Two books and a podcast — Nov/Dec 2024 News from Arts Alive’s Creative Community

In a nutshell: Author Sy Montgomery published What the Chicken Knows - her third new book THIS YEAR, interdisciplinary artist Jo Dery launched a podcast on adoption and foster care issues, wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson just completed a series of new illustrations for an upcoming book about a snapping turtle, and mini grantee Alison Scott sold a painting!

author sy montgomery publishes a new book

I've got a new book out this month--WHAT THE CHICKEN KNOWS: A New Appreciation of the World's Most Familiar Bird--starring people and chickens of our Monadnock area! This is the third new book of mine out this year. Next up: with wildlife illustrator Matt Patterson, a book on our favorite 42 pound wild snapping turtle, Fire Chief; a commemorative edition of The Photo Ark with Nat Geo photographer Joel Sartore; and a book for younger readers on my September expedition scuba diving with giant oceanic manta rays in Ecuador!

interdisciplinary artist jo dery launches a podcast

I actually launched a podcast recently at https://adoptionstoriesvt.com/. You can also listen on the Podbean website or app at https://adoptionstories.podbean.com/.

Adoption Stories is a series of audio interviews with foster/adoptive families, adult adoptees, and adoption-support professionals in Windham County, VT. Children in foster care should be of concern to every Vermonter. There are 1,300 children in foster care across Vermont – 150 of them are in Windham County. In the past decade, our state’s child welfare system has been, and remains, under great stress. The themes touched on in these interviews include trauma, grief, resilience, celebration, and community – as well as the role that race, class, gender, and the opioid and housing crises play in why children end up in foster care in Vermont. Through centering foster/adoptive children’s and family’s memories of the past and dreams for the future, Adoption Stories paints a picture of the complex experience of these kids and families – full of love, loss, beauty, and pain. The Adoption Stories interviews are collected on the web at www.adoptionstoriesvt.com, and available to listen to on the Podbean app. Adoption Stories was funded in part by a Brattleboro Town Arts Fund grant.

Join creators and foster/adoptive parents Jo Dery (artist and educator) and Tamara Evanson (licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist) at the Putney Library to learn about the project and hear from some of the participants.

artist Matt Patterson completes illustrations for a new book

I recently finished the illustrations for a new book about a snapping turtle titled THE TRUE AND LUCKY STORY OF A TURTLE! I did over 30 illustrations for this book which is being published by HarperCollins and will be out in a year. It chronicles the life of FIRE CHIEF the snapping turtle from when he hatched to current day. He also is a major character in the NY Times bestselling book OF TIME AND TURTLES.

mini grantee Alison Scott sells a painting

Photo of ‘Emergent Pines’ and Alison Scott by Diana Place

My “biggest piece“, my 16“ x 20“ photo called Emergent Pines, sold, before the 11/23 Opening Reception at the Jaffrey Civic Center had begun.

This show, called “Emergence” is held by the Monadnock Chapter of the Women’s Caucus for the Arts. During the Reception, a fellow Women’s Caucus artist expressed interest in purchasing a copy of this print, as well. The frame is wood, painted silver, and as it cost $50, the mini-grant I received from ArtsAlive! and its sponsors was most helpful!

August/September 2024: What's New with Arts Alive Artists

Welcome to Arts Alive’s member updates. This blog is part of our monthly newsletter, which you can access here. This month we have a couple gallery openings in BRAND NEW gallery spaces, artists excited about learning new things and expanding their expertise, and new leadership in a local arts organization. Read on!

Bryan Field learns a new carving technique

Henry the goat

Excited to have returned from a workshop at Snow Farm where I learned how to carve on the lathe using multi-axis turning. The course was taught be Derek Wieidman. After years of pens and bowls I can break out of the circular thinking that has limited my creativity and the world is now my oyster! Meet Henry the goat, my first multi-axis turning.

