Public Art

We are still pursuing the meters project as mentioned in the last blog post. We have six artists signed up and one alternate.  We are waiting for the meters to be primed and hope to complete this project within the next few weeks.

Meanwhile we are attracting new members, but have not received their information for posting yet.  Remember that when you sign up as a member, you get to put up 2-3 photos and 2-3 paragraphs about yourself and your art on this blog. The membership application is on the blog and you can print it out and send it in with a check. 

Contact Linda Feinberg, Treasurer, if you are interested in more information.

Here are some more ideas for public art.  The photo on left is of a sculpture made out of what looks like old parts.  New Hampshire has lots of old parts lying around, so I’m sure our local artists could come up with something interesting.

It wouldn’t have to be representational, like this horse. It could be abstract. If you haven’t visited the Currier Museum  lately, walk by and look at the outdoor art there.  Statue on left was seen in California.

How about painting utility boxes in Manchester? We would need to get permission from the city, but this would certainly improve those boring boxes.  Photos below were taken in Netanya, Israel.

All photos on this post are by Linda Feinberg.

New projects, interesting exhibits, useful blog links

We have been contacted by Alderman Pat Long (downtown Manchester alderman) to paint the “Spare Change” parking meters.  There are 6 meters to be painted.  All stickers will be removed and the meters will have a white primer.

The meters will need a square that is 3” X 3” for a label that says: 

Can You Spare Some Change

Thank You!

100% of the Proceeds to Benefit

New Horizons of New Hampshire

The Friends of Art Manchester name along with the artist name can go anywhere the artist wants. Since this is public art, the images would need to be appropriate for all ages (sorry, no nudes).

The meters weigh about 45 pounds each.  According to artist Anthony Williams, they would need oil based spray paint (Rustoleum). Mr. Long is willing to pay for the paint, or you could use your own paint. We are in the process of determining where and when the painting will take place. We have three artists definitely signed up for painting, two possible artists and would be happy to have one more, although one artist is willing to paint two meters.

 

Contact Linda Feinberg, Treasurer, if you are interested in painting a meter.

Exhibits:

Going to Boston? Boston Sculptors Gallery exhibits on the Christian Science Plaza. This exhibit runs through October 31^st, 200 Mass Ave.

Sculpture by Donna Dodson shown on left.

http://www.donnadodsonartist.blogspot.com/

http://www.convergenceexhibit.blogspot.com/

Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein also exhibit periodically in New Hampshire.

How about Hollis, NH? That’s a lot closer.

Windows, a showing of paintings by Ruth Weiner Harris. Reception is Sunday, June 23, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, but the paintings will be up to view until July 15^th during library hours. This is in the Hollis Library.

Painting on right is by Ruth Weiner Harris.

In Manchester the annual student art exhibit is up at New Hampshire Institute of Art in three of their buildings.  The graduating students have their work up at 148 Concord Street, but you will need to hurry. The exhibit finishes June 19^th.  You can park in their lot, or the Hartnett Lot (meters, or free parking after 5:30 p.m.) and you can walk to all three buildings. There is art in a variety of media. It is very inspiring to see what art students are creating.

Periodically, we will post information that is of interest to artists and art collectors.

Do you know how to hang a painting?  This article gives you details.

http://www.reddotblog.com/wordpress/index.php/how-to-hang-a-painting-a-free-guide-from-xanadu-gallery/

Red Dot Blog is a good resource for articles on art marketing as well as practical information for artists. This week’s post is by a guest and is about successfully marketing your art through art festivals.  http://www.reddotblog.com/wordpress/

Business blog by Barney Davey with good information for artists and marketing:

http://artprintissues.com/

Finally, we are open to new members. There is an application at the link in the right column (under Friends of Art Links). We will be setting up a Paypal account this week, but you can also print and mail in your application with a check.

Tell your story: author Joe Smiga

Joe Smiga began contemplating retirement in 2005, after working in the corporate world for 18 years and then owning his own sales business for over 24 years, he began to plan writing his first novel. Behind the Lies is the culmination of his military background before working in the business world and his ideas of how current events could possibly cause a major catastrophe in people’s lives. It was published in May of 2009. His second book, Tova: A Very Special Dog, is a true story which was published in May of 2010. His second novel, A Cowboy’s Vengeance, was published in August of 2010. His sequel to Behind the Lies, Gateway to Terror, was released in August of 2011.  Smiga’s memoir, What Keeps You Going?, was published in August of 2012. The last book of the trilogy to Behind the Lies is titled, One Came Back and was published in April of 2013.  Smiga encourages anyone who wishes to tell their story to write. His website is:  www.joesmiga.com. It hosts all of his books and you can order an autographed copy from this site. He also has a blog which posts excerpts from his books and other items at: www.smigawritesabout.blogspot.com.

Joe has been involved with Friends of Art Manchester for a long time.  While not a visual artist, he is a very creative person and his business expertise has been very valuable to the group.  He has facilitated many meetings for us.  Joe is married to our treasurer and blogger, Linda Feinberg. Five of his six books use Linda’s photography on the covers.

