers, and Music

AskLisa — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 15:25:00 GMT

Celebrate all that mom does for you by treating her to a Mother's Day weekend of events at the Currier Museum of Art. Special events for moms and the entire family begin on Friday, May 8 through Mother's day, Sunday, May 10.

On Friday, May 8, at noon, the Focus Tour "Celebrating Mother's Day: Women in Art at the Currier" will be offered. This tour is led by Docent Pauline Bogaert and is free with museum admission.

On Saturday, May 9 bring the whole family for "Family Saturday: Mother's Day Flowers" from 11 am-2 pm. Make mom a beautiful bouquet of paper flowers, go on a guided family gallery walk (11:30 am) to see the many flowers in the Currier's art works, visit the Discovery Gallery, or use a family gallery guide. Museum admission is free from 10 am to 12 pm. Family Saturdays are offered the second Saturday of each month and are sponsored by Ocean Bank.

On Mother's Day, Sunday, May 10 treat mom to an afternoon of lunch, music, and art. At 2 pm the Manchester Choral Society will perform songs from "A Child of Our Time" by Michael Tippett including "Nobody Knows the Trouble I See" and "Go Down Moses" along with a special tribute to mothers. A public museum Focus Tour at 3 pm with the theme of "Celebrating Mother's Day: Women in Art at the Currier" will be led by docent Pauline Bogaert. The café will feature a special brunch menu with omelets, waffles, and mimosas, and all moms will be treated to a free cup of coffee! Admission is $10 members, $20 non-members and includes the concert, museum admission, and tour. Make your reservations at www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144 x108.

About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (http://www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi.

The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. To book a tour or get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, ext. 108.

First Thursday Event: The Way Beer Works

AskLisa — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:16:00 GMT

David Macaulay takes a whimsical view of "How Things Work", from ships and skyscrapers to the human body, but did you ever wonder what goes into the process of creating that perfect brew? You can find out "How Beer Works" straight from the experts at Smuttynose Brewing Co. of Portsmouth, NH while you sample some of their distinctive beers. Peter Egelston, President of Smuttynose is the guest presenter at the Currier Museum of Art's First Thursday celebration on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

The evening begins with a tour of the Currier's special exhibition "The Way Things Work: The Art of David Macaulay" at 5:30 pm. Afterward, sample a variety of Smuttynose's distinctive beers as you learn "How Beer Works" from 6 to 7 pm. Peter will be pouring five different beers that represent a good cross-section of styles and flavor profiles.

Come and sample:

•       Shoals Pale Ale: Their original beer and winner of the Gold Medal for Best American Beer at the 2003 Great British Beer Festival.

•       Smuttynose "Finestkind" India Pale Ale: Winner of the Gold Medal for Best American Beer at the 2004 Great British Beer Festival.

"Hands-down one of the best American-style India Pale Ales ever crafted. This brew is lip smacking, with an aggressive and pungent grapefruit hop character. Wonderfully balanced and insanely drinkable." - Jason & Todd Alström, the Weekly Dig's Beer Highlights of 2004

•       Old Brown Dog Ale: A rich, malty brown ale - winner of a Silver Medal at the 1989 Great American Beer Festival.

•       Smuttynose Robust Porter: Smooth & dark, with notes of coffee and chocolate - winner of a Gold Medal at the 2001 Great American Beer Festival.
"Full-bodied and malty with undertones of coffee and chocolate and a bright, hoppy finish, in style it's like Cary Grant's accent: the best of British and American." - The Boston Globe, November, 2005

And their brand-new release,
•       Star Island Single: A Belgian abbey-style "single" ale. Light, crisp & approachable.

Event admission costs $12 members, $22 non-members. Reservations required, and this is a 21+ event. Make your reservations at www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144 x108.

This evening is part of the Currier's First Thursday series. On the first Thursday evening of each month, the museum is open late and provides programming designed to inspire visitors to try something new.