Social Practice Artist Residency (Keene): SPAR(K) at Covenant Living of Keene 2024

Olivia DelGandio

SPAR(K) has selected an artist for the Fall 2024 Residency: Olivia DelGandio of Portland, Oregon will be in Residency for the month of October 2024. This proposed residency will offer a $5000 stipend to the artist as well as living accommodations. Covenant Living will offer a full-time art/work studio to the resident artist and meeting and presentation rooms.

The resident artist will work closely with Craig Stockwell (SPAR(K) Director) and Gregg Burdett (Covenant Director) and Rebecca Poor (Covenant Chaplain). It is understood that the nature of Social Practice art is that a process will develop and that we will have patience to allow that process and outcomes to develop as needed.The 2024 Residency will take place at Covenant Living of Keene. Covenant Living is a senior living community that is, by mission, devoted to providing a vital community experience.  The idea for the residency grew out of conversations that SPAR(K) Director, Craig Stockwell had with Carl Jacobs, a Covenant resident. Craig is 72 and is a working studio artist and teacher, but thoughts of how to be an artist in the next phase of life are present in his thinking. The Residency would likely begin with the artist in conversation with Craig around these issues and move quickly to a convened group of 8 artists dealing with aging. The skill of a social practice artist is to take these bare bones and enter a process that would engage: 1) Stockwell, 2) a focus/core group, 3) the Covenant Community, and 4) the Keene community. Age and a changing artistic practice would be the focus with the understanding that thinking around this issue speaks to us all.

taryn fisher opens a home gallery

Gallery Director Taryn Fisher is delighted to debut her boutique fine art gallery, particularly since art lovers continue to lament the closure of her beautifully appointed LNHC Keene Fine Craft Gallery on Central Square. 

After searching for space for well over a year, Taryn chose to convert an under-utilized space in her home on Court Street into a gallery. She installed lighting, a museum-style art hanging system, new windows, and hardwood flooring, all which amplify the beauty of artworks on display.

Taryn Fisher Fine Art showcases the original, contemporary work of accomplished artists based in the Greater Monadnock Region. Mediums include paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, and mixed media artworks.

Taryn will host an Artist Reception featuring abstract oil and acrylic painter Scott J. Morgan on Saturday, August 31st from 4 to 6 pm.

The abstract curves and forms of Scott’s art emulate nature. Scott describes his work being “like a song, a lyrical dialogue of line, form and color.” Not surprisingly, Scott is also a musician (jazz, rock, reggae).

An exhibition of Scott’s artworks – including painted guitars – will be on display at the gallery from August 31st through September 28th.

Taryn Fisher Fine Art is located at 302 Court Street in Keene. Except for Special Events and Artist Receptions, gallery hours are by appointment only.

For more info, visit https://tarynfisherfineart.com, text 978-985-4720, or email  tarynfisherfineart@gmail.com.

joan hanley’s solo exhibit in Maine

Rockland, ME – The Blue Raven Gallery is pleased to announce Joan Hanley’s debut solo exhibition in Maine, titled Intimate Paradox: Joan Hanley, opening on September 3–30, 2024. An opening reception and Artist’s Talk will be held on September 21 at 5:30pm at the gallery, located at 374 Main Street, Rockland, Maine.

The exhibition marks a welcome return to coastal Maine, where, decades ago, the artist led Outward Bound trips from Hurricane Island in Penobscot Bay. Hanley’s career began in 1980 when renowned artist Alice Neel juried her into her first exhibition. Since then, she has refined her practice within the American painting tradition, drawing inspiration from masters like Fairfield Porter, Milton Avery, and Lois Dodd. “I paint the ordinary strangeness of life. My lifelong meditation practice and interest in image-based psychology inform my work, where paintings juxtapose cell phones with intimacy, and our climate crisis with herons – I love paradox,” says Hanley.

The New Hampshire-based artist will present a new series of works featuring several large and mid scale paintings in gouache and oil, along with smaller studies that extend her exploration of oil paint. At the heart of the exhibition is Jake (2024), a large-scale gouache painting created specifically for this show, depicting the iconic black-and-white checkered floor of the historic bank where the gallery is housed—nestled between the Farnsworth Art Museum and the Island Institute. The artist’s sketchbooks will also be on display, providing an intimate glimpse into her creative process. The exhibition traces her journey from initial sketches of everyday, personal moments to small paintings where her ideas take shape, culminating in large canvases where her compositions come into full focus.

