Art New England: Focus On Portsmouth, NH and Seacoast

FOCUS ON: Portsmouth, NH

Special Advertising Section

P

ortsmouth, New Hampshire, consid-

ered the third oldest city in the

nation, is a colonial era treasure,

recently named a “Distinctive

Destination” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.” Anchoring a

Seacoast region that includes Hampton,

Exeter, and Rye, New Hampshire, as well as Kittery, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, and York,

Maine, Portsmouth has attracted and nurtured

a range of creative minds and prominent

artists since it was founded in 1623. Today, the city offers a number of world-class galleries,

attractions, and arts institutions.

One of New Hampshire’s most expansive

George Marshall Store Gallery

and impressive galleries is located just south

of Portsmouth in the beautiful, seaside town

of Rye. With two stories of serene, nature-

inspired works by renowned artist Soo Rye

Yoo, the Soo Rye Gallery is the perfect, first stop for any art enthusiast setting out to

explore the region. Oils, mixed media, drawings, and sketches dominate this dazzling

space, which features a newly revivified

“artshop,” offering a wide range of handmade

gifts. The artist and her colleague, David

Christopher, also teach classes tailored to the specific needs of their students in sculpture,

mixed media, and painting. On June 24, the

gallery will present its Realism and Abstraction

show, for which there will be an opening

reception on June 9, 5–8 p.m.

Next, just follow the cry of seagulls up the

coast into greater Portsmouth and make your

way toward bustling Hancock Street. Here

you’ll find the Strawbery Banke Museum,

A short walk north, by Washington Street’s

sprawling fields and overflowing gardens,

takes you to the charming Plainspoke

Gallery. One of Portsmouth’s most eclectic

and active cultural meeting places, the

Plainspoke gallery was established in 1997 by

Diane and Matt Ralph. On the gallery’s mez-

zanine level can be found the Parlor at

Plainspoke, an open space devoted to hosting exhibitions, publication release parties, and

other arts related events. On show in the

Parlor June 15–July 6 will be Lauren Gillette:

Wish/Regret, an ongoing series of the artist’s

mug shot-inspired portraits. Boasting a roster

of talented graphic designers, Plainspoke also

produces a number of catalogs and limited edition portfolios. As such, the gallery is

quickly becoming the top location in the

Portsmouth area for independently produced

art and photography books.

toric gardens, featured exhibits, and interpre-

north of Sheafe Street, you’ll come upon the

tive programs offered by this world-class

museum. Strawbery Banke’s ten-acre plot also

features period shops, as well as costumed

role players presenting the activities of citi-

April 21 - May 27, 2012

tion in eight separate historical buildings.

where the area’s first settlers are brought back

to vivid life through the restored homes, his-

Susan MacDougall - Notations

um’s exceptional costume and textile collec-

zens from Colonial times through World War

II. The exhibition, Thread: Stories of Fashion at

Strawbery Banke, 1740–2012, displays the muse-

TRANSFORMATIONS May 5–June 30, 2012 Mixed Media Photographs by Suzie Goodwin

Continuing on foot, just a few minutes

handsome Moffat-Ladd House and Garden.

First built in 1763, the house is one of the

country’s finest examples of Georgian archi-

tecture and has been welcoming the public as

a historic site since 1912. Today, the Moffatt-

Ladd House and Garden conducts tours of its

finely decorated period interior, complete with

French scenic wallpaper from the nineteenth

century, copperplate hunting prints, and a

wealth of original furniture, including seven

Chinese Chippendale pieces. Aside from these exceptional tours, which begin on June 3 and

run 1–5 p.m. on Sunday and 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, the museum also

offers garden and warehouse rentals for those

planning events that call for unsurpassed sur-

roundings.

Nearby, art lovers can visit one of the

Michael Stasiuk - On and Off the Wall June 2 - July 8, 2012

140 Lindsay Road, York, Maine 207-351-1083 www.georgemarshallstoregallery.com

22

ART NEW ENGLAND

May/June 2012

Affordably unique original art, gifts, Fair Trade items Offering Victorian Tea-Time Art Events

HALEY ART GALLERY 178 Haley Rd., Kittery, ME • Thurs–Sat 12–6 pm 207-439-7612 • www.haleygallery.com

region’s most notable art impresarios, Don

Gorvett, the award winning woodcut artist

and proprietor of a number of top-notch art

galleries. Gorvett’s Piscataqua Fine Arts is

one of downtown Portsmouth’s true creative

Portsmouth, NH and Seacoast Special Advertising Section

gems, displaying both the artist’s celebrated

landscape prints as well as a breathtaking collection of fine art by a roster of talented New England artists, including Sidney Hurwitz,

Penelope Jenks, Alex deCronsant, Sean Hurley, and Ralph Gorvett. Prints by a variety of mod-

Just north of Kittery, the town of York,

view through May 27.

lished and rising artists are shown at the

Gloria Gustafson, runs the acclaimed Village

built in 1867 that was later transformed into a

won numerous awards and boasts affiliation

exhibition spaces and galleries. Both estab-

George Marshall Gallery, a country store first

ern and contemporary masters can also be

gallery by curator Mary P. Harding. Harding,

and inviting gallery located in the very heart

wealth of fascinating and insightful shows

purchased, or simply enjoyed, at this intimate

a graduate of Brown University, organizes a

of downtown Portsmouth.