To read a review posted June 3, 2013 of his newest book: 

One Came Back Review

Other reviews for Joe’s books are also posted on Amazon.com

Joe’s books are also available for e-readers through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at his publisher’s site:  Joe's publisher

Art Note: We have new art up this month in the windows at Liberty Harbor Academy, 1230 Elm Street. This is the last month the windows will be available there.  We hope to have new sites soon.

Trail Series - Linda Feinberg

Linda Feinberg is the Treasurer for Friends of Art Manchester and one of the original organizers of the group.

She is a hiker and loves living in New Hampshire with all its wonderful trails.  She has been working on a series of small acrylic trail paintings this past year. These are also posted at her website and can be ordered as prints or cards there. 

 www.lindafeinberg.com

Fletcher Cascade Trail

This is the beginning of the trail to Fletcher Cascade in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  The trail starts out easily enough, but then climbs and there is a stream crossing on the way up.  The cascades are waterfalls that go over a series of granite steps.  This hike was at the beginning of autumn, the trees just starting to turn.

Linda writes: “My thoughts on starting a trail series were varied. The trails can be appreciated for their innate beauty, or they can be thought of as a metaphor. We all walk on varied paths throughout our lives, some sad and sorrowful, others filled with joy.”

(Artist of the Month, March 2013, Manchester Artists Association)

View from Barrett Mountain

The painting on the right is the view from the trail on Barrett Mountain in southwestern New Hampshire. There were also some views from there towards Mount Monadnock, one of the most climbed mountains in the state.  This trail was much easier and a pleasant climb. It is part of a longer trail that runs north from Massachusetts and goes for many miles. 

Snowmobile Trail at Clark’s Pond

The snowmobile trail at Clark’s Pond in Auburn, New Hampshire follows the abandoned railroad bed for many miles. It is also used by many others, in winter for cross country skiers and snow shoeing. It is used in other seasons for cyclists, walkers and hikers.

Both sides of the pond have trails, but this painting was focused more on this winter trail.

Linda’s blog link is on the right.  She blogs about art, art process, poetry and her travels. Linda did not get to study art until late in life and is thoroughly enjoying her retirement now.

Membership will be opening soon in Friends of Art Manchester. We are just waiting for the IRS to approve our filing as a non-profit.  To find out about member benefits (including a posting on this blog along with your website link) and how to become a member send an e-mail to us at: FOAMANCHESTER@YAHOO.COM

We have a FaceBook link, but we do not have a page yet.  Our FB name is FriendlyArtists OfManchester.

Photography by John Mitchell

The first photo is of Santa and a child at a community Christmas party in Manchester in 2007. It was shot on 35mm film with a Canon AE1 camera with a mounted flash attachment.

The second photo was shot in Concord, N.H. at the Smokestack Complex on North Main Street. The complex was once a gravestone carving company and the cameo was left behind when the company moved. The new owners mounted it above their front door. The photo was taken in the Spring of 2008. This photo was taken with the same AE1 camera using the outdoor light.

These photos were taken by John Mitchell a member of Friends of Art Manchester.  John was born in Maine and received his B.S. in Film and Radio Sound from the University of Oregon. John has lived in Manchester since 1984 and has been active in the arts community for several years.

To contact John Mitchell: jacatols2@earthlink.net

A Beautiful Winter Morning by Colleen O'Connor

A Beautiful Winter Morning was done with watered down acrylics on watercolor paper after Linda Feinberg shared her Stephen Quiller video with me (Acrylics the Watercolor Way: Stephen Quiller Paints a Landscape) and we used the technique with the students in my program (21st Century Community Learning Center at Henry J. McLaughlin, Jr. Middle School). (See photo in first blog post on this site to see what the students accomplished.)

I worked from a photo I took one morning when I went out ice fishing with "the boys" at Pillsbury State Park in Washington, NH. 

The second is of a few cards I whipped up this week. Not sure if they look that great... I like to use scraps from other projects, so even when the papers are the same, every card is different. 

The third photo is of some of my hand painted Easter eggs. Every year I blow the insides out and paint a unique egg for everyone in my family. None of the designs are planned, it's just what I feel like painting at the time. Although delicate, they can be completed rather quickly and I love the variety of my designs. 

Colleen is a teacher in Manchester with the 21st Century Community Learning Center at Henry J. McLaughlin, Jr. Middle School.  She is also looking for a full time art teacher position in the fall.

To contact Colleen O'Connor: cmoconnor9@yahoo.com

Our posters are up

Our posters are up at Liberty Harbor Academy on Elm Street.  We will be able to put art in these windows next month too.  Unfortunately the school has to relocate, but hopefully they'll stay downtown. We hope to continue our good relationship with them.

We are pursuing other venues to host art as well. If you know of empty windows or walls, please contact us. We would love to work with you.