Joan Hanley (b. 1955, Queens, New York) is a painter, teacher and has led an art & yoga mentorship program for eight years supporting artists at every stage of their careers. For the past 25 years, she has lived and painted in New Hampshire with breaks for a residency year in Dublin, Ireland and extended trips teaching abroad in countries like Mexico, China, Taiwan and England. Hanley has exhibited her work internationally in venues such as Broadstone Studios in Dublin and cultural institutions such as the Fitchburg Art Museum, MA, Brattleboro Museum, VT, the Mariposa Museum, NH, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, MA, the Open Center NY, the University Museum of Contemporary Art at UMass and the Attleboro Museum, MA. Hanley completed a BFA from Hartford Art School and MFA from Vermont College.

Intimate Paradox: Joan Hanley is the culmination of a prolific year for the artist, presenting three exhibitions across New England, including AVA Gallery in Lebanon, NH and Gallery 51 in North Adams, MA. She is also featured in the Group show, The Lure of the Local at the Fine Arts Gallery in Putney, VT curated by Humberto Ramirez. For more information about her work, studio visits, events and her artist mentorship program, visit www.hanleystudio.com

Apple Hill has a new executive director

Sam Bergman

The Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music is thrilled to announce Sam Bergman as the non-profit arts organization’s new Executive Director, effective September 3, 2024. Bergman is a distinguished musician, advocate for greater inclusivity in classical music, and a former faculty member at Apple Hill. He will succeed Javier Caballero, who ... is now departing to pursue new opportunities. Read the press release here.

The sustainability project opens a gallery

DEPORTEES:  A TRIBUTE at the Sustainability Project's Emerson Brook Forest Center 

Some of Susan O'Hara's clay heads

The first exhibit to herald the opening of the beautiful new event space and gallery at 57 Emerson Brook Drive, Gilsum, NH will be "Deportees:  A Tribute", featuring works on paper by Erika Radich, NH Printmaker.  

The opening reception takes place on September 19th, from 4-6pm, and the exhibit runs through October 31st.  Refreshments will be served.  There is a suggested donation of $18, with no one turned away for lack of funds.  We hope for a lively turnout with ample opportunity to connect with Erika and to discuss her work.  

The Sustainability Project's newly completed event space and gallery, the Emerson Brook Forest Center, provides a permanent home for the vast collection of sculptured clay heads by artist Susan O'Hara.  There are hundreds of these creations, in a variety of styles and gestures, all evocative and emotionally compelling.  

Lucas Lopez Medina by Erika Radich

Additionally, space is reserved in the new structure, to house transitory exhibits by regional artists.  "Deportees:  A Tribute", is the first of these.  The exhibit features a suite of 28 monotype collages addressing issues of social injustice, equality, and human dignity.  As Radich explains, "...the exhibit may become personal to each viewer.  In 1948 there was a plane crash in Los Gatos Canyon, California.  Twenty eight Mexican farmworkers died as they were being deported to Mexico.  The migrant workers were buried in a mass grave, with only a single plaque, referring to them as 'Mexican Nationals'.  The New York Times reported the accident as the death of 28 'nameless' deportees.  Fundamental to who we are, what our identity is, is our name.  In this exhibit we remember who they were and, in the process, who we are."

Subsequent to the September 19th opening, the exhibit is open by appointment through October 31st. 

Please contact Valerie Piedmont at 603-209-7272 for details, if you'd like to docent this or future exhibits, or if you are interested in hanging an exhibit of your own.

Arts Alive News: Glimpses into Projects of Local Artists

Welcome to Arts Alive’s member updates! This blog is part of our monthly newsletter, which you can access here. Read on for highlights on ongoing projects, recent successes or inspired ideas, shifts in direction, achievements, and other pursuits that swell the hearts of our our member community with curiosity, inspiration, and pride. The Monadnock region is home to so many interesting and creative people and initiatives…find out what’s happening around the corner or under your nose!

