Granite State Stuff : Manchester

December Schedule of Events at the Currier Museum of Art

AskLisa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:29:00 GMT

Manchester, NH – Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow, is on display through January 3, 2010 at the Currier Museum of Art. It is the first major exhibition in 30 years dedicated to this brilliant, visionary, and prodigious photographer, showcasing his prolific body of work with more than 100 exquisitely printed vintage photographs from the 1920s through the 1980s, all handcrafted by the artist. Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection is also on view through January 3, 2010, and features an extraordinary collection of prints and drawings carefully assembled over 50 years by long-time New Hampshire residents David and Barbara Stahl.

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

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

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

DECEMBER

Public Guided Tours

Tours are offered daily, and highlight either the museum’s collection or the current special exhibition. Public tours are free with museum admission. Highlights of the Collection Tour with an introduction to the Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow and Evolution of a Shared Vision: The David and Barbara Stahl Collection: Saturdays at 11:30 am and Sundays at 1 pm. Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow photography exhibition tour times: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 12:30 pm.

Zimmerman House Ticketed Tours
Tour season ends Sunday, January 3

Take a tour of the Zimmerman House and learn more about this Frank Lloyd Wright treasure! The Zimmerman House tour season will end on Sunday, January 3 so be sure to make reservations soon! A Zimmerman House Tour provides visitors with a 1 ½ - 2 hour tour of the house with information about the Zimmermans’ life in the 1950s and 60s, and the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. These tours are offered Mondays and Fridays at 2 pm, Thursdays at 11:30 am and 2 pm, Saturdays at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 3 pm, and Sundays at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. Zimmerman House public tours are free for museum members. It is recommended that reservations be made well in advance.

Private Group Tours Full-length tours, or 1-hour, introductory “Highlights” tours of the Zimmerman house can also be scheduled throughout the week and on weekends. For more information about tour schedules, tickets, and offerings, visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144 x113. Assistive listening systems are available for all public and private tours.

Holiday Music and Art

Thursday, December 3 from 5:30-7:30 pm

Join us for an evening of live music and holiday art-making. The Granite State Ringers, a handbell choir, and Renaissance guitarist Jack Nailor will perform in the museum. Stop by the Winter Garden for refreshments and make a beaded snowflake ornament to take home. From 5:30-7:30 visitors can enjoy a drop-in adult workshop “Beaded Snowflake Ornaments.” At 6 pm, join a 15-minute Gallery Talk “Photographs of Snowflakes.” $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Price includes museum admission, live music, gallery talk, and drop-in workshop. To purchase tickets visit http://www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144 x108.

Focus Tour – Celebrating Winter: A Ramble Through the Snowy Scapes in the Galleries

Friday, December 4 at noon

These special tours offer visitors in-depth gallery discussions on a particular theme, work of art, or artist, and this fall there are many great tours to choose from! Today’s tour will be led by Docent Jane White. Free with museum admission.

Big Apple Express

Saturday, December 5 from 6:30 am-11:30 pm

Enjoy the holiday season in New York City! Visit museums, shops, restaurants, or friends. Prices include transportation only. The coach departs from the Catholic Diocese of Manchester (153 Ash Street) promptly at 6:30 am. Arrive in Manhattan about 11:30 am to spend the day in the city. Re-board the coach at 7 pm to arrive back at the Diocese about 11:30 pm. $75 for members, and $95 for non-members. Reserve your seats by November 4 by calling 603.669.6144 x108.

Currier Museum Art Center Child & Parent Workshop:

Wicked Awesome Holiday Cards…and Stuff

Saturday, December 5 from 1-5 pm

Want to learn how to make fun, festive holiday cards, place cards, pop-up cards, party banners, party favors, gift boxes, wrapping paper and more!? Bring the kids to this child and parent collaborative workshop to learn how you can make your holidays bright, without breaking the bank! Get messy with glitter, glue, stamps, paint, markers, stickers…you name it and we’ll use it in this WICKED AWESOME workshop! Leave the mess for us to clean up, and go home loaded with tons of holiday creations for every event or celebration from now until New Year’s! $25 for 1 parent/child, $40 for 2 children. For more information about the Art Center, or to find the complete brochure and registration form, go to htt www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144 x122. Or, register by mail or in person at the Currier Museum Art Center, 180 Pearl Street, Manchester, NH 03104.

