Art Celebrates Place

Each year since 2010, we invite local artists to visit properties that have been conserved with the help of  the Land Trust and to get inspired! Every work of art varies in both inspiration and composition.

2017 Show

The theme of the 8th annual Art Celebrates Place show is “Historic Farms”. This year, participating artists have gone out “onto the land” at the Amos Merrill Homestead, Hayes Farm, and Dundee conservation easements in Conway and Jackson. The official opening of the show was at Tin Mountain Conservation Center’s Nature Learning Center on Friday April 7th, 2017. Thanks to a dedicated group of amazing volunteers, the 8th Annual Art Celebrates Place was a huge success. The opening on April 7th was filled with fantastic food, art, and performances,all inspired by some of the Historic Farms in our region. The show will run through May 31st, 2016 from 9 am -5 pm at Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Albany, NH. Please call  the USVLT office at 356-9683 with questions on how to make one of these spectacular paintings your own.

 

A sampling of the work is featured below:

Waking Up the Roots, 14×18 – Ecoprint & Collage – June McLeavey — Hayes Farm

$275

“The Hayes Farm is rich with abundant vegetation, many species of which work very well in the ecoprinting process. This printing method extracts pigments from plants and directly transfers them to the paper in steaming or immersion processes. This is an unpredictable technique, but the marks left by the plants are often surprising and captivating. The ecoprints in this collage were all made from plants collected at the Hayes Farm in August of 2016, and include blueberry, goldenrod, and rosa rugose.”

 

Arrival, 10×10 – Oil – June McLeavey — Hayes Farm

$325

“When a place holds a special spot in our hearts, the moment of arrival often feels magical. On a lovely August morning at the Hayes farm, I was thinking of the many generations that have called this place home, if even for a week or two. That first glimpse of that charming farmhouse as they drove up the hill must have, for so many, brought such a sense of wonder and gratitude. Although this view may not be as majestic as others from the top of the hill, it was this feeling of arrival that I hoped to capture in this painting.”

 

From the River, 13.5×10.5 – Colored Pencil & Ink – Hanna Lucy –Lucy Family Farm

$300

“As a child, there was no harder task than helping Uncle Fred in the hay field. I remember throwing bales of hay onto the wooden flatbed truck, following the truck as it crept around the field on the edge of the river. At the end of the day, as the sun fell towards the Moats, it would be time to swim. The Saco River is sweet relief after a day’s labor in the hot sun. Like the generations before me, I am grateful to seek refuge in its cooling waters.”

 

The Ledge, 11×8 – Colored Pencil & Ink – Hanna Lucy — Lucy Family Farm

$300

“My roots are deep here. I can feel them sinking down into the spongy earth as I sit in the hayfield on a hot July day. As I draw the cliffs, I wonder how much my ancestors noticed their presence. The four hundred foot chunk of granite hasn’t changed much in the two hundred years that Lucys have lived on this piece of land. I am sitting in the footprint of the old boarding house, the one that burned down when my grandfather was a boy. He grew up with Cathedral Ledge casting shadows over the fields in which he worked and played, as did his grandfather, and his grandfather’s grandfather.”

 

Hayes Farm, 12×24 – Oil on Board – Anne Garland — Hayes Farm

$425

“The autumn of 2016 was especially brilliant. It set the Hayes field and surrounding mountains ablaze like a torch. In every direction there was inspiration to paint. I finally settled into a view that has been familiar to me since childhood: a place from the Iron Mountain trail where one can pause and gaze over the breadth of open field, to the generations-old house tucked into the landscape, and the rugged mountain ranges beyond.  That lofty mountainside is a special place to be. I give thanks for the generous sharing and protection of this land, which will continue to be enjoyed long after I am gone.”