Alexandria Peary

I have a Fulbright for 2024-2025 to conduct research in Pforzheim, Germany (my mother's birth city). I will be conducting archival research and interview to look at the February 23, 1945 bombing of Pforzheim by the British Royal Air Force, an air raid which lasted approximately 20 minutes and decimated the city and its population. (Per capita, Pforzheim, though lesser known, was more destructive than Dresden.)  I'll be looking at what I call “the language of city hall bureaucracy”—town hall documents. How city officials between approximately 1935-1955 conducted ordinary city business (electricity, road management, taxes, etc) and at the same time used that language to perpetuate human rights atrocities (prior to February 23, 1945) and then manage the removal of the city rubble and the regeneration of the city. My focus is on city hall rhetoric around two sites: the mass grave in the city cemetery with victims from the February 23 bombing and Wallberg, one of the “rubble mountains” made from the broken buildings that stand at many German cities. At the same time, I'll be building my own intergenerational identity, getting to know Pforzheim and my relatives. I really only first met my German extended family in 2019, and I brought my mother back to Pforzheim last summer. She hadn't seen her brothers since 1963. In essence, I'm using scholarly methods (archival research, rhetorical analysis, field research and interview) to write imaginatively. I'll be using the research to write creatively, a duology, a book of poetry and a book of creative nonfiction about Pforzheim. An example of the work I've already completed through research is my long poem The Pforzheim Quartet.

Jeanne M. Thieme

I just had an unveiling of a 4' x 16’ mural that I painted. Last summer, I had a fall off the back of my horse. I broke a right collarbone and left wrist. This left me unable to care for my horses. They sadly went to new homes. Over the years 11 horses have lived in my barn at Pipe Dream Farm so when I could paint, I created this mural of all 11 horses and had an unveiling last week. My four grandchildren painted the background. As I painted this mural pain and loss became gratitude that I had 40 years with my horses and they would live on on my barn wall for a very long time. Oh the healing power of ART!! The story and more photos are on my FB page and on my website.

Sandglass Theater

Sandglass Theater is delighted to celebrate that we have received artist visas for 3 international companies! Xavier Bobés Company from Spain, FAB-Theater from Germany, and Puzzle Théâtre from Canada will be joining us at our upcoming Puppets in the Green Mountains festival this September. We can't wait to introduce these unique and wonderful artists to our community.

Chris Pellerin

I needle felt landscapes and animal portraits. This technique uses a barbed needle to secure fine wisps of dyed wool fibers into a felt or cloth background. My current obsession is trying to capture sky and water in wool, studying the light at different times of day and seasons on Highland Lake in Stoddard.  I attached a couple of photos, one of myself and one of a work-in-progress.

Viva Bach Peterborough

Preparations are in full swing for our third annual Viva Bach Peterborough Festival, taking place from October 25-27!  Our Festival Chorus will begin rehearsals on August 8, under the expert direction of Colin Mann. Mann, who is currently pursuing his doctorate in Choral Conducting at Eastman, brings a wealth of experience to our festival. He previously served as Artistic Director of the Monadnock Chorus and is well-acquainted with the Monadnock region. In his third year of conducting Viva Bach Peterborough Festival chorus, Mann has curated a stunning program for day three of the festival that includes Bach's cherished Motet "Jesu Meine Freude" (BWV 227) and the beautiful Cantatas "Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir" (BWV 131) and "Brich dem Hungrigen dein Brot" (BWV 39).

Our Festival Chorus is a vibrant, intergenerational group of 70 singers, ranging in age from 16 to 90. We look forward to bringing this diverse and talented ensemble together to celebrate the timeless music of Bach. Find more info on the event, under the leadership of Artistic Director Veronika Schreiber, here!

