Artists and Writers Needed to Create Rochester NH Myths
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Rochester_Fair_PCThis summer, 12 teams of visual artists and writers will be chosen to re-invent the history — real or imagined — of Rochester, New Hampshire. Artist-writer pairs from all over New England will be awarded $2,000 to create sculptures and written words that bring their imaginations to life. (Continued below)

 

And in one year, the Rochester-based nonprofit Art Esprit will release the results: a new Mythology of Rochester. Each accompanied by a 20- to 25-line poem or short story, 12 sculptures will be displayed in Summer 2012 in a spectacular walking tour through downtown Rochester for free public viewing. The stories and photography of the artwork will then be woven together to create a unified mythology for book publication. Winning proposals will be based on local landmarks, legendary figures or historical events. Applicants are encouraged to research the history of Rochester to prepare proposals. (A list of resources follows.) Even basing ideas on some nugget of perceived truth, artists are encouraged to create fantastical creatures, characters and circumstances with their art. Project proposals should include descriptions of the “myths” being represented.Awards of $2,000 each will be granted to winning teams for completion of their project. Applications require both a visual and literary artist. The jury committee is comprised of professional artists whom Art Esprit members have commissioned for their expertise, including Concord-based sculptor and teacher Megan Bogonovich, a former fellow with N.H. State Council on the Arts; and sculptor Gary Haven Smith, a Lifetime Fellow with the N.H. State Council on the Arts. Proposals are due June 30, 2011. Art Esprit will notify selected artists by August 1. Works are to be completed by Monday, April 2, 2012. Completed works are to be installed by Saturday, June 2, 2012. To propose a project for “Mythology of Rochester,” to sign up for Art Esprit’s e-newsletter, or for more information about the community arts group and its past exhibits and publications, visit the Web Site.

RESOURCES

Rochester Historical Society
603-330-3099 
P.O. Box 65, Rochester, NH 03866-0065 
Museum at 58 Hanson Street (open 1-4pm, Tues. & Thurs., all months, free admission)

Rochester Public Library 
603-332-1428 
65 South Main Street, Rochester, NH 03867 
Open Monday through Thursday, 9am to 8:30pm; Fridays, 9am to 5pm; closed weekends in summer.

The Architectural Jewels of Rochester, NH: A History of the Built Environment 
A book by Michael Behrendt, Rochester City Planner “a primer on the human landscape”

ABOUT ART ESPRIT

Art Esprit was founded in 2007 to create a network of literary and visual artists in the greater Rochester, N.H. area; to foster appreciation of and participation in the literary and visual arts through installations, exhibitions, readings and educational programs; to support the Rochester Poet Laureate Program; and to promote and nurture the artist.

The group has produced the highly acclaimed public art exhibitions “The Shoes of Rochester” and “If These Rocks Could Talk: Stories of the Granite State.” They have also raised and donated over $5000 to local high school students wishing to pursue art in higher education. Another $2000 will be granted this year.

This spring, Art Esprit is coordinating a community art project called “Rochester Creates: Portraits!” It will culminate June 4 when hundreds of wooden panels, painted with visual and literary portraits by community members of all ages — will be assembled into an architectural sculpture in a festive act of public art making in downtown Rochester. The weatherproofed sculpture will remain on display until Oct. 23, when it will be deconstructed and reassembled into murals to grace the walls of the Rochester Community Center.

Explore the many moods and moments of life on a star through the lenses of over 20 photographers at the Starry Night exhibition on Saturday, November 20 at the Discover Portsmouth Center of Portsmouth NH. The Discover Portsmouth Center is located at the junction of Islington and Middle Streets in downtown Portsmouth.

This year’s exhibition features the work of four locally-known professional photographers, Bruce Parsons, Alexandra DeSteiguer, Jill Brody, and Peter Randall.  All photography will be available for sale, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Star Island and its historic properties.

The evening begins at 4:00 p.m. with a wine education seminar by A Grape Affair when wines will be explained and tastes will be offered.  Doors to the exhibition will open at 6:00 p.m. Reservations may be made by calling the Star Island office (603) 430-6272.  Tickets are $30/person in advance for the exhibition or $35 at the door.  A special price exhibition ticket of $50/person, in advance only, includes the wine seminar with A Grape Affair.

The nonprofit Star Island Corporation owns and operates Star Island and its historic Oceanic House, stone village, and complex of residential and conference support buildings. Star Island is open from May through October as a retreat and education center.  It hosts more than forty conferences annually serving over 3,000 individuals attending programs on the arts, music, dance, philosophy, international affairs, history, and science.  In addition to those attending conferences and retreats, thousands of day visitors come to Star Island throughout the season.  The organization is headquartered year-round in offices at the Morton Benedict House at 30 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH.

 

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