 

Old Road to Foster’s Barn, 14×14 – Oil on Canvas – Anne Garland –Dundee

$400

“How uplifting to be amidst the grandeur of a landscape that instantly fills one with rapture! The orchard, the fields, the mountain views, the woodsy roads, the gardens…all impeccably maintained and plentiful! Where to begin to paint was mind-boggling. Summer turned to autumn, and I had to choose. I turned my attention to the old woods road, the trees now screaming with yellows, oranges, and reds. An intense blue sky cut through branches and tumbling foliage. The old massive and proud barn beckoned in the distance. It was so much, so delicious. So fulfilling. With gratitude I praise those who care to save and cherish such a world.”

 

The Hayes Farm, 6×9 – Oil on Panel – Erik Koeppel — Hayes Farm

$1,900

“This painting was made outdoors at the Hayes Farm site. I think it’s one of the most beautiful views of Mt. Washington in the valley, and I have painted there often. It’s also a place I love to bring other artists when they are visiting the area, for group “paint-outs.” Although I hope the picture speaks for itself, it was not the sunniest day, but beautiful none the less.”

 

Iron Mt. Summer, 9×15 – Collage –  Sarah Eastman — Hayes Farm

$450

“In all my years of hiking in the Mount Washington Valley, I had never hiked Iron Mountain. What a beautiful surprise – 180º views, gray weathered barn, and acres of freshly mown fields – but that gnarly old apple tree spoke to me, standing guard by the barn. I chose collage as a unique medium to interpret the scene.”

Dundee Autumn, 9×12 – Pastel – Sarah Eastman — Dundee

$400

 

Old Dundee Apple Tree, 18×24 – Acrylic – Ernie Brown — Dundee

$1,600

“My wife Kate and I lived in the Dundee shortly after our marriage in 1973. The Fosters were our landlords and we were the winter gatekeepers. We cross country skied, walked the horse trails, wandered the many roads, traced the pathways and sketched and painted pictures of our “backyard”. The open land – the fields in this painting – are still maintained, as always. They are mowed to keep the vistas open, not as pastures or hayfields, but just open spaces of natural grass and weeds with islands around rocks and trees of milkweed and brambles. Birds and wildlife abound.

 The apple tree is an actual tree, one of many throughout the Dundee – reminders of the many farms that were strung out along the slopes of Doublehead and along the East Branch River. Note – the tree was “moved” by artistic license to stand with the north faces of Mounts Kearsarge and Surprise – forever the view from the fields of Dundee.

This painting portrays the fall of 2016, a year of high “mast” production – nuts and berries that grow wild – so much that the deer and bears had little need of the farm apples. The apples were left untouched and were a delight to the eye…bright color after fall foliage.”

 

East Branch, 18×24 – Acrylic – Ernie Brown — Dundee

$850

“I lived one summer and fall in 1968 after my tour in the Army, in a small hunting camp on the south side of the stream. The camp was located about one mile downstream from this painting’s view. That site was as stony as this painting. I would wade and leap across those rocks and water each morning for the job and back each night to my first studio in the Mount Washington Valley – a wonderful place to be!

 The East Branch has all the features of similar tributaries of the Saco watershed…glaciated and rounded stones in a myriad of sizes…always moving downstream (albeit slowly)…often changing a crossing site after heavy rains, yet remaining a constant feature of the land. It supported the farm life that used to be in Dundee, and now supports the wild flora and fauna and the occasional fisherman.”

 

The Expanse, 16×36 – Oil on Canvas – Read Baldwin — Hayes Farm

$750

“Hopefully the spectacular view of the Presidentials was enough to keep these settlers going on what must be one of the coldest farms in the region.”

 

A Sliver of the Moats, 24×36- Oil on Canvas – Read Baldwin  — Dundee

$900

“At the gloriously south-facing Dundee Farm Easement, a blessed bowl if ever there was one, it is hard to imagine difficulty at any time, including the early days of settlement in the valley.”

 

Hayfield, West Side, 20×30 – Oil on Canvas – Read Baldwin  — Amos Merrill Homestead

$800

“This was my first excursion through this beautiful agricultural zone along the Saco. I felt as if I were in an immense fortress, protected on all sides by Chocorua, The Moats, Kearsarge, and the Green Hills.”