Amy McGregor-Radin

Amy McGregor-Radin of Jaffrey, NH will be one of five artists sharing their work and creative approach at A Sense of Wonder: Paying Attention with Intention, an art exhibition at the Dublin Community Center in August. She will be joined by Susan Byrne of Keene, Joan Cunningham of Hancock, Terry Govan of Peterborough, and Jean Mann of Hancock.

While each of these artists has a distinct style and approach, they all share a
curiosity about what it means to pay attention with intention throughout the
creative process. They also share an appreciation for the beauty of the natural
world and the sense of wonder it fosters—as a healing force and an antidote to
the persistent distractions of everyday life. The exhibit features art in a variety of mediums, including oil paintings, collage, detailed mandala-like designs, and hand-pulled prints.

The Dublin Community Center is a non-profit organization located in the heart of Dublin Center. The exhibit will be open from August 9 through August 28 during DCC hours 10-12 Mondays, 9-3 Tuesdays and 1-4pm Wednesdays. The opening reception will be Friday, August 9 from 5-7pm at the center at 1123 Main Street, Dublin NH.

17Rox

17ROX is having a Solo Exhibit and Group show on September 13th from 5-8PM. James Duffy will be presenting abstract acrylic work. Music, art & snacks provided! 

The Local crowd monadnock

The Local Crowd Monadnock is gearing up for Choose Indie Art Month in October! Inspire our community to celebrate local artists, artisans, and creativity—learn more here.

Choose Indie Art is part of the American Independent Business Alliance’s Choose Indie Local Initiative.

For more stories on the arts going on in our region, check out these arts spotlight blogs on our Discover Monadnock site! Local nonprofits like the Monadnock Chorus, MAXT Makerspace, and the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music are doing amazing work!

Listening Sessions Address Arts Community Needs

In December 2023, Arts Alive held a series of Potluck Arts Listening Sessions at three different locations within the Monadnock region. Artists and staff of arts organizations and nonprofits were invited to share and listen to each other's stories and discuss solutions to unique challenges in the local arts community in this transformative time. 

The goal of the Listening Sessions was to address the questions:

• What’s changed for artists and arts organizations since the pandemic? 

• What are some trends in the challenges we’re all now facing? 

• What would you like to see for yourself, your business, your organization or community going forward? 

• How can Arts Alive adapt its resources and programming to continue to support artists and arts organizations?

The arts community reflects on the pandemic

Each session started with a guest offering their personal story as a starting point for conversation. We heard from artist and art educator Tristan Bridges, the Dublin Community Center, and the Peterborough Players on their observations and personal experiences as artists, nonprofits, and arts organizations navigating the new world left behind by the pandemic. 

Arts Alive’s first Listening Session at the Historical Society of Cheshire County in Keene, NH

We then asked attendees to create a three-part story for themselves, outlining how the pandemic affected them, where they are now in their art practice, and what they envision for the future. After taking several minutes to contemplate and write down their reflections, participants gathered in small groups. This was the most important part: Each person in the group shared what their goals and challenges were, and what they believed they needed to achieve their vision.

Artists and arts organizations share where they can use support

Overall, we heard a need for increased networking opportunities and community events for artists, as well as a greater awareness of available resources for education, support, and growth. Artists called for things like more affordable studio space, finding the right community for critique and growth, knowledge of resources like where to show work, and accessible opportunities for practical and creative development. 

Attendees write reflectively on their experiences at the second Listening Session in the Dublin Community Center

For arts and nonprofit organizations, we identified a need for increased intercommunication and collaboration, as well as effectively reaching and maintaining staff, volunteers, donors, and audience members. Arts organizations imagined receiving support in marketing and outreach, donors and funding, and better communication between each other to gain strength and stability after the pandemic.

Arts Alive collaborates with the arts community for new and helpful ideas

Google Jamboard with ideas from the sessions. A “+” indicates a “like” from another user.

In January 2024, Arts Alive consolidated all the perceived needs and solutions into a community bulletin on Google Jamboard. The Jamboard had two main pages: one for artists and one for arts organizations. The pages were further divided into categories of 1) the need for community and connection and 2) the need for skills and resources. The board was open for community members to respond to the ideas that felt the most relevant and helpful to pursue, as well as to contribute their own.

