Destination New Hampshire

DESTINATION NEW HAMPSHIREDESTINATION NEW HAMPSHIRE

NewHampshire embraces its Live Free or Die motto with a passion one expects from such a declaration. As soon as you cross into the state, you feel a sense of ease and freedom. Here, arts and culture seekers will discover thriving arts communities of all shapes and sizes in the state’s larger cities and tiny hamlets. Yet don’t let the casual atmo sphere fool you—there is serious art happening here amidst the breathtaking White Mountains and serene lakes.

The following pages offer a glimpse into the season’s cultural happenings, now laced with the promise of the holidays and the first snow fall. From major museum and gallery exhibi tions, to nature walks, lectures, and performanc es, ’tis the season to explore New Hampshire’s artistic side. Pair these events with the state’s burgeoning culinary scene and famous inns and B & Bs and you have the makings for a fam ily weekend adventure or a romantic getaway. Planning your holiday shopping? Arts festivals and fairs abound.

Looking forward to winter weather? Bring your skis, skates, and snowboards and experi ence that incredible sensation of living free while breathing the freshest air under a sunny New Hampshire sky. You’ll never feel more alive.

CURRIER MUSEUM OF ART

Manchester

Located in New Hampshire’s most populous city, the Currier Museum of Art is an excit ing, expansive contemporary art museum in Manchester. If you plan to visit during the weekend, stop by the Winter Garden for brunch, every Sunday starting at 10 a.m., for live music and food and drink specials. Call ahead to reserve a tour of the only two Frank Lloyd Wright houses in New England available for public viewing, the Kalil House and the Zimmerman House, or, for a more casual visit, drop in on Art After Work: Free Thursday Nights weekly from 5 to 8 p.m. for free admis sion, live music, and refreshments. If you have been to this museum before, now is the time to revisit! The Currier has recently reinstalled its collection across the galleries. This reimagining of the Currier’s collection presents new acqui sitions alongside old favorites and contempo rary art alongside historic works, creating and revealing new contexts for the Museum’s col

lection. Whenever and however you choose to visit, whether you are returning or coming for the first time, you’ll experience a full day of art and beauty at the Currier. currier.org

CHAPEL ART CENTER AT SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE—Manchester

The Alva de Mars Megan Chapel Art Center is housed in what was once the college’s chapel, which retains its vaulted ceilings and allegorical lunettes painted by Father Raphael Pfisterer, O.S.B. (1877–1942). This year, the Chapel Art Center presents a special three-phase exhibition, Dilecta, Reflections on a Permanent Collection. The exhibition reexamines the origins and growth of the collection and the Center as the director looks back on 25 years. A focus on core groupings such as women modernists, religious works, New England landscapes, and international art creates new genres and provides a new lens through which to view the collection. In addition to exhibi tions, the Chapel Art Center features lectures, concerts, and tours, all of which are free and open to the public. Experience art in a unique setting in this reimagined chapel while enjoy ing the natural beauty of the landscape that surrounds this campus on the edge of the city. anselm.edu/arts/chapel-art-center

LAMONT GALLERY AT PHILLIPS EXETER ACADEMY—Exeter

The Lamont Gallery is housed in the Frederick R. Mayer Art Center at Phillips Exeter

Academy. This historic school’s campus is a beautiful green space with Georgian-style scholastic buildings and is in walking distance to downtown Exeter. The Lamont Gallery is a contemplative exhibition and teaching space showcasing regional, national, and interna tional art in innovative thematic exhibitions. Currently showing is Tradition Interrupted (through December 10), featuring eleven art ists from around the globe whose work blends the traditional with the modern. The gallery is open to the public by appointment only, which can be made online at the Phillips Exeter Academy website. The Lamont Gallery operates with an emphasis on inquiry, active engagement, and dialogue. A visit here is an opportunity to enjoy a space for people of all ages to see and engage with art in an academic and welcoming environment. exeter.edu/ academics/lamont-gallery

THE MUSEUM OF ART AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE Durham

The Museum of Art at the University of New Hampshire’s mission is to serve as a visual arts resource and educational catalyst for the academic and wider community. The Museum presents dynamic exhibitions and programs during the academic year, featuring nationally recognized artists and emerging talent who work in new and traditional media address ing socially and culturally relevant topics. The interdisciplinary nature of the Museum of Art’s

Welcome to Bethlehem, exterior mural painted by Zach Johnsen. Photo: P Sullivan. Courtesy of WREN Gallery, Bethlehem, NH.

exhibitions is apparent in The Solastalgic Archive, a curatorial project by artist Nina Elder on view through December 3. The traveling archive evolves and grows with contributions from each exhibiting host venue. Visitors are invited to donate ephemera, photographs and record ings, and objects that connect them to the here and now during a period of accelerated change. Recent contributions include a recipe for stew, a climate emergency zine, and a children’s book written and illustrated by a New Hampshire artist. Plan to add a piece of yourself into the artwork when you visit this interactive exhibit. What will that be? cola.unh.edu/museum-art