 

 

Stemmetry, 16×20 – Mixed Media (Photography & Illustration) -Student Artist Gillian Robert — Dundee

$125

“It took many trips to this beautiful spot to find the perfect perspective for this piece to come together. I was most inspired by the sunflowers swaying to the music of the autumn breeze. Every time I ventured out into the fields, the leaves had changed a bit and the air was slightly crisper. It is incredible to watch the autumn unfold, especially in such an astounding place.”

 

 

Blend In –Gillian Robert

“I was inspired by the birch trees and the autumn leaves changing color. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the field and taking in the sun with the sunflowers; I was in awe of the views of the mountain ranges and transitioning leaves. “

 

In 2016, the Land Trust created the first annual Art Celebrates Place calendar in attempts to capture these differences in print form to enjoy all year-round. Special thanks to our local business sponsors whose support made the 2017 Art Celebrates Place calendar possible:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016 Show

The 2016 show was a great success. Thank you to all of our supporters who came out both to Tin Mountain and the Gallery at the Met. Work has already begun on the 2017 show and we look forward to a show that celebrates “Historic Farms.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to a dedicated group of amazing volunteers, the 7th Annual Art Celebrates Place was a huge success. The opening on April 8th was filled with fantastic food, art, and performances,all inspired by the Green Hills Preserve in North Conway. The show will run through May 31st, 2016 from 9 am -5 pm at Tin Mountain Conservation Center in Albany, NH. Please call  the USVLT office at 356-9683 with questions on how to make one of these spectacular paintings your own. A sampling of the work is featured below:

Remember Me, Andrea Kennett – Oil, 10 x 20

$650

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve

I was first on the Lucas Munroe property November 27, 2015 for preliminary

sketches to access the composition to see if the area “spoke” to me enough

for a painting.   The angles of the trees, the tiered waterfalls, and the smells

of fall all had a story that was aching to be told.  Remember me.

I hiked up again on the 29 and 30th of November, again on December 6 and

finally January 22, 2016.   Each visit repeated the first whisper, Remember

Me, always.  I hope that I captured those days on canvas. I knew Red

Munroe from my family’s long association at the Skimobile.  It was a great

pleasure to remember him in this way.

 

SOLD – January Thaw, Andrea Kennett – Oil, 6 x 9

$290

Green Hills location that inspired this work: From Sherman’s Farm, East Conway Road Fryeburg, ME

This view of The Green Hills is spectacular from Sherman’s Farm and on this

extremely warm day in January, it proved to be full of the setting sun’s long

rays.  Lots of folks stopped to say hello and take the time to see what I was

seeing, commenting on the day and then reluctantly move on.  Something

about a shared experience brings strangers into acquaintances and then to

fellow Travelers.

 

Pudding Pond, Fall 2015, Andrea Kennett – Oil, 10 x 14

$450

This was the first painting for the Green Hills project and I am embarrassed

to say that it’s a result of terrible map reading.   To my credit, I did climb

Peaked Mountain with the hope of creating a piece from the top, but to no

avail.  My hiking muscles protested along with my ability to deal with heights

so I joined my painting companion to try Pudding Pond.  We toiled away at

the path at the pond which annoyingly drew us further from the water.  At

last, climbing down off the North-South highway, we found a most pleasant

spot beside the pond’s edge.  Kearsarge and Bartlett mountains were in

fabulous Fall dress and the air was thick with warm afternoon perfume. By

exception, the painting is included with the rest of the show.

 

Cascades, Barbara McEvoy – Pastel, 12.5 x 9.5

$500

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve

It was my pleasure to follow a fairly well marked trail through varying,

unspoiled terrain to find the cascades on the preserve. They were mine

alone when I sat by them in varying places.

Rippling, rushing cascades with their rocks and pools and multiple shifting

paths are one of my favorite things. Sitting by them, listening to their

sounds, watching the shadows and sparkles as light shifts, as water level

changes, even in a single hour…to me this is mesmerizing. To do plein air

painting, and/or to take photos back to the studio is to extend the

experience.

Indian folklore attributes magic to that shifting space between water and

air. Cascades have an abundance of that shifting space and I do feel it is

magical.

