February Vacation Art Days at The Arts Collaborative

Ella shows off her artwork at the Teaching Studio!

Fun things to do during February vacation abound in the Lakes Region! After your kids have had some outdoor fun, bring them inside to warm up their creativity—there are some great children’s art programs lined up at The Arts Collaborative, where the resident artists invite you to “Come on over and get your Art on!”

The Arts Collaborative Teaching Studio in Meredith, NH is a place to really explore imagination and innovation. In addition to the regular schedule of classes, the studio has put together some special sessions for kids on break from school next week. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday mornings, February 25 – 27 from 9:30am to noon, the “Crazy Creative Kids” program will take place. Children ages 6 – 12 are welcome to join in the fun, led by experienced teaching artists Heidi Little and Cynthia Robinson. Read the rest of this entry »

Come to the Lakes Region for New Year’s Eve!

New Year’s Eve on Lake Winnipesaukee is promising to be spectacular this year!  There will be so much to do and see, you might want to arrive early and plan to pace yourself so that you’ll be awake to greet 2013 as it rolls in at midnight!

First, head over to Wolfeboro to enjoy some of their First Night activities. First Night Wolfeboro is a community-wide, alcohol-free celebration of the performing arts. There will be a variety of entertainment options at many locations around town, including some really fun activities for children and families starting at 2:00pm. Kids will enjoy face painting, mask making, and hat making, as well as storytellers and interactive live music, and folks of all ages will want to check out the Discovery Dome and Telescopes from the McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium, and of course, the parade at 5:00 and fireworks at 5:30. The list of events and activities is too long to mention here, so be sure to visit the First Night Wolfeboro website for details. Read the rest of this entry »

3rd Annual Meredith Village Art Walk to Benefit NH Humane Society

As winter sets in all around New England, we begin to turn our thoughts toward pursuing creative indoor endeavors, gathering with loved ones, and helping those less fortunate than ourselves. December is a time of great giving, within our families as well as our communities. In this spirit of grace, the art galleries of Meredith are once again opening their doors and their hearts for a special night of beautiful art, music, delicious food, and generous fundraising for their annual “Food for the Soul” Art Walk.

Next Thursday evening, December 13^th, six galleries in Meredith will participate in the third annual Meredith Village Art Walk, themed “Food for the Soul,” to benefit the New Hampshire Humane Society, the largest area animal welfare agency. Last year’s Art Walk brought in many donations to the Meredith Emergency Food Pantry, and the event’s organizers are hoping their visitors are just as generous this year to help our animal friends. The event promises to be bigger and better than last year with the addition of several fine artisans and craftsmen, horse-drawn wagon rides, and live music. Read the rest of this entry »

The League of NH Craftsmen Meredith Retail Gallery December Events

Looking for unique, handmade gifts this holiday season? Interested in catching a glimpse of how a skilled artisan works her craft? The League of NH Craftsmen has a great lineup of workshops and demonstrations, where you can meet the artists and be a part of some of the creative processes as the fine pieces come to life. Check out what’s happening at the Meredith Retail Gallery this December…

Felted Animal Demonstration with Carolyn Wright
Saturday, December 1st, 2012, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Stop in and see how Carolyn brings wool to life in creative ways – from chickens, sheep, and lions, to stars, moons, and eggs! Carolyn creates her wonderful characters by the process of needle felting. Are you interested in exploring this art form? Come with your curiosity and questions, as Carolyn shows her work in its various stages. Read the rest of this entry »

Local Artists Selected to Exhibit in the Award-Winning Paradise City Arts Festival

Steven Hayden Arts Mixed Media Wall Sculpture; carved cherry and wenge woods, “flame-painted” and acid-etched wrought copper, forged steel.

Two of Meredith, New Hampshire’s premier artists, Steven Hayden and David Little, have been selected from among nearly 1000 applicants to participate in the prestigious Paradise City Arts Festival at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton, Massachusetts this coming Columbus Day Weekend, October 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th.

Steven Hayden is a wood, metal, and ceramic artist, and David Little is an artist-blacksmith who has done much of the metalwork throughout Church Landing and the Marketplace at Mill Falls. Both artists are juried members of the League of NH Craftsmen. Hayden and Little have a long history of collaborating, and continue to work together at The Arts Collaborative, a new studio space in Meredith that is owned and managed by David Little and his wife, Heidi, who is also an artist. Hayden and Little were selected to be among only 275 participants in the Paradise City Arts Festival after thousands of images were reviewed by the show’s jury last April. The applicants’ work was judged on the basis of imagination, technical excellence, design, and originality. Steven Hayden Arts and Winnipesaukee Forge are in very good company, since many of the works by the exhibiting artists are displayed in major collections, museums, and publications around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

Open Studio Days at The Arts Collaborative in Meredith

The new studio is waiting for you!

Many artists say the best way to approach creating art is to let go of expectations, be like a child, and play. Get ready to do just that at a new Lakes Region studio where the emphasis is on imagination and fun—and the possibilities are endless—during Open Studio Days this summer.