STRAWBERY BANKE MUSEUM

Portsmouth

Strawbery Banke Museum is an outdoor his

tory museum of nearly ten acres in charming, popular Portsmouth. With historic houses on original sites, costumed historical role-players, traditional craft demonstrations, and heirloom gardens and landscapes, this multifaceted museum remains dedicated to preserving and celebrating the nearly 300 years of history in this seaside city. The museum is open season ally from May to October with programming, workshops, and special events taking place year-round. There are three upcoming pro grams to look out for in the next few months: The Dawnland StoryFest on November 5 is a Native American storytelling festival featuring five experienced Indigenous storytellers and a keynote address. From December through February, the whole family can enjoy out door ice-skating at the Labrie Family Skate at

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Puddle Dock Pond. Saturdays and Sundays, December 3 through 18, enjoy walking history tours from house to historically and festively decorated house via Candlelight Stroll and learn what the holidays have looked like over the past three centuries. strawberybanke.org

THE GALLERY 3S ARTSPACE Portsmouth

This unique and eclectic local art space is a vibrant part of the blooming Portsmouth art scene. The Gallery will be showing two exhibitions over the months of December and January. Walking Out of the Shadows (November 26 to January 29) features the folklore-inspired work of Sarah Nguyen. The concurrent exhibi tion Transmuting the Prosaic (December 2 to January 29) is a multimedia show from lifelong

reimagined

musician and artist Roger Clark Miller. The opening reception for both is on December 2 and will coincide with Portsmouth’s monthly Art Around Town event. In addition to the Gallery, the building at 3S Artspace contains a multipurpose performance space that regularly hosts theater, music, and more. If you get hun gry, don’t worry about venturing out. Take a rest and enjoy delicious food, beautiful murals, and great conversation at the in-house taco bar, Barrio. 3sarts.org/gallery

THE LAKES GALLERY AT CHI-LIN—Laconia

Located in a restored 1780s farmhouse and surrounded by Japanese gardens, the Lakes Gallery provides a historic, homey setting in which to view art and find tranquility. In the

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summer, the Lakes Gallery exhibits two shows, featuring two process artists that take viewers from conception to execution. In the fall and winter, the gallery transitions into a more tradi tional mixed gallery, offering visitors a range of work and introducing them to new artists from New England and Asia. When visiting, don’t expect a traditional gallery experience. Artwork is hung in the historic hallways, stairwells, and rooms upstairs in the farmhouse and is presented as-is, without the standard cluttered labels. In addition to the gallery, owner Suzanne Lee runs several workshops both in the Lakes Gallery and at local libraries. She teaches tradi tional italic and copperplate calligraphy as well as bookmaking and card making, perfect for adding a special touch to holiday gifts!

thelakesgallery.com

THE GALLERY AT WREN Bethlehem

The Women’s Rural Entrepreneurial Network (WREN) is a nonprofit dedicated to the support, education, and enrichment of women at work in northern New Hampshire. WREN represents over 120 local women artists and producers whose work can be found at the Gallery and marketplace in Bethlehem. The Gallery has six exhibitions yearly. From November 11 to December 30, the member’s show will be on dis play. If you see something you like and regret not buying it, purchases can be made online as well as in-person. The Gallery is situated on Main Street in scenic Bethlehem, nestled in the

White Mountains. If you are look ing for a holiday adventure, visit Bethlehem and the Gallery at WREN on December 3 for the Gallery’s holiday pop-up Good Tidings: Local Art and Holiday Gifts and the town of Bethlehem’s Christmas in Bethlehem celebra tion. Whether you are here for holi day happenings or a scenic winter journey, stop by the Gallery

at WREN and support the women artists and makers of New Hampshire. And don’t forget to take a selfie in front of the Welcome to Bethlehem mural, painted by New Hampshire artist Zach Johnsen! wrenworks.org

HOOD MUSEUM OF ART AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE Hanover

The Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College is home to one of the oldest and largest col lections at any college or university in the country, boasting 65,000 objects from a range of geographical origins and historical periods. The museum opened in 1985 and underwent

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a major expansion and renovation that ended in 2019. The Hood is situated on Dartmouth University’s gorgeous 250-year-old campus, nes tled in the quaint, quintessential New England college town of Hanover near the Vermont border. The traveling exhibition Madayin: Eight Decades of Aboriginal Australian Bark Painting from Yirrkala will be on view through December 3 and Park Dae Sung: Ink Reimagined will be on view through March 19, 2023. On November 3, exhibition artist Park Dae Sung will speak at the annual Root Lecture, with in-person and livestream options available. Admission to the Hood Museum is free. With multiple exhibitions happening at all times and a robust roster of gal lery talks, lectures, workshops, and more, there is never a dull moment to be found during your visit to the Hood! hoodmuseum.dartmouth.edu

Strawbery Banke Museum’s furnished historic houses, including the Goodwin Mansion (above), are adorned with hand made decorations created from greens and dried flowers from the Museum’s heirloom gardens. Photo: David J. Murray/ ClearEyePhoto.com.