Focus Tour – Celebrating Winter: A Ramble Through the Snowy Scapes in the Galleries

Sunday, December 6 at 3 pm

70^th Anniversary Art Center Faculty Exhibition

Saturday, December 12 from 1-3 pm

Join us in the Currier Museum’s Community Gallery as we close this year’s 70^th Anniversary Celebration of the Currier Art Center with a full faculty art exhibition. This special exhibition showcases the vast range of art and crafts that our faculty create and exhibit throughout the region. A percentage of sales from this exhibition will support the scholarship fund of the Currier Museum Art Center.

Family Saturday: Making Multiples

Saturday, December 12 from 10:30 am-1:30 pm

Spend some quality family time at the Currier the second Saturday of every month. Participate in hands-on art activities, go on a guided family gallery walk (11:30 am), visit the Discovery Gallery, or use a family gallery guide. Museum admission is free from 10 am to 12 pm. Family Saturdays are sponsored by Ocean Bank.

Holiday Caroling in the Museum

Saturday, December 12 from Noon-2 pm

Warm up with some hot cocoa in the Winter Garden, take in some winter landscapes and enjoy the beautiful voices of the Manchester Choral Society as they sing holiday carols throughout the museum. The Manchester Choral Society performs under the musical direction of Dr. Dan Perkins. Come before noon to take advantage of free admission hours (Saturdays from 10 am-noon).

New Parent Gallery Talk: Brett Weston – Out of the Shadow

Thursday, December 17 from 11 am-noon

Has your new baby reduced your vocabulary to “coos” and other nonsensical words? These gallery talks are designed for parents (with baby in tow) to get a personalized tour of the museum. So pack up the baby stroller and stop by for some much needed adult conversation. Free with museum admission.

Storytime in the Gallery

Monday, December 28 from 11:30 am - noon

Looking for a way to introduce your preschooler to art? Come to the Currier for an art-related story read by Manchester City Library children’s librarian Karyn Isleb followed by a gallery talk about the “Artwork of the Day”. Recommended for ages 3 to 5, but all are welcome. Today, listen to the story The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats and look at Sharon’s Sleigh Ride Party by Paul Starrett Sample. Free with museum admission.

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 WiFi.

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, x108.

12 Photographers Selected for Currier Photo Slam

AskLisa — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 13:12:00 GMT

Recently, the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, NH, offered the opportunity for photographers to compete to have their works displayed at the museum and to participate in a "Photo Slam." After reviewing nearly one hundred entries, event curator Gary Samson, Chair of Photography at the New Hampshire Institute of Art, selected twelve finalists. These photographers each get 5 minutes to present their digital images at the Currier Museum's Photo Slam.

Come view the selected photographers for yourself at the event on Thursday, November 5, part of the Currier's First Thursday series. Then, choose your favorite to win our Visitor's Choice Award.

The evening begins with a social hour at 5:30 pm. At 6 pm a 15-minute gallery talk will look at the exhibition Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow. Photo Slam presentations run from 6:30 to 7:30 pm followed by the announcement of the Visitor's Choice Award winner at 7:45 pm. This event is free with museum admission.

See works by the twelve chosen artists on the Currier's website http://www.currier.org/adultprograms.aspx.

Artists selected to participate in the November 5 Photo Slam: Norman Desfosses of Durham, NH; Jonathan Dunitz of South Portland, ME; Nina Earley of Manchester, NH; Sarah Flause of New Castle, NH; Chahalis Hegner of Lowell, MA; Stuart Krentcil of Tewksbury, MA; Tanya Lacourse and Travis Commeau of Manchester, NH; Charlie Lemay of Manchester, NH; Holly McCarthy of Plaistow, NH; (13 year old) Charlie Minicucci of Bedford, NH; Douglas Prince of Portsmouth, NH; and Rick Strawbridge of Exeter, NH.

Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow

AskLisa — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:54:00 GMT

Brett Weston (1911-1993) was considered by many to be brilliant, visionary, prodigious, and among the most important photographers of the twentieth century. Yet, his achievements have often been overshadowed by those of his renowned father, Edward. In the first major exhibition in 30 years to be dedicated to Brett's prolific body of work, Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow concentrates on the photographer's distinct creative spirit. On view at the Currier from October 10, 2009 through January 3, 2010, this exhibition shows how Weston captured the magic of black and white prints through more than 100 exquisitely printed vintage photographs from the 1920s through the 1980s, all handcrafted by the artist.

Out of the Shadow focuses attention on Brett's abstract black-and-white photographs of landscapes, shapes and textures, and architectural elements. A pioneer in his field, Brett captured the intricacies and rhythms of form, light, and shadow, while avoiding photographic techniques such as contrived lighting, staging, or other manipulation.

Aside from two series taken in San Francisco in the 1930s and New York in the 1940s, and abstract images of painted walls, broken glass, and cars, Brett focused on aspects of the natural world, in both close-ups and big views. Although all of his photographs seem to have been taken outdoors, Brett did not consider himself a nature photographer. Many of his most beautiful and accomplished images are associated with water— beads of moisture, bubbles, clouds, ice, ocean, puddles, underwater nudes, wet kelp, wet stones. His sensual black-and-white images transformed quiet moments into powerful statements of bold abstractions. From the rocks of Pebble Beach (1980) that shimmer as if made from mercury, to the sand and horizon in White Sands New Mexico (1945) that looks so stark they join as one, Brett built his oeuvre by pushing the limits of vivid black-and-white contrasts.

Born in Los Angeles, Brett left California at the age of 13 to live with his father Edward in Mexico, taking his first picture on the boat ride south. In Mexico Brett learned form and composition from his father while using his portrait camera. Edward commented in his daybook, "He is doing better work at 14 than I did at 30. To have someone close to me, working so excellently, with an assured future, is happiness hardly expected." Brett received international recognition for his work at age 17, when 20 of his photographs appeared in the exhibition Film und Foto (1929), along with work by Edward Steichen, Berenice Abbott, Man Ray, and others. In 1947, Brett was awarded a Guggenheim grant to photograph East Coast landscapes.

A year later, Brett returned to California to help care for Edward as his health declined and to print his father's photographs, exercising the ultimate influence on Edward's art. In the following decades, Brett continued to create images of landscape and nature, making several trips to photograph locations in Europe, Japan, and Central America. In the late 1970s, Brett built a house in Hawaii, where he worked and lived for most of the rest of his life He guaranteed that he would be the only person to ever print his work by destroying all but a few negatives, which are permanently damaged. Brett died in 1993, in Kona, Hawaii.

See the first retrospective of the artist's work ever to be presented in Northern New England at the Currier and participate in programs developed to supplement this exhibition. On Sunday, November 1 at 2pm, join Stephen Bennet Phillips, curator of Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow as he discusses Weston's extraordinary contribution to the history of modern photography. On Thursday, November 5, 5:30-7:30 pm be a part of the Currier's Photo Slam for which amateur and professional photographers submitted examples of their work over the summer and the 12 chosen artists will be on view. Come vote for your favorite! Saturday, November 7, 12:30-2:30pm join Gary Samson, Chair of Photography for the New Hampshire Institute of Art, as he demonstrates photographic contact printing, a technique that Brett Weston used to create many of his photos.

Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow has been co-organized by The Phillips Collection and the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The exhibition at the Currier is sponsored by The Duprey Companies. Media sponsor for the exhibition is WZID, 95.7FM.

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 www.currier.org or call 603.669.6144, ext. 108.

Oktoberfest at the Currier on October 1st

AskLisa — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:53:00 GMT

The Currier Museum of Art hosts Oktoberfest in celebration of Autumn. On Thursday, October 1, from 5:30 to 7:30pm, visitors are invited to experience locally-crafted beers, live Bavarian music, German-inspired food, and art.

This special First Thursday event features a 15-minute gallery talk at 5:45 pm: "Card Players by Jan Miense Molenaer" and from 6-7:30 pm Live music by the Zour Krauts. Smuttynose Brewing Co. and Milly's Tavern will host beer stations.