Golden Afternoon, Barbara McEvoy – Pastel on Sanded Paper, 19×19

$500

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve

My day exploring the Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve did indeed leave indelible

memories, and wonder at the colors of nature. After finding the remnants of

the first stone wall, I followed what seemed to be the direction of one “arm”

of the stone wall (see Autumn Mosaic), trudging still through brush and

vines, more following my dog’s instinct than my own.

Almost predictably, I came upon another section of wall, this evidently

somewhat protected by the tree it almost leaned against.

The glories of walking in untrammeled woods…plants do seem to

congregate in their own neighborhoods, and here the dominant color was

yellow gold rather than blazing red. Kaleidoscopic color. An artist’s delight.

For larger paintings my process is to drink in my surroundings, just sitting,

feeling, looking, and absorbing the mélange of shapes and colors through

my pores, perhaps sketching, certainly taking a few photos, and returning to

do the actual paintings.

 

Autumn Mosaic, Barbara McEvoy – Oil on Canvas, 30×40

$1200

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve

My day exploring the Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve did indeed leave indelible

memories. My first excursion from roadside into the woods narrowed

quickly from a “had been road” with ruts to tell the story, to an overgrown

brush path of uneven footing, a New England jungle with vines, bushes,

ferns, rocks and arching trees. After a fair distance, hard to judge since the

path required careful trudging and my more agile dog was pulling and

snuffing at wonders I couldn’t see, I recognized an opening of sorts to my

right…trees and brush, but not as dense.

Moving toward that opening, in the midst of the NE jungle was a remnant

corner of a stone wall, a heap actually with signs of the direction the two

arms of the wall had taken, but at this point in time, nature was winning: the

corner heaved into more of a jumble than a wall, and the growth

camouflaging the two sides…nature reclaiming its own spaces in a glorious

mosaic of shapes and color.

As I painted this, the first line from Robert Frost’s poem Mending Wall

repeated itself in my mind, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall.”

Nature, of course, reasserting itself.

Afternoon Shadows, Jane Carlson, $415 – Watercolor and Oil Pastels, 10×14

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Billings Memorial, Peaked Mountain

“While hiking around a bend; the lighting in this spot caught my eye.

I found the dark shadows against the trees in the brilliant sunlight stunning.”

 

SOLD Summer Blues, Jane Carlson $125 – Digital Print of original Acrylic and Oil Pastel, 11×14

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Pudding Pond

“I found the vibrant summertime colors along with the peaceful tranquility of

the day very inspirational.”

 

SOLD – Black Cap, Jay Rancourt – Watercolor, 10 x 13.5

$350

The Green Hills location inspired this work

I walked up to the top of Black Cap three times this summer and fall, once

with my three-year old grandson, Wendell. What a treasure it is. Much

enjoyed by many people, especially during this year’s spectacular foliage

season.

 

SOLD –From West Side Road, Jay Rancourt – Watercolor, 10 x 13.5

$350

The view of Green Hills is particularly grand from across the fields to the

west. This was an unseasonably warm day in November when the sun

striking the sere grasses was in delicious contrast to the green and russets of

the Green Hills, shadowed by passing clouds. What a beautiful place we live

in!

 

February Sun, Peg Scully – Watercolor, 16 x 20

$450

On a cloudless winter day just before sunset, the slanting shadows cast by

some trees in a grove off East Conway Road in Fryeburg made an interesting

pattern of light and shadow on the snow. I painted back in my studio and

added the two figures.

 

Pudding Pond, Green Hills Beyond, Peg Scully – Oil 11 x 14

$450

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Pudding Pond Public Land

A September walk around the Pudding Pond area with my sketchbook and

camera on a gorgeous day showed me many interior painting possibilities.

Finally I came upon a little bridge and a water view which opened things up

a bit. Brilliant blue and gold! I had my inspiration.