About the Currier
The Currier Museum of Art (www.currier.org) in Manchester, NH is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy new café filled with light and equipped with Wi-Fi.

The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages. The museum also owns the Zimmerman House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, complete with the original furnishings and the owners' fine art collection. The Zimmerman House is the only Wright-designed house in New England open for public tours which are offered April – December. To book a tour or get more information, visit www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144 x 108.

“Salty Dogs” Exhibit, a Summer Send-Off

AskLisa — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:41:00 GMT

Painter Elizabeth Stewart considers her “Salty Dogs” exhibit of pet portraits a celebratory “last hurrah” for the dogs of Seapoint Beach, Maine, before the popular spot limits canine traffic for the “dog days” of summer.

The exhibit will be shown as part of a group show tentatively titled “Salt of the Earth” at Kittery Art Association, April 30 to May 24. An opening reception with live music will be held Sunday, May 3, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

The “Salty Dogs” series features oil on canvas or clayboard animal portraits, most of them private commissions. Seapoint Beach is still open to dogs in summer’s morning and evening hours (before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m., if on a leash). But the more carefree days of running the pebbly beach and swimming in the sun come to an end for our furry friends on June 15. With that timing so close to the exhibit, Stewart thought a dogs-only selection of her work would be a perfect send-off for the season.

“What is it about these animals that are worth so much to us?” Stewart asks herself, and explores the answers in her custom pet portrait series. Observing people-pet relationships through the lens of art, she’s concluded that it’s about healing.

Stewart’s unique style uses traditional Celtic design as a visual language, often revealing and amplifying complex patterns in an animal’s fur or surroundings. The result is sytlized and layered, and creates a new “conversation” between viewer and subject. These animals have stories to tell.

The “Salt of the Earth” reception on May 3 will include light refreshments and live Irish music by the local band Toad in the Road. Stewart—a trained Irish folk singer as well as self-taught painter—will sing, as will her fiance, Steve Carrigan. He and Stewart’s son, Noah McCormick, will also exhibit their own original art. Dean Diggins and Anastasia Maertens round out the group show.

Gallery hours are Thursdays, 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.; and Sundays, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. KAA is located at 8 Coleman Ave., off Route 103/Pepperell Road, just south of the now closed Cap’n Simeon’s Galley in Kittery Point, Maine. The gallery can be reached by phone at (207) 451-9384.

Stewart’s work was featured in a solo exhibit in March at the Elysium Arts Folk Club in Rollinsford, N.H., and has earned awards including the “Alpha Dog Award” at the 2006 “Who Let the Dogs Out?” show at Heartwood College in Kennebunk, Maine; “Honorable Mention” in the Omer T. Lassonde Juried Competition at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH; and “Most Original” in the Maine Women in the Arts’ 2006 Fine Art Competition in Kennebunk, Maine. Giclee prints and greeting cards are available at her Web site, http://www.elizabethstewart.com.

April Schedule of Events at the Currier Museum of Art

AskLisa — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:54:00 GMT

The art of best-selling author and illustrator David Macaulay comes to the Currier in the new exhibition Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay, on view through June 14. The exhibition includes over 100 original works of art, including illustrations from his highly acclaimed 2008 book The Way We Work, studies, sketchbook, models, manuscripts, and a video documentary about the artist. Also on view through May 10 are A Passionate Collector: Highlights from the Robert Cross Vergobbi Bequest and Function and Sculpture: Building a Ceramics Collection.

The museum's entrance is located at 150 Ash Street and parking is available in the new parking lot. Museum hours are Sunday, Monday, Wednesday - Friday 11a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., open the first Thursday of each month 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., and closed Tuesday. Admission to the museum is always free for children 17 and under, and every Saturday from 10 a.m. – noon admission is free to everyone.

The Currier Art Center offers art classes and vacation camps for all ages.

To find more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, x108.