Event costs $10 members, $15 for non-members; includes museum admission, live music, beer mug, and first pour. This is a 21+ event. Reservations can be made online at http://www.currier.org or by calling 603.669.6144 x 108.

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 (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 x 108.

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.

Currier Photo Slam Call for Entries

AskLisa — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Are you a professional or aspiring photographer? Have you dreamed about your work being shown in a museum? This is your chance! Enter the Currier's Photo Slam for a chance for your photographs to be shown at the museum and on the museum's website.

Photo Slam is a fun, casual venue for New England photographers to share what they do. Selected photographers will get 5 minutes to present their digital images at the Currier Museum of Art. All entries must be received by Friday, September 18 – see the Currier's website to download a submission form. The event will be held on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 6:30pm. Photo Slam is presented as part of the Currier's First Thursday event series and in conjunction with the exhibition Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow opening October 10.

Who Can Apply?
Any photographer, professional or amateur, living in New England may apply.

Curator
The curator for Photo Slam is Gary Samson, Chair of Photography at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Samson is also recognized as an accomplished fine arts photographer. His work is included in the collections of the Currier Museum of Art, the New Hampshire Institute of Art, the State of New Hampshire, the Art Galleries at the University of New Hampshire, as well as many private collections. For many years, Samson also has served as State Juror of Photography for the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

Awards
Each of the selected artists will receive a gift bag from the Currier Museum of Art, and be recognized on our website.

How to Submit
Download an entry form from www.currier.org/adultprograms.aspx and follow the instructions. Deadline for submissions has been extended – photos must be received by Friday, September 18.
Chosen artists will be notified by October 2.

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.

Open Mic Night featuring NH Poetry Slam Team

AskLisa — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:41:00 GMT

Creativity will flow in different forms at the Currier Museum of Art as poetry joins with art. On Thursday, September 3, from 5:30 to 7:30pm, the Currier is hosting an Open Mic Night featuring New Hampshire's Poetry Slam team fresh off their participation in the National Poetry Slam. A poetry slam combines poetry and performance and on this evening the NH Poetry Slam Team will share their creative expression of language and performance with museum visitors. Visitors are invited to join in on the slam and share their own poem.

This special First Thursday event features a social hour from 5:30-6:30pm; a 15-minute Talk 'Poetry and Art' at 6pm; the NH Poetry Slam team from 6:30-7pm; and an Open Mic period from 7-7:30pm.

This evening is free with museum admission: $10 for adult non-members, $9 for seniors (65 and older), $8 for students (with student ID), free for children 17 and under, and free for members. Reservations can be made online at www.currier .org or by calling 603.669.6144 x 108.

This evening is part of the Currier's First Thursday series and ends a week that explores poetry and art. On August 30 from 2:30 to 4 pm the Currier is hosting Poetry and Art: An Ekphrastic Experience. This program offers an opportunity for writers from around the state to read their poetry and prose in honor of the Currier's "Crest of the Wave" statue.

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 x 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.

Groove to the summer beats as music and art join together at the Currier Museum of Art

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

"Rain, rain, go away" may be a tune humming in the heads of New Hampshire residents these days. Well, the Currier Museum of Art is bringing summer back. On Thursday, August 6, from 5:30 - 7:30pm, visitors to the Currier are invited to enjoy a summer evening of music and art. The Groove Cats will perform live jazz, swing, and rock music on the front lawn of the museum. Associate Curator Kurt Sundstrom will give a brief talk on the relationship between jazz and art. There will also be a summer cookout menu and cash bar.

This special First Thursday evening event features a Social Hour from 5:30-6:30pm; a15-minute Talk "Jazz and Art," at 6pm and live music by The Groove Cats from 6:30-7: 30pm.

If the weather is nice, visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets. In the case of rain, the event will be held indoors.

Admission is $10 members, $15 non-members. Price includes admission, the talk, and the concert. Reserve online or by calling 603.669.6144 x 108.

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 (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 x 108.