 

Forest Light, Penny Purcell – Acrylic, 16×30

$900

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Leita Monroe Lucas Preserve

I initially painted Pudding Pond, but I wasn’t too thrilled with my picture. It

was hard to get a good vantage point to see the water and mountains. I

really enjoy painting the movement of water and I seem to be drawn into

shady forest scenes with brooks and streams. When William (Abbott) took

us up the trail, I was immediately drawn to the stream with the moss

covered rocks. What was nice about this view was the fact that there had

been a great deal of cutting around it making it much lighter than a thick

forest. Much of it is new growth with subtle shades of purple; a very

peaceful place. I will return.

 

SOLD – View from the Field, Penny Purcell – Oil 10 x 16

$375

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Green Hill as seen from Sherman Farm

 

Forest Light II, Penny Purcell – Oil 10 x 16

$700

 

SOLD – Looking Up, Sarah Waldron  – Acrylic 24 x 18

$395

Green Hills location that inspired this work: Black Cap Mountain

A hike with my daughter and friends and our favorite white dog was a

precious autumn gift. As we reached higher and higher ground, the sun on

the leaves was breathtaking, drawing my eyes up. Around us was the ever

intriguing-combination: the brightness of the “light upon” and the glow of

the “light through”. The day was spent soaking up the light, gathering it here

and there, storing it away for the deep midwinter, so that in the darkest

time of the year I could sit in front of a canvas and once again focus on light.

 

 

In 2015, the theme for the artwork (and the properties visited) was water.

Below is a sampling of the work that was created in 2015.

(Please click on the images for larger version.)

View of the Moats     watercolor 14×18

Natalie Beittel

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Albany Town Forest.  Artist Statement:  “I waited until winter to walk the Albany Town Forest, this particular day was overcast and slightly stormy. It made for dark blues and browns, with not many shadows cast by the trees except on the river.”

 

Saco River     watercolor 14×19

Turing the Corner     watercolor 14×19

Ed Cooke (both pieces above)

USVLT easement that inspired these works: The Benecchi Easement.  Artist Statement:  “As a plein air painter, it was difficult to be dealt the hand of March 5, 2015. It was a bitter and overcast day, which kept my paint box at home and sent me on an adventure, equipped with sketchbook and camera. It proved to be a delight. The Saco River welcomed our arrival to Fryeburg 42 years ago. To find its quiet, undisturbed beauty with the help of a snowshoe trail, brought back a sense of discovery. The river was sketched and photographed for a studio painting. On the return, I found myself caught up in the turn of a stone wall with a birch and spruce forest as background. Thus, a second and favorite painting was inspired. Both were done in the comfort of my studio the next day.”

Swirling Leaves     oil & cold wax 18×18

Wendy Ketchum

USVLT easement that inspired this work: The Benecchi Easement.  Artist Statement:  “I visited Benecchi on a crisp, breezy late autumn day in the afternoon. Except for a lone canoeist who quietly glided by on the river, I was completely alone to explore along the shoreline. The wind was brisk that day, creating swirls of floating leaves on the water in a riot of fall colors. I tried to recreate the swirling, circular movement in this piece, as well as the contrast of sunlit leaves with the rich blue of the water and the dark reflections of overhanging branches. The cold wax medium allowed me to create a more sculpted look to the leaves, which seemed appropriate for the image.”

 

Moonlight Ski       pastel 11×15

Terri Brooks

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Harding Conservation Easement.  Artist statement: “Loved the full moon over the Harding field. Imagined a lone skier enjoying the moonlit night.”

Sacred Ground       oil 16×20

Robert Gordon

USVLT easement that inspired these works: Albany Town Forest.  Artist statement: “A favorite meditation spot of his wife’s, Bob Gordon has, for decades, referred to this scenic place in the Albany Town Forest as his Outdoor Studio. Only a short walk from his home and gallery on the Kanc, he and his dog Champney regularly revisit this view of South Moat rising above the twists and turns of the Swift River.”

