Join us for the public closing reception for the New Hampshire Potters Guild Biennial Exhibition, “A Common Peace”.

Saturday, August 27th, 5-7pm at the Exhibition Gallery on Grove Street in Peterborough.

• SEE THE PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION.

This event and exhibition are generously sponsored by

Contact: Alex Cahoon 

Marc Winnat Brooklyn

(603) 924-7676

The Sharon Arts Center’s Downtown Galleries, 30 Grove St., will be featuring the work of Nashua, NH-based artist Marc Winnat through the month of August.  Winnat will be presenting a series of highly rendered realist paintings depicting the many environments the artist has inhabited over the past several years. The subject matter ranges from serene and subtle New Hampshire landscapes to depictions of arresting and complex New York City and Boston street scenes.

Marc Winnat Nathan's

“Marc’s work is a compelling realization of several different artistic movements,” said Assistant Exhibition Gallery Director Alex Cahoon. “Viewing Marc’s work one can see the journalistic honesty of the American Ashcan school painters of early 1900s combined with the technical prowess of the Photorealists of the 1960s and 70s. Marc’s work is sophisticated not only in its technical facility but also in its conceptual execution.”

A self-trained artist originally from New Haven, CT, Winnat has lived and worked in Nashua for the past several years. His work can be found in many private and public collections including the Butler Institute of American art in Youngstown, Ohio; The New York Historical Society Museum in New York City; and the Nashua Public Library.

More Information is available by calling at (603) 924-7676.

Marc Winnat Nashua

Exhibition Gallery Director 

Kandinsky with Emily Dickenson. Mary Iselin (Marlborough, NH).

Sharon Arts Center, a non–profit arts organization in Peterborough, NH, will present an exhibit titled “Passion for Art: Pass it On ~ A Focus on Sharon Arts Center Faculty,” which will open Sept. 2 and run through Oct. 28 at the center’s Exhibition Gallery located in downtown Peterborough at 30 Grove St.

Showcasing the work of Sharon Arts’ talented faculty, the multimedia exhibit will span the range of disciplines taught at the school: ceramics, painting, photography, printmaking, glass, weaving, and more.  Organizers of the exhibit include faculty members and volunteers who describe it by saying: “As teachers, we want to share our passion for art with our students, and our goal is to guide them in exploring their own artistic dreams and talents. Nothing is more satisfying for us than to share the sense of wonder students experience as they “catch” the excitement of the creative process and become artists under their own terms. The sharing dynamic nourishes both teacher and student as they exchange and celebrate beauty and expression. Sharon Arts provides a wonderful environment conducive to perfecting skills and making art.” 

Pepper and Squash. Alexander Farquharson (Pepperell, MA)

Sharon Arts School Director Alexandra Wall adds that “the faculty exhibition will allow our teachers to share their talents with the community and prospective students. The passion of a teacher is something that is an intense part of their artistic practices. These are all dedicated artists who are constantly looking to expand and improve their work through teaching others and pursuing their own educational interests. The show will feature an amazing variety of mediums, and will be a unique cross section of local artists who are deeply connected with the Sharon Arts mission, some of whom have been involved in our organization for a number of years. We feel that it is so important to feature their achievements, and we are proud to honor them as valued artists of our community.”

In conjunction with the exhibit, a number of free public events have been scheduled at the Grove Street gallery including

• Oil Painting Demonstration by Mary Iselin-  Sat., Sept. 24, 1-3pm
• Artist Talk by Marylise Reilly-Fajal- Thurs., Oct. 6, 5-6:30pm
• Try Polymer Clay, a Mini Workshop with Connie Gray- Sat., Oct. 22, 1-3pm

For further information call Sharon Arts at (603) 924-2787

Rosaly’s. Chris Reid. (Jaffrey, NH)

This exhibition generously sponsored by:

Charles Gray’s Modernist Landscapes Featured at Sharon Arts in July

Color, light, positive and negative shapes, atmosphere and close cropping with balanced and contrasting energies mark the near abstractionist landscapes of Holden, MA based painter Charles Gray,

Verdi #2, Oil on Panel, $250- Charles Gray

featured artist for July at Sharon Arts Downtown Galleries.

“Charles’s work blurs the lines between abstraction and direct representation and in doing so I feel it has something to offer everyone,” explained Gallery Assistant Manager Alex Cahoon.

