EXHIBIT DATES

The new “Flights of Imagination” exhibit at the Children’s Museum of NH showcases the fanciful work of three NH artists who share their otherworldly visions in this intergalactic artistic treat. This exhibit will be on display in Gallery 6 at the Children’s Museum of NH from December 3, 2010 – March 6, 2011. (Continued below) 

David Random reclaims antique mechanical and architectural parts and transforms them into exquisite antique airships and retro rockets. Think Jules Verne and Buck Rogers with a uniquely “Random” twist!

The late Bill Oakes had a love of adventure. One night, he noticed a piece of rusted steel that looked like a moonscape. Inspired, he began a 5-year exploration of imaginary planetary surfaces, revealing the mountains and valleys of these worlds through painting and mono-prints.

Nationally known for his murals, including two commissioned by the McAuliffe-Shepard Planetarium in Concord, NH, as well as for his graphics, illustration, and paintings, Gordon Carlisle offers his own wonderfully humorous depiction of space travel in a series of collages and paintings.
 
The Flights of Imagination exhibit in Gallery 6 can be viewed during regular business hours at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday noon – 5 pm. No admission fee is required to view the gallery only. Regular admission applies for families who wish to explore the rest of the museum.

About the Artists

David Random graduated in 1969 with a Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art. Since that time, he has been prominent in the Boston advertising community, and is currently retired from his position as Executive Creative Director at DiBona, Bornstein & Random, the advertising agency which he co-founded in 1989. David is currently a resident of the New Hampshire seacoast area. His studio is at the Mills at Salmon Falls in Rollinsford, New Hampshire, a mid-nineteenth century mill complex with one hundred resident artists.

Bill Oakes was a celebrated artist, illustrator, art educator, inventor, and community activist. He held a Master’s Degree in Critical and Creative Thinking from the University of Massachusetts in Boston where he taught several creativity courses. Bill did numerous illustrations for The Franklin Library, "Time Magazine," "National Geographic," "Reader’s Digest," "American Magazine," "Yankee Magazine," The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, ABC News and CBS News. He was a courtroom artist for the historic Watergate hearings. He illustrated numerous books, magazines, and a record album as well as his own art instruction manuals and children's books. Later in his career, Bill was inspired to explore paintings and constructions depicting imaginary planetary surfaces. He passed on in October 2005.

Gordon Carlisle began studying art as a teen and has enjoyed a career that has included silkscreen printing, oil painting, set-building and more. He moved to Portsmouth in 1982 and set up a studio in the historic Button Factory. His work focus shifted to mural painting and decorative commissions, and he has completed projects for Fidelity Investments, NH Hospital, the NH Veteran’s Home and the NH Department of Fish & Game, among many others. In 1999, Gordon was awarded a NH State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship for his activity as a muralist. Additionally, he offers portraiture, graphics and illustration.

About the Children’s Museum

The not-for-profit Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit the official WEB SITE.

TOP PHOTO: This fanciful rocket was created by artist David Random.
 
SECOND PHOTO: Artist David Random creates rockets from found objects. His work will be on display among others at the Children’s Museum of NH from December 3 – March 6.