 

     

Long Island Trilogy 
Conway Lake Winter   oil on canvas 14×14
Conway Lake Spring    oil on canvas 14×14
Conway Lake Fall     oil on canvas 14×14

Linda Gray

USVLT Easement that inspired these works: Long Island on Conway Lake.  Artist Statement: “This work forms a trilogy of sorts; a three part study of the changing seasons on a protected and peaceful place. A late spring paddle across Conway Lake to explore Long Island resulted in dozens of photographs from every angle on and around the island. That warm evening light on the spring greens, the calm reflections and the apricot sky inspired the first painting.  I thought it would be an interesting project to paint the same scene in every season as the light and color change throughout the year. So after deciding on my favorite vantage point, we paddled the kayaks out again on a brisk October day to capture the fall foliage and the crisp autumnal light. The winter image was the result of a snowshoe trek across the frozen lake on what must have been the coldest and windiest afternoon of January! The air temperature hovered around zero with wind chills well below. That low angle winter light on the snow and the deep blue shadows were beautiful to behold.”

 

 

Before the Snow    pastel 12×16

Terri Brooks

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Long Island, Conway Lake.  Artist Statement: “I walked out onto Conway Lake in January, the day before the big snow. I loved the bobhouse and its starkness against the sky. It was very quiet out there-just ice sounds-and the afternoon sky was starting to become milky. The reflections on the ice were impressive and the colors in the sky were beautiful.”

 

Saco Reflections      oil & cold wax 18×18

Wendy Ketchum

USVLT easement that inspired this work: The Benecchi Easement.  Artist Statement:  “I visited Benecchi on a crisp, breezy late autumn day in the afternoon. Except for a lone canoeist who quietly glided by on the river, I was completely alone to explore along the shoreline. The wind was brisk that day, creating swirls of floating leaves on the water, but occasionally it would quiet a bit, and I could appreciate the slight rippling patterns of reflections in the water. I wanted to create the calmer feel on the river when the wind abated for a few minutes, and thought the lone red leaf gently floating would help to convey this. I also wanted to play up the dramatic contrast between dark reflections of shoreline trees and the sunlit surface of the water.”

 

 

 

The Moats from the River #2   oil on board 12×16

Natalie Beittel

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Albany Town Forest.  Artist Statement:  “This I painted after completing the watercolor of the same scene. I really loved the feel of this winter view of the moats, and wanted to have a second go at it in a different medium.”

 

 

 

A Winter Ski   watercolor 12×12

Natalie Beittel

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Harding Conservation Easement.  Artist Statement:  “What struck me most about the Harding land, in addition to how perfectly it lies beneath the distinct peaks of Doublehead and farther off Carter Notch, was the groomed cross country ski trail that ran through.  In this painting I aimed to capture the flat fields in contrast to the nearby mountains, with skiers enjoying the view.”

 

 

 

Another Winter Day Gone By  oil on canvas  10×16

James Gaudreault

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Long Island on Conway Lake.  Artist Statement:  “I’ve lived on Conway Lake my whole life so the Long Island easement represents even more of a personal investment for me.  I planned half a dozen trips out to the island at sunset on snowmobile until I was finally able to capture the beauty and calm serenity I knew so well.  It felt fitting to make this piece as much a part of me as possible, so I also designed and built the frame using pine like that on the island.”

 

 

 

Rapids  oil  16×20

Bend in the River  oil 12×9

Robert Gordon

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Albany Town Forest.  Artist Statement:  “A favorite meditation spot of his wife’s, Bob Gordon has, for decades, referred to this scenic place in the Albany Town Forest as his Outdoor Studio.  Only a short walk from his home and gallery on the Kanc, he and his dog Champney regularly revisit this view of South Moat rising above the twists and turns of the Swift River.”

 

 

 

Moment  acrylic/aqua oil  18×36

Candace Maher

USVLT easement that inspired this work: Albany Town Forest.  Artist Statement:  “I visited the Albany Town Forest last fall and was taken with the constant and beautiful presence of the Swift River.  I have always been fascinated with water and the world that is created when the light, the water and whatever is next to the water make a universe into themselves.  I took many photos of my time there and also sat to sketch.  This painting comes from a photo of a reflection on the river at the height of foliage.  The many shapes and colors and their relationships to each other kept me entranced through the whole process of painting.”