here, including Momentum X, an exhibition

nearly endless diversions, visitors should con-

Hampshire Charitable Foundation’s Artist

Leaving downtown Portsmouth and its

tinue north into Maine and its celebrated sea-

side villages. Widely known for its abundant

lobster and unmatched ocean views, the

Maine seacoast is also home to the Haley

have works appearing in Momentum X, on

Maine, is home to one of the state’s finest

celebrating the tenth anniversary of the New

Advancement Grant. This year’s winner, Kim

Bernard, as well as the finalists Lauren

Gillette, Lisa Grey, and Rose Umerlik, will all

Gallery. Located on Haley Road in the beauti-

Another of the region’s artistic beacons,

Gallery on York Street. Gustafson, who has

with several New England Galleries, is

renowned both for her vibrant oils and mas-

terful watercolor paintings. Bright, elegantly

composed ocean scenes and sensitive floral

meditations comprise Gustafson’s superb col-

lection, which have recently been displayed in

a number of area shows. An artist for over

forty years, Gustafson also accepts commis-

sions. On August 11 and 12 Gustafson’s work

¡ ¡®

ful town of Kittery, the Haley Gallery features

affordable, original artworks, artful gifts, and

Fair Trade items to suit any personal or corporate space. The 800 square-foot gallery, situat-

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ed in a renovated, turn-of-the-century dairy farm, can be rented for small gatherings,

retreats, or meetings. The Haley Gallery’s

Victorian Teatime Art Affair—by reservation

only—allows groups of adults or children to experience a classic Victorian high tea, sur-

rounded by the gallery’s outstanding collec-

tion. During the Victorian teatime all art pur-

Karole Moe, Surf

chases include a fifteen percent discount.

Barn Gallery THE

pAR lor an exhibition and event space

Francine Schrock, Macworth Island fine art furniture

AT P L A I NSPOK E

Join us for the “Fine Art Furniture” Artists Opening Reception, Saturday, May 26, 2012 from 5–7pm and official opening of the season.

an exhibition and event space 18 SHEAFE STREET PORTSMOUTH NH

Visit our website for current exhibition information and gallery hours www.plainspoke.com /parlor or call 603.433.5969

Shore Road & Bourne Lane Ogunquit, Maine 207.646.8400

7

www.barngallery.org

Exhibition Artists: Paul Leddy, Karole Moe, and Francine Schrock 21 WESTERN AVENUE • LOWER VILLAGE PO BOX 3004 • KENNEBUNK, ME 04043 207-967-6331 • WWW.THESHARPEGALLERY.COM

May/June 2012

ART NEW ENGLAND 23

Portsmouth, NH and Seacoast Special Advertising Section

will be on show in South West Harbor,

September 15 in York Harbor, and on October

12 and 13 in York, Maine.

Traveling northward, visitors will be hard

pressed to find a more scenic township than

Ogunquit, Maine. Featuring the beloved Barn

Gallery, Ogunquit is a delightful mishmash of

country stores, bed and breakfasts, beaches,

and boutiques. Featuring fascinating exhibitions, panel discussions, gallery talks, and

workshops, the Barn Gallery is an award-win-

ning nonprofit arts organization whose exhibi-

tions are free to the public. The Barn Gallery also works closely with Ogunquit Art

Association, a group founded in 1928 to

encourage exhibition and education among

area artists. The Barn Gallery will hold a stu-

dent show on May 23, and a juried show open

to regional artists during the month of July.

Like Ogunquit, Kennebunk is a town

admired by tourists and locals alike for its

ocean views, superb seafood, and eclectic sea-

side community. Kennebunk is also home to

the Heartwood College of Art, truly one of

Design and Crafts (ceramics, jewelry, weaving,

metal), Fine Arts (painting, drawing, and

printmaking), and Photography. Situated just

a half hour from Portland and an hour and a

half from Boston, Heartwood also features

intimate classes in history, psychology, mathe-

matics, writing, and sociology as they relate to

the arts, and is licensed by the state of Maine

to grant Associate, Bachelor of Fine Art, and

the state’s best educational arts institutions.

Master of Fine Art degrees.

ness community, Heartwood College of Art

a visit to the Sharpe Gallery. Displaying a

Located just a mile from the downtown busi-

offers an integrated curriculum of liberal edu-

cation, art foundation, and art studio courses

encompassing three fields of concentration:

No stay in Kennebunk is complete without

superb collection of emerging and established

artists, the Sharpe Gallery was recently

opened by Tracy Sharpe in the chic Lower

Village. The gallery primarily shows abstract

and impressionist works in oil, acrylic, water-

color, pastel, and gouache. Currently on view

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pieces from throughout the season will be

available for purchase at the furniture show,

where collectors can also opt for a custom

piece designed by the artist Karole Moe.

Charmingly scenic, yet utterly cosmopoli-

tan, Portsmouth and the Seacoast region boast

an enduring maritime history, impressive arts

scene and a promising future.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Paul Adler

MOFFATT-LADD HOUSE & GARDEN 1763 154 Market St. â&#x20AC;˘ Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 436-8221 â&#x20AC;˘ June 3 thru October 21

â&#x20AC;˘ Visit this National Historic Landmark open to the public since 1912 in the heart of Portsmouth, just steps from the harbor, shopping, and restaurants.

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Celebrating 100 years as a museum! www.moffattladd.org for hours & events

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ART NEW ENGLAND

Karole Moe, and Francine Schrock. Select

â&#x20AC;˘ Join us for the OUR Old House Festival Saturday, June 2, 2012, 12:30-4:30 for demonstrations, tours, childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities, and our annual heirloom plant sale.

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$ $ $

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24

is Fine Art Furniture, an exhibition of furniture

inspired by the paintings of Paul Leddy,

May/June 2012