Body of Lake Massabesic Drowning Victim Recovered

AskLisa — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:25:00 GMT

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department divers today recovered the body of 52-year-old Kenneth Fudge, of Derry, N.H., who drowned after overturning his kayak in Lake Massabesic at about 5:00 p.m. yesterday (July 15, 2009). Fudge's fiancé attempted save him, but he tragically slipped from her arms and sank after she could no longer hold him up. He did not know how to swim and was not wearing a life preserver. Weather was not a factor in the incident.

N.H. Fish and Game coordinated today's recovery operation. Marine Patrol personnel helped pinpoint the location of the body using a side-scan sonar unit and laid out a grid for Fish and Game divers to use in conducting the underwater search. The lake water is about 20 feet deep in the area of the incident, which is fairly close to the shoreline. Divers reported a difficult search because of poor visibility in the water. Family members were present as the search progressed.

Soon after the incident yesterday afternoon, personnel from the Auburn Fire Department responded to the scene and called in emergency rescue help from the Nashua Fire Department Dive Team. Manchester Fire Department and Department of Safety Marine Patrol staff searched from boats and made additional searches along the shorelines. N.H. Fish and Game Conservation Officers also were called in to provide support of a potential rescue, and subsequently took charge of the recovery operation.

Tucker Elected to AG New England Board

AskLisa — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:44:00 GMT

Philip R. Tucker has been elected to the Associated Grocers of New England Board of Directors, filling an open seat. “As the owner of Aldrich General Store in North Haverhill, New Hampshire, for over 30 years,” says board chair Thomas Bradbury, “Phil’s experience, effective leadership style and in-depth business knowledge have helped him grow his business more than tenfold, from yearly revenues of under $300,000 to over $3 million. Clearly he will be a valuable asset to AG New England.”

Originally a journeyman plumber, Tucker purchased Aldrich General Store in 1976; by 1989, he had implemented a computerized bar-code checkout system. Seven years later, increased sales allowed Tucker to build a new store four times larger and include an expanded product line and deli. He was voted the New Hampshire Grocers Association’s “Grocer of the Year” in 2005, the same year he joined the AG New England Retail Advisory Board.

Tucker, a New Hampshire Grocers Association member, served on the Education Committee and the Board of Directors and as Treasurer between 1993 and 1997. He chairs the Haverhill Co-op School Board of Directors, and is a board member of School Administrative Unit 32 (Bath, Haverhill, Piermont, and Warren, New Hampshire). Tucker holds membership in the Bektash Shrine Temple, Concord, New Hampshire; the Free Masons of North Haverhill; and the Haverhill Lions Club, where he is Past Third Vice President and continues his 15-year tenure as Sight Chair. He attended Keene State College, majoring in Elementary Education.

Associated Grocers of New England is owned entirely by Independent Retail Grocers as members of a cooperative and is the largest retailer-owned, wholesale grocery distribution center in New England. Headquartered in New Hampshire, AG New England serves independent retail food stores in Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and the Upstate New York/Albany area.

Franco-American Centre hosts Annual "La Cave Aux Vins" in Manchester

AskLisa — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:09:00 GMT

More than 250 business leaders, supporters, and friends of The Franco-American Centre are expected to attend the organization's 15th Annual “La Cave Aux Vins” (The Wine Cellar) Wine Tasting Event to be held on Friday, July 17th from 6 PM – 8 PM at the Franco-American Centre, located at 52 Concord Street in Manchester. Wines from California, France, and South America will be featured, plus great breads, international cheeses, and delicious hors d'oeuvres. The Jazz Dogs will provide musical entertainment.

Tickets for “La Cave Aux Vins” are on sale at $35 per person, and include the wine tasting, buffet, and entertainment. Limited $100 raffle tickets are available. Corporate Sponsorships and promotional opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Lise Sutton at (603) 669-4045, for more information and to reserve your tickets.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Franco American Centre Building Restoration Project, which has a 2009 fund raising goal of $400,000. Constructed in 1910, the Franco-American Center was designated an historic building by the New Hampshire Preservation, and is listed as one of New Hampshire's “seven to save”. “La Cave Aux Vins” attendees will have an opportunity to view the restoration work underway to save the original architecture of this historic building.

