These are unprecedented times and artists are finding strength in community and creativity. In this account, we hear from Bryan Field. Bryan grew up in England where, among other things, he studied woodwork and metal work in high school. He is now a penturner and mixed media artist living in Peterborough, NH. Much of his work is inspired by his love of the environment and his appreciation of Art Deco stained glass. An avid traveler, his globe-trotting experiences and the beauty of the local terrain enliven his work. He gives back to the community as a board member of Monadnock Art. During the pandemic he found a unique new project to explore his creativity and connection to community.
We’re proud to share this story of Bryan Field, in his own words.
Tell us about how you came to be a woodturner
Photo from Monadnock Ledger Transcript
I had collected fountain pens for many years. About fifteen years ago I decided to start buying antique fountain pens and restoring them. As with many other hobbyists, my involvement grew. I invested in various equipment which included a metal lathe. At that point I realized I could not just repair pens, but I could make them. Of course, pen making involved buying even more equipment and I ended up with a wood lathe in my workshop. Looking around for something else to do on a small wood lathe I came across a YouTube on wooden Gnomes. I saw the Gnomes as a new outlet for my creativity and am now making Gnomes and putting them up for adoption at my Gnome Adoption Society of the Monadnocks website.
Birger the Brewery Gnome, was adopted by Post and Beam Brewery in Peterborough
We are donating all of our profits from Gnome adoption fees to be split between MATS and Shelter From The Storm
What I enjoy most about the Gnome enterprise is that I can write creative stories about the Gnomes. I enjoy developing their characters and providing each with a background story. Every Gnome is delivered with an adoption certificate, a medical and vaccination record, and a care manual. All profits from the enterprise go to local homeless shelters so I am providing Gnomes for the Gnomeless while helping the homeless.
I continue to pursue new learning opportunities to improve my craft. Much of what I have learned about the wood lathe has been from YouTube, but also from the Monadnock Wood turner's Group which met, until Covid, at Keene State College. Additionally, I have taken art classes at Keene State College and Sharon Art Center, as well as jewelry making classes at Metalwerx.
What drives you in these unique times?
One of Bryan’s hand made pens
I am fulfilling my personal creative mission by splitting time in the workshop between pen making and creating Gnomes. The writing of the Gnome backgrounds is a fun way to use my ingenuity. Hope and inspiration are to be found in the outdoors. Regular hikes have led me to appreciate the Monadnocks as a source of spiritual sustenance and inspiration. I connect with other artists through my involvement with the Monadnock Art board, and through chats with other wood workers and turners. I miss the monthly meetings of the Peterborough Artists Collaborative which were held at Post & Beam. Email, social media and web pages have connected me with my audience. Workshops offered by Arts Alive were helpful in expanding my web presence.
How has this past year changed your work?
I don't leave the house much since Covid arrived, except to hike or walk the dog. Covid has had a major impact on my ability to sell my work, as my major outlets have always been the Monadnock Art Tour and two small shows. The biggest realization I have had the internet will never be a replacement for face to face interaction. Clients need to be able to talk to the artist and handle the art.
What is your dream or wish for arts in our region and in the state of NH in 2021?
As a board member of Monadnock Arts my wish is that we get through Covid soon. I am concerned for those artists who are struggling with the reduction in opportunities to show their work through galleries and shows. I am optimistic that we will be through this by the end of the summer and that the opportunities which disappeared during Covid will return. I'm working to enhance the lives of area artists through my involvement with Monadnock Arts and Arts Alive. I look forward to a revival of our vibrant arts community and the concomitant impact on our local economy.
What do you need right now as a creative artist and a business person?
What I need right now is for Covid to go away so I can enjoy Tuesday night's Irish music sessions at Cooper's Hill and the Peterborough Artists Collaborative meetings at Post & Beam, face to face meetings with my colleagues on the Monadnock Arts board and The Thing in the Spring.
Anything else?
To learn more about my Gnomes go to https://bit.ly/3rLVdEG and for my pens www.bryan-field-pens.com
The Monadnock Gnome Chorus’ weekly rehearsal