Finally, Arts Alive invited all Listening Sessions attendees to a meeting via Zoom to discuss all the ideas that came out of the sessions. The virtual meeting also gave those who could not attend an in-person session the opportunity to share their thoughts, visions, and feedback.

Through the Listening Sessions and Zoom discussion, we determined that these specific projects would be the most helpful:

• A series of bite-sized skill-building workshops over Zoom for artists and organizations

• Meetups and activities for artists of specific subgroups to connect

• A support group for nonprofit and arts organization leaders to connect and share resources

• An available and up-to-date list of venues that display artwork

• and more!

The thing is, we can’t do it all on our own! Reach out to the director, Jess at jessica@monadnockartsalive.org or the programming coordinator, Nina at nina@monadnockartsalive.org if you want support organizing a networking event, community gathering, or meetup for your specific arts subgroup. If you want to volunteer with other community building projects and resources, or learn more about all the different ways to get involved, fill out this Google Form!

Fill out our survey!

Arts Alive tours downtown Brattleboro arts

On Saturday, October 28 at 10AM, Arts Alive invites artists and creatives to connect to Brattleboro through its local arts spaces. The program will convene at the River Gallery School of Art in downtown Brattleboro VT. With the community art school’s gallery as the backdrop, participants will hear about a few local visual arts programs and businesses directly from the arts leaders who run them. Afterwards, participants will enjoy tours of the nearby Vermont Artisan Designs and Stone Church. Arts Alive will provide coffee, tea, and fresh baked goods. Registration at monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips.

To begin, River Gallery School of Art board member Carolyn DiNicola will give an introduction to the school, including a brief overview of its history, current programming, and various opportunities for artists and arts-enthusiasts to get involved. Following, Downtown Brattleboro Association (DBA) Creative Director Erin Scaggs will tell the story of Gallery Walk. As the current program's founder, she will describe the seasonal monthly event that enlivens Brattleboro downtown and unites the local creative community. As Program Director for the Stone Church, Erin will also share about the Victorian-Gothic concert and event venue and her role within it.

Afterwards, a short walk through the River Gallery School will segue into a tour of Vermont Artisan Designs - just down the street. Owner Greg Worden will lead participants through the two-level store and gallery space. During the tour, Greg will touch on the topics of 1) how he's created and maintained a stable downtown arts retail space and 2) how the business advocates for the market for American crafts. John Dimick, a Brattleboro-based watercolorist featured in the store, will converse about his work and relationship with Vermont Artisan Designs.

Finally, Erin Scaggs will offer a tour of the Stone Church. The 140 year-old structure, whose character has been preserved through careful restoration, is juxtaposed weekly with rock, punk, folk, and metal music concerts, among other events.

Field Trips are $12 to cover the cost of refreshments and $7 for Arts Alive members. Limited space is available on most field trips. To register for the event and check on future excursions, visit monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips. For information about accessibility, please call 603-283-0944 or email nina@monadnockartsalive.org.

Arts Alive field trips provide a unique perspective on a town’s arts community. “The Harrisville story is really special, so it was great to get such an insider view into it,” said one attendee to our Harrisville trip.

Field Trips intentionally build community for artists and lovers of the arts. “I enjoyed getting to intentionally experience the art studios,” said another attendee about our visit to the artist studios at 17ROX. “To have artists around to ask questions and talk about their art form and how to further build community. It was also nice to have a variety of creators; musicians, portrait artists, jewelers! Oh my!”

Arts Alive has led artists to explore a variety of large and small, new and old creative spaces in the New Hampshire towns of Dublin, Keene, Swanzey, and Harrisville, as well as in Brattleboro, Vermont. Locations included the Hannah Grimes Gallery, DublinArts & Muse Gallery, MAXT Makerspace’s Ceramics Center, 17ROX, Harrisville, Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts, First Proof Press, and individual artist studios. Arts Alive launched Field Trips in January 2023 to address needs in the artist community for creative inspiration and connection.

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.