Local Restaurant Group Steps Up To help Manchester High School’s ‘Pay to Play’!

AskLisa — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:58:00 GMT

Cactus Jack’s Great West Grill located on South Willow Street in Manchester, and T-BONES Great American Eatery located on the Manchester/Bedford line have announced their commitment to donate to the Manchester High School’s budget issues with their own “Play to Win” initiative to keep our Manchester students engaged in programs, in particular sports.

When owner/CEO Tom Boucher heard of the budget issues that threaten to take away high school sports programs, he knew he had to do something to help. “I played 4 years of high school basketball, and it taught me tremendous skills that have served me well my entire life. It taught me about teamwork, respect and leadership and I know it helped me achieve the success I currently enjoy. Our ‘Play To Win’ program is our way of helping kids participate in these programs,” states New Hampshire resident, Boucher.

When Boucher saw a news report on June 25th regarding the plight of the Manchester High School’s budget, he called Mayor Frank Guinta to get the ball rolling and by the end of the day on June 26th, the initiative was launched.

Mayor Guinta responded, “Budget issues, especially when it involves our children, are of great concern to me, so when I have a local business step up to the plate so quickly, it gives me great pride in our community.”

Cactus Jack’s & T-BONES Play To Win Initiative:

July 1, 2009 through August 30, 2009

Each time a Manchester High School employee or student

shows their school ID when dining at the Manchester Cactus Jack’s or Bedford T-BONES,

10% of their entire bill will be donated to the Manchester High School’s sports and related programs.

This program also includes any take-out or catering orders.

Cactus Jack’s is located at 782 South Willow Street in Manchester, NH; Bedford T-BONES is located at 25 South River Road in Bedford, NH, and are locally owned and operated by Great NH Restaurants. For more information call 603.627.8600, for directions visit http://www.go2CJs.com.

See Local Woodturners Create Art: FREE family day July 11 at the Currier Museum of Art

AskLisa — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:05:00 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 natural beauty of the wood is revealed and enhanced. Visitors can observe how wood is turned into art on Saturday, July 11 during a FREE day of wood-themed activities at the Currier. The activities are related to the exhibition Turning Wood Into Art: The Jane and Arthur Mason Collection, on display July 3 – September 27, 2009.

The day features family art-making activities from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm where visitors can make their own mini-sculpture featuring turned wood components; 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 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. The exhibition 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.

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.

26 filmmaking teams coming to Manchester

AskLisa — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:28:00 GMT

Local 48 Hour Film Project is a sell out

Twenty-six teams of filmmakers will descend upon Manchester on Friday, June 12 to get their assignments for the first ever 48 Hour Film Project in the Granite State.

Teams will gather at Manchester’s Double Midnight Comics and Collectibles for the 6 p.m. kickoff event where they will receive the genre, line of dialogue, prop, and character name they must include in the films they will create in just 48 hours.

Because this is the first time NH is hosting a local competition for the national 48 Hour Film Project, teams must also include a Granite State landmark in their final product.

Of the 26 teams (the maximum number allowed to compete) 21 are from the Granite State and five are from Massachusetts. Participants are responsible for putting together their own cast and crew, and getting equipment and anything else they need to make a film/video.

Completed films are due back at Double Midnight Comics & Collectibles, 245 Maple Street in Manchester, by 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 14 to compete.

All 26 entries will be screened for the public on Monday, June 22, at the Apple Tree Cinemas in Londonderry, NH. Two screenings, each showing a block of 13 films, will be held at 6:30 and 9 p.m. A panel judges will choose just one team to go on to the national 48 Hour Film Project competition.

Now in its ninth year nationally, the 48 Hour Film Project is the ultimate filmmaking challenge. In 2008, some 30,000 filmmakers made films in 70 cities. This year, we're even bigger, with filmmakers around the world taking the challenge.

The 48 Hour Film Project's mission is to advance filmmaking and promote filmmakers. Through its festival/competition, the Project encourages filmmakers and would-be filmmakers to get out there and make movies. For more information, contact Chris Proulx at NewHampshire@48hourfilm.com or 603.540.2381.