Seacoast arts and culture news

September solo shows at  New Hampshire Art Association

PORTSMOUTH — Opening Reception at The New Hampshire Art Association from Sept. 4- 29. join us for the opening reception on Friday,  Sept. 6, from 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. Solo shows in September include the following artists:

Aaron Kane 

Every day, we set into the world to face chaotic and unpredictable feats, but does the way we express ourselves on this journey genuinely reflect how we feel? Emotions, an exhibit by Aaron Kane, questions what lies beneath the mask we hold outward. Kane’s precisely hand-cut paper pieces simplify a scope of expressions into high-contrast snapshots that explore the subtleties of the human face. Although we may think we have mastered our emotions, a minute shift in countenance, a raised eyebrow, or a sideways smirk can convey a clear and often contrary temperament. As a contemporary development of classic silhouette paper-cutting, Kane uses black paper and an X-acto knife to capture each fleeting detail of the face. He renders them intuitively yet meticulously by cutting away countless tiny marks to reveal the bright white paper underneath. Each piece confronts the viewer with its own expression of a familiar emotion. Kane is inspired by the people he sees every day, questioning what they’re going through beyond the strong exterior they present. By showing these en-masse, the show brings a sense of empathy and commonality to the emotions we try so hard to hold back.

Paige Speight

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The Artist At Work by Paige Speight features 52 self-portraits, each based on a photograph taken after she clocked out from the job that supported her art practice throughout 2023. Each self portrait was painted in the amount of time each shift took to complete. Contemplating the time that continues to pass, Speight’s work speaks to the costs of labor and art.Painted in her signature thick palette knife style, each painting exudes vivid colors contrasting with each other to form outlines and shapes that become a portrait. “The paintings are a dizzying array of emotion that echo that particular type of end-of-the-night exhaustion” explains Speight. This collection offers an honest depiction of the artist’s lived experience, exploring the tension between the demands of a day job and the relentless pursuit of her artistic practice. Many artists can relate to this delicate life balance. These portraits are not just representations of the artist at the end of a workday, but also meditations on the time and labor that goes on behind the scenes.

Diane St. Jean 

Artist Diane St. Jean offers a glimpse beneath the surface, with imagery that hints at cells, maps, and archaeology. In Inklings, each print suggests what lies beneath, capturing fleeting moments of internal discovery. St. Jean uses found objects and common household materials to construct her printmaking plates. This unconventional approach results in textured surfaces with grooves and ridges, which she inks meticulously, allowing her to embrace the unexpected. “The element of surprise is at the core of this work,” St. Jean explains. “Each print is an inkling of something deeper—perhaps a memory or a dream—but the final image remains a mystery until the inked plate is run through the etching press. The results are never the same, and that unpredictability is part of the magic.”

Emilie Talpin and Shirley Reed

Take A Closer Look is a collaboration by artists Emilie Talpin and Shirley Reed, whose friendship blossomed through their shared passion for nature and wildlife photography. During the pandemic, they found solace and inspiration in the natural world, embracing the Scandinavian concept of “friluftsliv” (the celebration of the outdoors) to transform ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. Their work shares the hidden beauty of wildlife, highlighting the therapeutic aspects of their outdoor adventures. Emilie and Shirley’s friendship began five years ago when they joined the Seacoast Camera Club. There they explored the expansive art form and technical aspects of photography. When the pandemic hit shortly after meeting, the two found a silver lining to the uncertainty of what was happening. They began to look at the natural world’s common subjects that were often overlooked, finding a new perspective for their photography. 

Garrison Players Arts Center is holding auditions for the Winter production of A Child’s Christmas in Wales: A Christmas Musical

ROLLINSFORD — Drawing upon the unique and evocative language of the famous Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, A Child’s Christmas in Wales is a heartwarming and enchanting family musical celebration of Christmas through the eyes of a child.