So excited to finally see Heather Palmer's new work! She is sharing this with us in our "MidWinter Thaw" show coming in February. These are tiny glass bowls stacked and simply beautiful. There are a few other surprises to unfold with this exhibition on Februray 6, so stay tuned!
Here is a little blurb interview NH Magazine did with me about our local - Rochester, NH literary and visual artist's group. We are embarking on a huge project which involves our members - both poets and visual artists to create 10 sculptural larger than life shoes - all different - for a summer public art project. Why shoes you ask? Rochester was a base for four different shoe manufactures including Zodiac, who made the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders boots! The history is full of interesting anecdotes as well as some deep roots for many of the cities residents. Our poet laureate Andrew Perieale is creating an oral history based on the stories he is gathering during the winter to present at our unveiling in June. It's a pretty deep project, including a shoe workshop with school age children to create many little sculptures for the celebration as well.
Sculptor Adam Pearson is creating the sculptures with members and each team of artist/poet will create unique pieces and corresponding poems, which will be placed around the city as a walking tour.
We have to raise $20,000 for the project but I am happy to report we are more than half way there! It's cool to know that all the artists will be paid well for their work and we will be giving $5000 in scholarships to our local high school for exiting seniors who are perusing literary or visual art degrees!
the ocean. The crab is available in our shop now - it's one of a kind!
Andrew Periale
performer-playwright-polyglot-poet laureate of Rochester!
Earliest memories of your art?
I have been writing poetry, playing music and doing theatre since high school.
I was 8 or 9 years old when I started doing something I called “paper
surgery”–portraits collaged from a variety of magazine photos. My
mother found them quite disturbing, which is ironic considering she
later came to adore the work of Romare Bearden, and now works
primarily in collage. I like to think I was one of her early
influences.
What is the role of art in the world?
Art has so many roles in the world. One of my favorite is social
activism–speaking Truth to Power, or even just speaking Beauty to
Ugly.
Where do you do your art?
I create theatre wherever a company engages me–Boston, Philadelphia,
or in our Strafford studio where I work with my wife and partner,
Bonnie. I write poetry wherever I can wield a pen or plug in a
laptop–most frequently at cafes: Adelle’s (Dover), BNG (Durham and
Portsmouth).
Influences?
– My excellent high school drama teacher.
– Theater artist Philippe Genty (with whom I studied in France)
– Director Robert Smythe, with whom I’ve collaborated as playwright
on several projects
– Peter Schumann (Bread and Puppet Theatre), who has shown me what it
means to be principled and courageous in the work.
Good advice for fledgling artists?
Marry someone who believes in your work, and who has money and health benefits.
Favorite desserts?
a fine stinky cheese, with espresso and a shot of grappa
Favorite artists? So many. Among my current faves: Amanda Palmer
(writes and performs with The Dresden Dolls), Wislawa Szymborska
(Polish poet, Nobel laureate), and Bonnie Periale (a fabulous and
underappreciated painter, dancer, puppeteer).
and now a poem from Andrew:
ILL AT EASE
Kill crazy, said his captain, still,
if he’s game for another hitch in ‘Nam,
make sure his will is up to date.
Thrill junky, trigger monkey,
he relished the drill–Van Gogh the dead,
string unhearing pearls on silken thread.
Man, he looks like a million bucks
necklaced like a grim Marc Anthony
who’s finally got the Romans’ ears.
A third tour was denied—gilding the lily,
his captain said. He ended at his parents’ home,
chilling in the La-Z-Boy until the beer ran out,
then would patrol the back porch, light a joint
and fire his submachine gun at the moon.
The New Year begins... and here is one for the year 2009.
A year of change and hope.
yeesssssssssssssssssss !
wishing you a sweet and tranquil new year
complete with all the hope, love and change you can take in.
xo
From me to you... wishing you all peace, love and wonderment in the New Year..
See you all next week!
So beautiful and just in time to start the new year without any plastic, paper or what have you! Organic and beautiful. Pomegranate pattern in marmalade color here or natural. Watch for their very cool new melamine plates to appear in the shop too!
Hope everyone is starting to wind down for the holidays now and enjoying the coziness of the season....
More ink sketches... available in my etsy shop...
Most people in our area now have power restored, but it's been a really long haul and well, this little sketch shows on the outside, how many people have felt on the inside.
But stiff upper lip here in New England! No pouting!
Ice storm 2008. We lost power, it's now restored. So much damage everywhere. Some without power still! The gallery is all set and now so is our home. Bear with me for a day or so, more loveliness to come here. Just regrouping!
A new series of ink sketches on vintage German songbook pages. The lovely pages were given to me by dear angie of omondieu! this summer in Germany. They are all available at my etsy shop now. I have more on the drawing board to go up in the artstream shop too in a couple of days.