A graduate of the Vesper George School of Art in Boston, Mr. Gray’s work has been featured at many juried exhibits including UNH Biennial, ARTSWorcester Biennial, Coolidge Center for the Arts Portsmouth, and the Fitchburg Museum. Mr. Gray’s paintings will be on display at Sharon Arts through the month of July. Further information is available by calling 603-924-7676.

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About Sharon Arts

The mission of Sharon Arts Center, a non-profit organization, is to engage the community in the artistic process, to support and serve artists and craftspeople, and to foster the relationship between artists and the community through education, exhibitions, the promotion and sale of art and craft, as well as through special programs and events.

Sharon Arts Center offers a wide variety of art classes and programs in the school facility in Sharon, NH, a Fine Craft Gallery, a Juried Artist Member Gallery, and an Exhibition Gallery at Depot Square.

Lake Series #23, Oil on Panel, $250- Charles Gray

The Sharon Arts Fine Crafts Exhibition Gallery is accessed through Depot Square and 30 Grove St. in downtown Peterborough. The Craft Gallery is located in Depot Square in Downtown Peterborough. Store and Exhibition Gallery hours are: Monday – Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11 – 5 PM.

Sharon Arts is sponsored in part by: The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, The Susan A. and  Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation, The Bean Foundation, The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation, The Putnam Foundation, The Kingsbury Foundation, and  art lovers like you!

Sharon Arts Invites Public to Hands-on Pottery Demonstrations
In Gallery- Saturdays July 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd Noon-2pm

Good things come in threes, they say, and that certainly applies to the three artist demonstrations scheduled for Sharon Arts Downtown Galleries select Saturdays in July: 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd from Noon to 2:00pm in connection with the exhibition “A Common Peace”: The New Hampshire Potters Guild Biennial Exhibition now running through August 25th.

Garden Goddess by Liz Fletcher (Mason, NH)

• Saturday, July 9^th, Shana Brautigam, of Rindge, NH a teaching artist at Rooted in Clay studios in will demonstrate the art of handbuilding with clay. Shana is listed on the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, Arts in Education and Community Arts Rosters.
• Saturday, July 16^th , James Mitschmyer of Sharon, NH will demonstrate techniques for printing in clay. Following a degree from Maine College of Art in ceramics, James studied at The International Workshop for the Ceramic Arts in Tokoname, Japan. He uses various throwing and hand-building techniques to communicate spiritual ideas. James is the Clay Studio Manager at Sharon Arts where he is also on the faculty.
• Saturday July 23^rd Liz Fletcher of Mason, NH, will complete the triad with demonstrations of clay sculpture. A graduate of Massachusetts College of Art, Liz has been working in clay as a sculptor, potter, and teacher. She has won many awards and for seven years she worked full-time as a studio potter in the New Hampshire woods, selling her work around the northeast.

“A Common Peace”: The New Hampshire Potters Guild Biennial Exhibition is generously sponsored by Sequoya Technologies, LLC of Peterborough, NH.

All Demonstrations will be held in the Exhibition Gallery in Depot Square, Peterborough from Noon to 2:00pm. The public is invited and encouraged to interact with the artisans about their work and process in the air conditioned comfort of the exhibition space. Further information is available by calling (603)924-2787 or visiting www.sharonarts.org.

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Clay artist Shana Brautigam of Rooted in Clay (Rindge, NH)

About Sharon Arts

The mission of Sharon Arts Center, a non-profit organization, is to engage the community in the artistic process, to support and serve artists and craftspeople, and

"Pinched pot" handbuilt by Shana Brautigam (Rindge, NH)

to foster the relationship between artists and the community through education, exhibitions, the promotion and sale of art and craft, as well as through special programs and events.

Sharon Arts Center offers a wide variety of art classes and programs in the school facility in Sharon, NH, a Fine Craft Gallery, a Juried Artist Member Gallery, and an Exhibition Gallery at Depot Square.

The Sharon Arts Fine Crafts Exhibition Gallery is accessed through Depot Square and 30 Grove St. in downtown Peterborough. The Craft Gallery is located in Depot Square in Downtown Peterborough. Store & Exhibition Gallery hours are: Monday – Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 11 – 5 PM.

