During the Month of October Arts Alive is collecting stories from performing arts organizations across the Monadnock Region to ask - how are you holding up? This is the first of three stories this month that will highlight the innovations, inspiration, hope, and connection these organizations are still fostering, even in difficult times. We start with Keene State College’s Redfern Arts Center.
These are unprecedented times and artists are finding strength in community and creativity. In this account, we hear from Lyn Merlone. Lyn is a textile artist and educator with a studio in Peterborough, NH. Her creative practice focuses on creating one of a kind wearable art and home decor. Hear her story, in her own words
This month we’re spotlighting independent artist Hannah Ellingwood! We love how her work reflects her passion for the natural world, and how that translates into how her creative business operates. She is working hard to make her small business a success and to make a difference in how people see the beauty of our natural resources - check her out!
Our spotlight is on The Loom! Rebecca Kaiser Gibson is founder of The Loom, Poetry in Harrisville, which is bringing contemporary poets, their poetry and the local audience into a vibrant relationship. The Loom presents accomplished, published poets to the community at special events throughout the year. They also sponsor a Favorite Poem Reading event by the community. Learn more about this great project from Rebecca.
Kimberley Burden & Tomoyo Kawano share the story of Antioch New England’s Dance Movement Therapy training program, and how it is building partnerships across the community.
“As dance/movement therapists, we believe that dance is life-affirming and that a person’s lived bodily experience and relational bodily action is the primary agent of change. The American Dance Therapy Association defines dance/movement therapy (DMT) as the psychotherapeutic use of dance and movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive, and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being. Dance and movement have been utilized throughout history for communication, rites of passage, ritual, entertainment, ways of knowing, learning, and so much more.”
The Keene Public Library’s collection of books has always been a core cultural resource. In recent years the collection has grown to include various media, as today and tomorrow knowledge and intelligence are not only shared through books. The Library is poised to bring knowledge and art into the future.
This month for our Artist Spotlight we spoke with Taryn Fisher. She claims she is not an artist herself, but a facilitator - bringing art to people, people to art, and inspiring conversation and connection through the process. She recently opened a branch of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. Here is her story, in her own words.
Adam Arnone is a musician and arts educator with a 20 year recording career, who has toured his music nationally, and released 13 albums. He is expanding his art in service to the community in many ways since settling in the Monadnock region. You may have seen him perform locally with his band Adam and the Flood. “I want this state to be recognized for the contributions it’s artists are making in every medium. New Hampshire has its own sound, and it’s better than ever.” - Adam Arnone
(Photo above by Ben Conant)
Read more on our ArtBlog!