FEATURING THE WORK OF OVER 120 LOCAL ARTISTS AND MAKERS

MAIN STREET, BETHLEHEM, NH AND ONLINE @ WRENWORKS.ORG

Prior to the pandemic, Art New England focused on one Destination at a time each issue. When ANE relaunched amidst the pandemic, it took a while for destinations to re-open and we decided that we’d welcome anyone and everyone across the region and wait out an organic return to the previous approach. Destination: New England allows for more flexibility, through every season.

Winter is upon us now and we all know what that means: holidays, celebrations, gather ings, togetherness. And, yes, perhaps a snowfall or two. For many, it is a time of reawakening, of reflection and contemplation before the new year. English poet, painter, printmaker William Blake wrote, “In seed time learn, in harvest

Vernon Street Open Studios

teach, in winter enjoy.” Make this a winter of enjoyment and exploration. Seek out new desti nations, galleries and events—experience art in new ways.

Art New England’s Destination sections exist for that very reason, to help you capture that spirit of enjoyment.

VERNON STREET OPEN STUDIOS

Somerville, MA

Vernon Street Open Studios returns after four years! This volunteer-run studio build ing is one of the oldest in Somerville. Heading toward their 50th anniversary, the Studios house over one hundred artists. These artists create from a range of mediums and expertise, from jewelry making to mosaics and fine arts, from retired hobbyists to emerging artists and well-established professionals. On December 3 and 4, these artists will open their doors to the public in their Fall/Winter Open Studios event, bringing art to the Somerville community and beyond. If you would like to be more involved, stop by Flatbread Pizza at 45 Day Street on November 8 from 5:30 to 9:30 for Vernon Street Studio’s Benefit Bake Fundraiser! This Open Studios event is perfect for early holiday shop

ping, with options at every price point, and is also a chance to get involved and meet the artists that make Vernon Street Studios—and Somerville—their home. vernonstreet.com

PARADISE CITY ARTS FESTIVAL

Marlborough, MA

Paradise City Arts Festival is the premier art festival in New England, occuring annually the weekend before Thanksgiving. This year’s event falls on November 18, 19, and 20 at the Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough, MA. A beloved “kick off the holidays” event, the Festival features a carefully curated selection of 175 independent American artists and makers. Their products have a wide range of price points and items, including gifts, home décor, fashion, jewelry, and fine arts. The Festival is easily acces sible from anywhere in the state and has plenty of free parking, with a shuttle bus running con tinuously from the two adjoining parking lots. If you need a break from browsing and shopping, stop by one of the two cafes on-site. Sculpture Café will have live music as well as refreshments and there will be a themed exhibition, Sweet Dreams, on display at the event. Whether it’s for shopping, idle browsing, or just having a great

Artist Zöe McCarthy and guests in her studio. Photo: Heather Balchunas. Courtesy Vernon Street Open Studios, Somerville, MA

day out with friends, Paradise City Arts Festival is a perfect event for any art lover! festivals.para disecityarts.com

INNER SPACE FINE ARTS

North Reading, MA

Inner Space Fine Arts is a contemporary fine arts gallery housed in the iconic octagonal building at 189 Main Street. The gallery takes its name, “Inner Space,” from a representation of both the physical interiors and interior lives in which art resides. In addition to exhibiting work, Inner Space sells unique, handcrafted gifts from local artists on-site as well. From November 12 to December 23, Inner Space will exhibit Land/Water, a two-person show featuring works from Karen Krieger and Elise Freda. Both Krieger and Freda are mixed-media

abstract artists who draw inspiration from the natural world. They are both process-oriented, letting the natural course of action and reaction in the studio create their representative abstract pieces. There will be an opening reception on November 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. See this stunning exhibition, browse artisanal gifts, and simply enjoy the warm and welcoming interior of this gallery when you visit! innerspace-fineart.com

SOUTHERN VERMONT ARTS CENTER Manchester, VT

Southern Vermont Arts Center (SVAC) is a multidisciplinary arts organization in Manchester, VT. SVAC provides opportunities for local and regional artists through promotion, networking, and community building, as well as a multitude of local programs. SVAC consists

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of several locations, including the Louise Arkell Pavilion performance space, workshops and art camps at the Hay Madeira Education Studios, the Stroup Family Sculpture Park, and exhibi tions at Yester House and the Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum. Enjoy their fun café, curATE! The Elizabeth de C. Wilson Museum will show The Girl Who Drew Memories (December 3 to February 25), an expansive solo show featur ing the works of New Jersey-based artist and clinical psychologist Gail Winbry. SVAC, along with poet, writer, and educator James Crews, has asked six local writers to create poems in response to Winbry’s The Other Side series, which focuses on childhood memories. SVAC has many opportunities for visitors and locals alike to get involved and stay active in the local and regional arts communities. svac.org

Paradise City