Sharon Arts is sponsored in part by: The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts through the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, The Susan A.&  Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation, The Bean Foundation, The Max &  Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation, The Putnam Foundation, The Kingsbury Foundation,&  art lovers like you!

About the New Hampshire Potter’s Guild

We are an inclusive organization for people working in clay. We have an address but no central location. We meet several times a year with organizational meetings, workshops, discussions and activities to share work and ideas. We have a commitment to education and community action. We’ve been in existence for several decades and are always looking towards the future.

The purpose of the NHPG is to get together in the interests of ceramics whenever necessary or desirable for fellowship and good times, exchange of ideas and methods, collaboration in work and exhibitions, encouragement to students, and promotion of standards of ethics, aesthetics and craftsmanship. www.nhpottersguild.com

“Click! Contemporary Responses to Photographic Masterworks”

Curated by Luke Kelly and Alex Cahoon

May 6—June 25 2011

A Review by Katherine Hoffman, Ph.D.

• See the Sharon Arts Center press release about this exhibition.
• Access the NHPR interview about this exhibition.

In a small gallery at the Sharon Arts Center, in Peterborough, NH, where Thornton Wilder wrote, Our Town, is a significant photography exhibit, large in spirit,  and in concept.  Covering a span of approximately 150 years, the exhibit includes works by prominent figures in the history of photography such as Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Alfred Stieglitz, August Sander, Lewis Hine, Dorothea Lange, Weegee (Arthur Fellig), Lee Friedlander, and Hiroshimi Sugimoto, linked with juried work from approximately 24 regional and local photographers, who were invited by the curators to respond to the masterworks. The result is a brilliant confluence of images and ideas, that allow the viewer to see the historical and contemporary works in a new light, connecting past and present, as well, time and place, transcending traditional boundaries of chronology and geography.

Although many decades have passed since the invention of the first practical form of photography, the daguerreotype, was announced at the Academy of Sciences in 1839, photography continues to play a significant role in our global society. Its role as a documentary tool, and as a Fine Art, has become increasing complex as we move into a digital age. Early in the 20^th century, Pablo Picasso stated, “ I have discovered photography. Now I can kill myself. I have nothing else to learn.”  Henri Cartier-Bresson, the well known photojournalist, who helped found the Magnum Agency, and who photographed Alfred Stieglitz in his late years, wrote,” Taking photographs… is a way of shouting, of freeing oneself, not of proving or asserting one’s own vocabulary. It is a way of life.” Alfred Stieglitz, known for his tireless fight for the recognition of photography as a Fine Art, as photographer, publisher of Camera Notes, Camera Work, and gallery owner/ director of  291, the Intimate Gallery, and American Place, wrote as early as  1901, “The arts equally have distinct departments and unless photography has its own possibilities of expression, separate from those of the other arts, it is merely a process, not an art; but granted that it is an art, reliance should be placed unreservedly upon these possibilities, that they may be made to yield the fullest results.” Robert Frank, the Swiss photographer, journeying to the United States on a Guggenheim Fellowship, and well known for his famous book, The Americans, wrote, “ Black and white are the colors of photography. To me they symbolize the alternatives of hope and despair to which mankind is forever subjected…I am always  looking outside, trying to look inside, trying to say something that is true…”

This exhibition, through its pairing and juxtaposition of historical and contemporary works, seeks to present various approaches to the depiction of “something that is true,” and reminds the viewer that in our 20^th and 2lst century worlds,  there are various approaches to reality. There are significant pairings and groupings of  portraiture, landscape/nature, interiors, vernacular signage, abstract approaches to photographic imagery,etc.  One sees for example, Alfred Stieglitz’s famous 1907 Steerage, a photogravure, taken looking down at the steerage class while Stieglitz was traveling to Europe ( a work much admired by Picasso), placed next  to Fernando Martin’s 2011 archival print, Homeless, where  similar uses of line, light, and shadow, contribute to the compelling subject matter of each photographer.  Next to  August Sander’s 1928 gelatin silver print, Bricklayer, is Sean Lamoureux’s large color 2009 post-modern, The Stalk at Green Briar and Search for Crown Antlers, Charles Tilson, Burner. Or one sees Paul Strand’s 1916 photogravure, Blind Woman, NY, next to Stephen DiRado’s 2003, With Dad: Gene In the Mirror, where the photographer’s father, suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, cannot recognize himself in the mirror. In each instance, the viewer is confronted with aspects of blindness through strong frontal imagery. Roger Fenton’s 1856 salt print, The Valley of the Shadow of Death, taken during the  Crimean War, is placed next to Glen Sheffer’s large, 2009 color archival pigment print, Steel Pile 2, that explores elements of destruction and the detritus of modern life. East and West/Landscape and Cityscape are juxtaposed in  Hiroshimi Sugimoto’s1980-1990, Time Exposed Seascapes, and David Rheubottom’s 2011 Charles River Triptych. The world of crime photography through the lens of Weegee, in his 1942 gelatin silver print,  In Top Hats- In Trouble, is also presented, and inspired Tim Donovan’s large 2011, Untitled, enigmatic installation-like piece that is only seen upon drawing back, two black curtains to reveal a  dimly lit, faintly colored, smiling visage.