Currier Museum of Art Presents David Macaulay Exhibition

AskLisa — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 16:32:00 GMT

Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay on view March 7 - June 14, 2009

The whimsical and enchanting original drawings, paintings, and sketches of best-selling author and illustrator David Macaulay are the subject of the Currier Museum's major spring exhibition, which opens March 7 Macaulay's gift for conveying complex concepts in a fun and understandable way has delighted children and adults for decades. He has a special genius for explaining the wonder of the way things work—from gadgets to gargantuan buildings—and for bringing readers on extraordinary journeys of the imagination. Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay is the first in-depth museum exhibition to explore the work and process of this popular artist.

"David Macaulay is one of the most creative and innovative artists working today. His books have inspired and intrigued more than two generations of readers around the world. We are delighted to bring his original work to northern New England," says director Susan Strickler.

The exhibition presents a diverse range of materials, including over 100 original works of art, studies, sketchbooks, book dummies, manuscripts and correspondence, artifacts (including hand-built ship models), stuffed specimens, reference materials, travel mementos, and a video documentary about the artist, produced for the exhibition by the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Macaulay's books, which bring together the worlds of art, history, science and fantasy include The Way Things Work, The New Way Things Work, Unbuilding, Cathedral, Castle, City, Mill, Ship, Mosque, Rome Antics, Angelo, Black and White as well as his newest book released in fall 2008 entitled The Way We Work.

The exhibition has been divided into three significant aspects of Macaulay's work: "Big Ideas," "Building Ship: Exploring the Artist's Process," and "Journey Books: The Evolution of Ideas." "Big Ideas" explores the mechanics of everyday objects, the construction of the world's most complex architectural structures, and the intricacies of the human body. Viewers will learn about Macaulay's evolution as an artist and his innate desire to understand and explain how and why objects and structures come to be. Dramatic, original drawings from such classic books as The Way Things Work, Mill, City, Underground, Unbuilding, Pyramid, Mosque, and Cathedral, will be featured.

"Building Ship: Exploring the Artist's Process" examines the creation of a book from concept, research, and preliminary layouts to finished art and text Through images and artifacts relating to David Macaulay's 1993 book Ship, about boat building and maritime archaeology, this section of the exhibition offers insights into the artist's creative process through ship models, artifacts, studies, drawings, photographs, and finished art.

"Journey Books: The Evolution of Ideas" looks at the unpredictable and often frustrating nature of the evolution of ideas. Original paintings, drawings, sketches, book dummies and manuscripts will be presented from works inspired by Macaulay's love of travel and his appreciation for journeys of the imagination, including Rome Antics, Angelo, Shortcut, Why the Chicken Crossed the Road, Baaa, and Black and White.

A series of family-friendly programming accompanies the exhibition. Visit http://www.currier.org for details.

Building Books: The Art of David Macaulay has been organized by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. The Currier Museum of Art presentation of the exhibition is supported in part by TD Charitable Foundation and RiverStone Resources LLC.

About the artist:
As a young boy in Lancashire, England, David Macaulay was fascinated by the way objects are made and how they operate. Out of cigar boxes, he constructed elevators. Using yarn, he made intricate systems of moving cable cars. In 1988, using his remarkable talents for translating concepts and information to the printed page, he was asked to illustrate The Way Things Work: From Levers to Lasers. Macaulay has since expanded the book to include digital technology. The artist's books have sold two million copies in America and have been published in a dozen languages, and Cathedral, Castle, and Pyramid have been made into popular PBS television programs. Macaulay is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Caldecott Medal and Honor Awards and a MacArthur Fellowship.

About the Currier:
The Currier Museum of Art (www.currier.org) is home to an internationally respected collection of European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs and sculpture. New galleries showcase the collection of over 11,000 objects, including works by Picasso, Matisse, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Warhol. Visitors of all ages will enjoy the engaging traveling exhibitions, a series of dynamic programs ranging from music to lectures to hands-on art-making, an expanded gift shop and an airy café filled with light and equipped with WiFi. The associated Art Center offers studio classes, art camps and intensive workshops for all ages.