On Tuesdays in August, budding artists of all ages and experience are encouraged to visit The Arts Collaborative in Meredith, NH, a joint venture and creative collaboration between David Little of Winnipesaukee Forge and Steven Hayden of Hayden Arts. This gallery of fine furnishings and original artwork also has creative studio space, including the new downstairs teaching studio of Eco Art a la Carte and ArtsEnlight. For Open Studio Days, the space and plenty of materials are available for folks to come and “relax, play, explore, and create!” The vast array of art materials include traditional paints as well as natural and repurposed materials for collage and beyond! Experienced teaching artists Cynthia Robinson and Heidi Little will be on hand to lend some support if needed. Read the rest of this entry »

Satori Tea Garden a Peaceful Retreat for Lunch, Sweets, and Tea

One of the nicest things about summertime in New Hampshire is being able to relax outdoors in the warm weather and enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Add delicious food to the mix and the experience borders on transcendent—it feeds the soul. In the quaint lakeside village of Meredith, visitors and locals can find a quiet little spot tucked in a beautiful Japanese garden to sample light French luncheon fare, elegant desserts, and fine teas. This haven is known as Satori, a tea garden.

Satori is located in the gardens of the lakes gallery at chi-lin, an Asian art and antique gallery and workshop center just up the hill from The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls. Satori opened for its 11^th season on Wednesday, July 25^th to mild weather and a steady stream of customers. Suzanne Lee, owner of the lakes gallery and Satori tea garden, offers light vegetarian cuisine and tea at satori Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 to 4:30. After school starts again in the fall, the tea garden will be open on Saturdays, with other days available by appointment, until the fall begins to turn chilly. Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith Art Galleries Offer ‘Artists as Teachers’ Summer Program

Michael Milburn teaching a Koi workshop

This summer, many of the art galleries in Meredith will be offering a very special program of classes and workshops to bring a variety of hands-on lessons to the guests and residents of this picturesque and inspiring lakeside NH village. The Artists as Teachers program, a joint effort by Gallery 51, the lakes gallery at chi-lin, Vynn Art Gallery, and Kairos Art Space, was created to encourage people to come to Meredith to not only find great art, but to be able to study it with the artists themselves.

The Artists as Teachers program will be held throughout July and August at each of the participating galleries, with a diverse schedule of classes taught by respected and accomplished artists from across New England.  On Thursday, June 28^th, the galleries will hold opening receptions for the new program, in a setting where guests can view the artists’ exhibits, learn all about the classes being offered, and have the first chance to sign up for one or several workshops. Read the rest of this entry »

Meredith Becoming Another NH Antique Alley?

When folks think of heirloom and period piece shopping destinations, New Hampshire’s “Antique Alley” on Route 4 in Northwood usually comes to mind, but there are a few other little towns in the Granite State that have a growing antique and art market, including this quaint village on the edge of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Located in the heart of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Meredith is near a lot of old farms and family camps, which have transformed into treasure troves for antiques over the years. Meredith has also become a thriving destination town, thanks to its one-of-a-kind hotels, restaurants, and shops, as well as a lively assortment of events throughout the year. This is a winning combination for antique shops and art galleries in town.

Ted McGuigan recently opened Antiques at Meredith Bay, a new shop on Main Street with a view of the lake. “I opened in February and I’ve been doing well,” says Ted. “Business has been very, very good.  I’m very pleased with Meredith and how it’s promoted.” Ted credits The Greater Meredith Program and the Meredith Rotary Club for supporting the town with various events during each season. “Not many towns do that, so it’s a major plus.” Ted’s customers are tourists as well as local residents, and he carries items that are sourced locally in the Lakes Region. The shop features a wide range of items, from miniscule collectibles, to marble-top tables, to gold and estate jewelry.  Says Ted, “A little bit of everything, something for everybody’s taste, hopefully.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Lakes Gallery at Chi-Lin to Offer Fall Workshops

"Chrysanthemum" by Bruce Iverson

As autumn settles in and the cooler weather approaches, thoughts turn to creative indoor activities that will keep us productive and bring us much joy through the winter months and beyond.  For many people, an art class or creative workshop is just the inspiration needed to launch a new endeavor or hone existing skills, and in Meredith, NH, one little gallery offers some of the finest workshops in New England.  This fall is no exception, as the Lakes Gallery at Chi-Lin has a series of workshops lined up that will have even budding artists creating beautiful work in no time.

After a glowing response this past summer to Bruce Iverson’s Mountains, Trees & Mist workshop, the gallery was encouraged to offer another series of his classes.  This fall, Bruce will be sharing his expertise in The Four Seasons: An Introduction to the Chinese Scholar’s World of the Four Gentlemen. According to the gallery, after the Ming Dynasty was taken over by the barbarian Manchus, the scholar intellectuals retreated to simple mountain sanctuaries to continue to practice the ways of traditional gentlemen. The Four Gentlemen and the mountains in which they lived became the symbols of their world.

The bamboo—a virtuous life, with humility
The orchid—beauty in the face of obscurity
The plum blossom—constancy in the face of opposition
The chrysanthemum—triumph of hope over adversity

In Bruce’s workshops, participants will explore these symbols individually and learn to paint them using Chinese brush painting techniques. The workshops will take place on Sunday afternoons from 12:30 – 4:30/5:00 pm. Bamboo – October 9^th, Orchid – October 16^th, Plum – October 30^th, and Chrysanthemum – November 13^th.  All materials are traditional and will be provided.

Also this fall, Suzanne Lee will continue teaching Beginning Italic Calligraphy on Friday and Saturday mornings from 9 – 11am.  The Friday classes will be held from September 30^th through November 11^th, and the Saturday classes will run from October 1^st through November 12^th.  All materials and supplies for the class will be provided, and can be taken home at the end of the workshop.  By the end of this class, participants will be writing elegant cards and letters in beautiful calligraphy—just in time for the holidays!

No previous art experience is needed for either of these wonderful workshops, but space is limited and pre-registration is recommended.  For more information, please call the gallery at 603-279-8663 or email Suzanne at suzanne@chi-linasianarts.com.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team