Not only does the exhibition include some thought provoking juxtapositions, but it also includes some significant historical materials, that are not often seen. One needs to look carefully in the display cases to find, as example, a British family album from India, unusual because of its wet collodion prints on paper; and there are some original letters from Ansel Adams to an early lover, Mildred Johnson, during the 1920’s, referencing in some, his famous 1927 photograph, Monolith:The Face of Half Dome, which appears in the exhibit.

It is unfortunate that there is no catalogue for the exhibit, given the photographic “jewels” that are included in the show. Helpful, too, would have been, more comprehensive wall labels and artists’ statements to allow the viewer to more fully appreciate and understand both the historical photographs, and the contemporary works that were inspired by the earlier works. Some  complementary programs such as Gary Samson’s May 10th lecture related to the exhibit, and the photographer Robert Sargent Fay’s June 2nd lecture, “ Photography and the Theater,” did help expand the dimensions of the exhibit. Fay’s work is also included in the show.

In general, the exhibit is well worth visiting. The Sharon Arts Center and the exhibits’ two curators are to be commended for mounting such an exhibit. It is hoped that the Center will continue to present exhibits that explore the on-going influence of photography and its multi-layered role in our increasingly complex society, that “through the lens,” one may view, and perhaps better understand, different aspects of reality and the world around us.

Dr. Katherine Hoffman is a Professor of Fine Arts at St. Anselm College, Manchester, NH. She has written numerous articles, and is the author of  seven books, including, Stieglitz: A Beginning Light, Yale University Press, 2004, and most recently, Alfred Stieglitz: A Legacy of Light, Yale University Press, 2011.

Nonprofit Sharon Arts Gallery is pleased to announce Earl Schofield of Antrim, NH, as our featured juried artist for the month of June 2011 (through the 30^th). An artist, and full-time educator at Dublin School, Earl specializes in encaustic painting- a medium and process that combines pigment and wax to create textured paintings with great depth. The artist has selected a series of works to display which he calls the “Ephemera Series.”

“I Can’t Name this Painting” Encaustic on Panel by Earl Schofield.

“The Ephemera series attempts to find ways for the viewer to engage the portrait with some of the freedom from narrative and the specificity of the individual that is found in my landscape work. The series is a loving homage to my family as much as it is a ‘momento mori’….. They mimic the transience of image and ourselves and they reference the slipperiness and imperfection of memory,” explained Schofield.

“It is always a pleasure to feature the work of such a highly developed and decidedly accomplished local artist. Earl’s beautifully rendered encaustic paintings are engaging not only in their technical execution but also in their conceptual and thematic content. It is exceedingly rare to see an artist develop so many interesting and varied series of works,” commented Alex Cahoon, SAC’s Assistant Gallery Manager.

More information is available at 603-924-2787 or www.earlschofield.com

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About Sharon Arts

The mission of Sharon Arts Center, a non-profit organization, is to engage the community in the artistic process, to support and serve artists and craftspeople, and to foster the relationship between artists and the community through education, exhibitions, the promotion and sale of art and craft, as well as through special programs and events.

Sharon Arts Center offers a wide variety of art classes and programs in the school facility in Sharon, NH, a Fine Craft Gallery, a Juried Artist Member Gallery, and an Exhibition Gallery at Depot Square.

The Sharon Arts Craft Store is located in Depot Square, Peterborough, NH and is open Monday through Saturday, 10am-6pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm.