The Currier is located at 150 Ash Street, Manchester, New Hampshire and is wheelchair accessible. Museum hours are: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 11-5; Saturday, 10-5. Closed Tuesday. Open 11-8 the first Thursday of each month. Museum admission: adults $10; seniors $9; students $8; children under 18 free. Free to all on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. To get more information, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, x 108.

Painter Elizabeth Stewart Solo Exhibit at Elysium Arts to Launch New Business and Website

AskLisa — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:42:00 GMT

Emerging Seacoast painter Elizabeth Stewart will be featured in a solo exhibit titled “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs” during the month of March at the Elysium Arts Folk Club, in the Lower Mill at Salmon Falls in Rollinsford. The opening is free and open to the public on Sunday, March 1, from 4 to 7 p.m., and will also offer Celtic music and song by the artist. The gallery is open by appointment and for three additional concerts by local musicians throughout the month.

The exhibit coincides with the launch of Stewart’s new business, Elizabeth Stewart Art, and its accompanying website, http://www.elizabethstewartart.com.

Specializing in traditional Celtic designs, Elizabeth Stewart Art steps off with an unveiling of the artist’s series of pet portraits: whimsical portraits of people and their pets, integrating Celtic spirals, knots, and mazes to create a stylized texture and symbolic context for each painting. The series has been shown in solo and group shows around the region, and is now available both in greetings card collections and giclee prints online.

In her pet series that treats animals as diverse as dogs, cats and rabbits, “Cecil’s Locusts” is one installment that embodies the layered stories Stewart crafts with her brush. Setting about to paint a friend’s dog named Cecil, Stewart learned that the mischievous Springer Spaniel had been trained as a hunting dog, only to ignore all birds in favor of a trail of locusts on his first hunt. The painting in verdant greens and rich blues renders a testy quail biting on Cecil’s tail while he nonetheless pursues his own prey of choice. Surrounding the scene with a frame of Celtic knots, the painting harkens back to traditional Celtic designs of dogs and birds entwined in decorative art.

“Celtic designists of old who crafted the now famous illuminated manuscripts drew their inspiration from the beauty of the world around them and the activities of their time,” Stewart explains. “Honoring nature and our relationship with it by celebrating even its everyday moments is a rewarding and meditative endeavor that hopefully brings joy and inspiration to those who look at it. That’s very sacred to me, and I also love honoring the humor in life,” she says.

Other painted series of Stewart’s include “Human Trees” and “Work in Progress,” an exploration of ordinary but unique moments during various types of work. These series also incorporate Celtic designs and principles, and are available for sale as greeting cards and giclee prints through the Elizabeth Stewart Art website.

Born of English, Scottish, Mic Mac, Abenaki and other unknown bloodlines, the self-taught painter weaves many ancestries into her work, and is drawn primarily to ancient Celtic traditions of art, music and dance. She views Celtic design as no less than a visual language. Drawing from such revered sources as The Book of Kells and other ancient Irish and Scottish artifacts, she explains, “I am honored to be part of the evolution of this tradition. ... The way these designs happen is very hypnotic. Hopefully people will find it soothing and also invigorating at the same time.”

Among other honors, Stewart’s paintings have won the “Alpha Dog Award” at the 2006 “Who Let the Dogs Out?” show at Heartwood College in Kennebunk, Maine; “Honorable Mention” in the Omer T. Lassonde Juried Competition at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH; and “Most Original” in the Maine Women in the Arts’ 2006 Fine Art Competition in Kennebunk, Maine.

More information on the artist is available at www.elizabethstewartart.com. Details about the opening of “It’s Raining Cats and Dogs” at the Elysium Arts Folk Club in Rollinsford can be found at http://www.elysiumarts.com/folkclub, or (603) 743-4700.