League of NH Craftsmen Lecture Series Comes to Chase House

Duane Martin's Mabry Mill

Would you like to meet some of New Hampshire’s most talented artists and craftspeople while learning about how they create their pieces?  Visitors to the Lakes Region will be able to do just that as The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls welcomes the League of NH Craftsmen’s summer lecture series to Meredith, NH.

The “Signature of Excellence” lectures, which will offer an in-depth view of the artistry and technique that goes into making fine handcraft, will be held on June 27^th, July 25^th, and August 15^th from 7 – 9pm in the Fireside Room of the Chase House.  These informative demonstrations will showcase three juried members of the League of NH Craftsmen, who are entertaining speakers as well as skilled artisans.

On Monday, June 27^th, Duane Martin of Newfields, NH will speak about his process of making 3D art from wood.  Intarsia is a form of woodworking that uses sections of wood of various shapes, sizes, and species, which are fitted together to create a mosaic-like picture that has an illusion of depth.  Duane will discuss his technique for making beautiful pieces of art, such as presidential portraits, New England landscapes, and images of wildlife.

Garden Sculpture by Michael Kraatz

Come see Michael Kraatz of Canaan, NH on Monday, July 25^th.  This respected artist, who works with his partner Susan Russell to create various forms of architectural glasswork, will talk about the process he uses to conceptualize, design, and fabricate a garden sculpture.  According to the couple’s website, their work is “conceived with artful consideration of its place in the environment and with the unique vision of the designer and client.”

The final lecture of the season will take place on Monday, August 15^th, when William Schnute of Wilton, NH will discuss his passion—wood carving. William has been carving wood since he was seven years old, and now carves finely detailed sculptures, doors, entryways, signs, and many other items.  This internationally known artist, who is also the author of High Relief Wood Carving, will share his process and technique with visitors to wrap up the summer lecture series.

William Schnute's Fawn Sculpture

These presentations are a wonderful opportunity to get up close to some fine artisans and their craft, and also to learn about the diverse artistic processes that keep New Hampshire a vibrant art community.  All lectures are free and open to the public, and reservations are requested, at least two weeks in advance if possible.  For more information, contact the League of NH Craftsmen’s Meredith Retail Gallery at 603-279-7920 or nhcraft@metrocast.net or visit their website.

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

Photos courtesy of the League of NH Craftsmen

Beautiful Weddings at The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls

Summer season is upon us, and with that, the joyous sound of wedding bells!  The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls in Meredith are proud that many couples choose to hold their wedding weekends here, and the reasons are obvious:  a beautiful setting, ample accommodations, and top-notch service.  But summer isn’t the only time to tie the knot, and the team at this New Hampshire resort makes weddings memorable at any time of year!

The Inns have two different wedding locations.  The Chase House can accommodate weddings of up to 120 guests, and The Winnipesaukee Ballroom at Church Landing can accommodate up to 230 guests.  Church Landing was recently featured in New Hampshire Magazine’s BRIDE as part of a “perfect summer wedding”, and as icing on the cake, this setting has been awarded Best of BRIDE “Best Outdoor Ceremony” for 2009!

Stacey Dumais and Hilary Thurston are the event coordinators at Mill Falls, and offer couples personalized service in planning their weddings.  “From the time of the first phone call, the initial contact, we take that phone call all the way through the day of the wedding,” said Stacey in a recent phone conversation.  “We give them a tour, go through the booking process… through the planning process, and then put all of those details and plans into motion on the wedding weekend.” Read the rest of this entry »