Sharon Arts Center is sponsored in part by The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, The Susan A. & Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation, The Bean Foundation, The Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation, The Kingsbury Foundation, The Putnam Foundation and art lovers like you!

Sharon Arts Center’s Teen ArtAccess Exhibiton Celebrates Young Artists, and the Art of Local Artists Who Inspire Them!
May 19th from 4-7pm.

Sharon Arts Center, a non-profit community art organization, announces a special exhibit featuring the works of 8 local teen artists who are involved in Sharon Arts Center’s ArtAccess portfolio

Sculpture by Liz Conlin

development program. The exhibit entitled, “Terminal A: A Point of Departure for Local Young Art Talent” opens Thursday, May 19^th from 4-7pm at Launch Art Gallery (above Nonie’s) on Grove Street in Peterborough, NH. The exhibition features highlights from ArtAccess student’s portfolios showcasing each teen’s personal artwork as well as collaborative pieces the class worked on throughout the year. This show will offer visitors a look at the year’s achievements of these young and talented artists, celebrating the exciting transition of the graduating seniors as they exit the ArtAccess program, and begin careers or college studies in the arts.

In addition to the work of emerging teen artists, Terminal A will also feature the works of collaborating local artists who support the ArtAccess program through their instruction and example. The ArtAccess class visits the studios of professional artists throughout the Monadnock Region as a part of their curriculum. These seasoned artists and their artworks inspire a younger generation, and exhibit viewers will be able to experience the established alongside the new, and see how one generation of artists influences the next. Participating professional artists from the community include: wood artist Craig Altobello and painter Sue Callihan (both of Peterborough), fiber artist Miriam Carter (Dublin), and potter Genevieve Groesbeck (Peterborough).

Sculpture by Shannon Robertson

“ArtAccess is an invaluable resource for regional art-hungry teens who want to explore the many possibilities of careers in art, giving them hands-on experience in all mediums, while working with a variety of professional and/or local artists. Terminal A will showcase the success of their explorations as they expanded their artistic horizons, and it will be a wonderful way to celebrate the end this year’s program,” explained SAC’s School Director Alexandra Wall.

Participating ArtAccess students are:

ConVal High School: Anna Welch, Soph. (Hancock); Ameera Sylvian, Junior (Temple); Haley Easton, Senior (Greenfield); Kenneth Martel, Senior (Peterborough); Annie Trowbridge, Senior (Peterborough)

Mascenic High School: Elizabeth Conlin, Junior (New Ipswich); Sandy McCarthy, Senior (New Ipswich).

Homeschooler: Sadie Rose Zavgren (Wilton)

Hats created with Miriam Carter

Exhibit attendees will be treated to a feast for the eyes and mind, as well as their taste buds on opening night, May 19, 2011, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., when the teen artists will be offering samples of delicious painted chocolate masterpieces. Visitors can view Terminal A during these select times: Thursday the 19^th, 4-7pm; Saturday the 21’st, 11am-12noon and 1-3pm.

About ArtAccess:
ArtAccess is an intensive program at Sharon Arts for High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors from throughout the Monadnock region who are interested in increased exposure to and experience in the visual arts. Students meet weekly at the SAC school throughout the school year to explore technical and theoretical aspects of art, career paths, and to investigate their creative potential as they strengthen their portfolios.

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About Sharon Arts

The mission of Sharon Arts Center, a non-profit organization, is to engage the community in the artistic process, to support and serve artists and craftspeople, and to foster the relationship between artists and the community through education, exhibitions, the promotion and sale of art and craft, as well as through special programs and events.

Sharon Arts Center offers a wide variety of art classes and programs in the school facility in Sharon, NH, a Fine Craft Gallery, a Juried Artist Member Gallery, and an Exhibition Gallery at Depot Square.

The Sharon Arts School is located at 457 Route 123 in Sharon, NH. Classes take place Monday-Thursday from 10am-9pm, Fridays from 10am-4pm, and on select weekend days.  The Student Shop is open during school office hours, Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.

Sharon Arts Center is sponsored in part by: The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, The National Endowment for the Arts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, The Susan A. & Donald P. Babson Charitable Foundation, The Bean Foundation, The Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, The Grimshaw-Gudewicz Charitable Foundation, The Kingsbury Foundation, The Putnam Foundation and art lovers like you!