On Tuesday, June 18th at 5:30PM, Arts Alive invites artists, creatives, and art-lovers to join a Field Trip at West LA Beer Company in Swanzey, NH. West LA Beer Company works with emerging artists and musicians for custom drink labels, onsite murals, taproom gallery, and live music nights on their outdoor patio. This Field Trip will explore themes of collaboration in craft beer and local art to benefit both emerging and experienced artists and musicians who are looking to expand their understanding of what it can mean to live and work as a local creator. Registration is $12 ($7 for Arts Alive members) at monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips.
Arts Ambassador meetup at West LA Beer Company
Through conversation with the head brewer, gallery curator, music coordinator and a local artist/muralist, Arts Alive and West LA will explore questions such as: How does a small craft beer company find and commission artists or artwork for use in label designs? What do they look for and what kinds of design elements or restrictions influence decision-making? What does the graphic design and licensing process look like? What does a small business look for in bands or musicians and how does that relationship work? The event will also answer questions on how an artist might approach a brewery or local business about label design or displaying artwork.
As a musician and graphic designer himself, head brewer Ryan Gale will discuss the culinary art of brewing and how that informs the label-making and design process. Tristan Bridges (TGB Fine Art) curates the artwork that hangs in West LA's taproom. He and local artist/muralist Jonathan Aaron will speak about their experiences creating commissioned work and the murals on the outside of the building. West LA co-founder/owner Eric Johnson will speak about how the brewery books and works with musicians. Eric will discuss what a small business looks for in booking bands and how the relationship works.
An optional design activity with TGB Fine Art will follow to allow participants to engage with all the ideas and information discussed using play, creativity, connection, and fun. Participants will get inside the mind of both label commissioner and artist to create a design of their own. Whether the label wants to tribute a certain artist or musician or highlight specific ingredients or a flavor profile, or support a cause or a nonprofit, participants will have many examples around them to spark their imagination.
Alternatively, participants can take the opportunity to network with fellow artists, view the patio and outside murals, and peruse the artwork on display. While waters, snacks and tastes of West LA's beers and seltzers will be available, attendees will be responsible for buying their own drinks from the brewery,
Field Trip at Hot Glass Art Center
Field Trips are casual, exploratory, and educational events for artists, creatives, and art lovers in and around the Monadnock region. These events are characterized by a laid-back atmosphere to spark friendly connection, learning, and creative inspiration. During Field Trips, attendees dive into local arts spaces and businesses to see arts spaces they might not otherwise explore, and learn about available resources and opportunities for community-building, creative expansion, and professional growth.
Previous Field Trips to arts venues in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region and Brattleboro, Vermont include DublinArts & Muse Gallery, Sharing Arts Community Ceramics Center, 17ROX Artist Studios, Historic Harrsiville and Harrisville Designs, the Keene Public Library’s Kingsbury Makerspace, The Stone Church, Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts, First Proof Press, Epsilon Spires, The Hot Glass Art Center, and individual artists’ studios.
Arts Alive launched Field Trips in January 2023 as a response to a November 2022 community survey that highlighted a need in the arts community for connection, creative inspiration, and professional growth. Attendees have expressed the value of this program through feedback appreciating, “Meeting artists and exchanging creative ideas for new projects,” “Connecting with other artists,” and “[Hearing] from people engaged in the arts in town and how they help create community.”
This Field Trip is $12 and $7 for Arts Alive members. To register for the event and future trips, visit monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips. For information about accessibility, please call 603-283-0944 or email nina@monadnockartsalive.org.
Arts Alive is supported in part by National Endowment for the Arts, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, and this program is supported by a generous gift from C & S Wholesale Grocers.
