Exhibits, galleries, theater and more: Seacoast arts and culture news
‘The Portrait Project’ solo exhibition featuring mixed media paintings by Danielle Festa
DOVER — Danielle Festa exhibits hyper-realistic, mixed media oil paintings that highlight resilience in subjects who have experienced trauma or loss. Figurative paintings of the Renaissance period were reserved for the rich and powerful, with carefully selected attire to highlight their prominent placement in society. Festa is highlighting a different type of power, that which lies in individuals who have overcome challenges, painted in outfits that showcase their strength.
There are many ways of coping with physical or mental trauma when it comes to outward appearance. Material can be a mechanism for hiding, for comfort, or even for control. Festa discovers and paints survivors who have found the confidence to step back into the light. Color, pattern, fit, and embellishments worn with confidence, or that tell a story, can inspire others to rise up in the face of adversity.
The abstracted brush strokes or ink backgrounds contrast the detailed hyper-realistic portraits. The colorful or sometimes dark elements represent the complexity of entangled traumatic experiences, building emotions and the emergence of courage.
Nearly all of the portraits in the exhibition are being gifted to the subjects thanks to the generosity of Aplomb sponsors: Edward Leary Photography, Bamford Investment Company, LLC, The Closet Connection and individual donors. “The Portrait Project” exhibition will be held annually with new subjects being highlighted. If you are interested in applying as subject, nominating someone you know or supporting the project, learn more at https://aplombgallery.com/portrait-project.html.
There will be an opening reception June 25, from 4 to 7 p.m. in-person with advanced registration, masks recommended. https://aplombgallery.com/exhibitions.html. On view June 25 through Aug 11, 2022 by appointment at https://aplombgallery.com/exhibitions.html.
VR Exhibition:
Attend with a Mac/PC or Oculus Quest. Download at artgatevr.com/download. Enter the Aplomb gallery from the lobby to see the exhibition on your own or make an appoint for a tour at https://aplombgallery.com/exhibitions.html.
Halcyon Music Festival returns with in-person performances
PORTSMOUTH — The 2022 Halcyon Music Festival returns to the stage with unique chamber music programs. Halcyon Music Festival brings 21 world-class musicians together to live, rehearse and perform. The performances are held at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, N.H. All performances begin at 7 p.m.
“We are beyond excited to be returning to the Seacoast this June to perform a rich and widely varied selection of chamber music for live audiences,” said Heng-Jin Park, pianist and the festival’s Artistic Director. “This year’s roster of world-class artists includes a great mix of musicians whom our festival audiences have come to know and love as well as several new faces, including NH native and violinist Laurel Gagnon.”
The 2022 Halcyon Music Festival schedule includes:
Thursday, June 16: “Music and Strife” features Richard Strauss’ String Sextet from the Opera ‘Capriccio’ performed by Gabriela Diaz and Laurel Gagnon, violins; Katherine Murdock and Marcus Thompson, violas; Thomas Kraines and David Hardy, cellos. Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 57 performed by Maria Ioudenitch and Monica Pegis, violins; David Harding, viola; Peter Stumpf, cello; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Antonin Dvořák’s Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90, ‘Dumky’ performed by Ben Sayevich, violin; Thomas Kraines, cello and Heng-Jin Park, piano.
Friday, June 17: “Memento Mori” features Frank Bridge’s Phantasy for Piano, Quartet performed by Laurel Gagnon, violin; David Harding, viola; Peter Stumpf, cello and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Anton Arensky’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, for Violin, Viola, and Two Cells performed by Gabriela Diaz, violin; Marcus Thompson, viola; David Hardy and Thomas Kraines, cello. Gabriel Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 15 performed by Maria Ioudenitch, violin; Katherine Murdock, viola; Peter Stumpf, cello and Heng-Jin Park, piano.
Saturday, June 18: “Points of Departure” features W. A. Mozart’s String Quintet No. 4 in G minor, K. 516 performed by Ben Sayevich and Laurel Gagnon, violins; Marcus Thompson and Katherine Murdock, violas; and Peter Stumpf, cello. Charles Ives’ Trio for Violin, Violoncello, and Piano performed by Monica Pegis, violin; David Hardy, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano. Claude Debussy’s String Quartet in G minor performed by Maria Ioudenitch and Gabriela Diaz, violins; David Harding, viola; and Thomas Kraines, cello.
Thursday, June 23: “To the Peacemakers” features Sergei Prokofiev’s Overture on Hebrew Themes, Op. 34 performed by Paul Cigan, clarinet; Emma Frucht and Gabriela Diaz, violins; Robert Meyer, viola; Loewi Lin, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano. Alexander Borodin’s String Quartet No. 2 performed by Zenas Hsu and Monica Pegis, violins; Melissa Reardon, viola; and Alexei Gonzales, cello. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio in A minor, Op. 50 performed by Ben Sayevich, violin; David Hardy, cello; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano.
Friday, June 24: “Struggle and Release” features W. A. Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet in A Major, K. 581 performed by Paul Cigan, clarinet; Ben Sayevich and Monica Pegis, violins; Robert Meyer, viola; and David Hardy, cello. Samuel Barber’s String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11 performed by Zenas Hsu and Gabriela Diaz, violins; Tim Deighton, viola; and Alexei Gonzales, cello. Johannes Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 performed by Emma Frucht, violin; Melissa Reardon, viola; Loewi Lin, cello; and Heng-Jin Park, piano.
Saturday June 25: “Tradition and Evolution” features Paul Hindemith’s Quartet for Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano performed by Paul Cigan, clarinet; Zenas Hsu, violin; Loewi Lin, cello; and Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, piano. Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quintet No. 1 in A Major, Op. 18 performed by Gabriela Diaz, Emma Frucht, violins; Melissa Reardon and Robert Meyer, violas; and Alexei Gonzales, cello. Ludwig van Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1 performed by Ben Sayevich and Monica Pegis, violins; Tim Deighton, viola; and David Hardy, cello.
In addition to the evening performances, Halcyon Music Festival will present a free Children’s Concert at the Portsmouth Public Library on Wednesday, June 22 at 1:30 p.m. The one-hour performance will feature select movements from Mendelssohn’s string quintet and Borodin’s string quartet.
Since 2014 the Halcyon Music Festival’s mission has been to create a community where chamber music will be explored and presented at the highest artistic level; and to make chamber music accessible to everyone, in particular those who might not otherwise experience it in a concert hall.
Single concert tickets are $25 for general admission and $10 for students. Multi-concert ticket packages are also available at discounted rates: six concerts for $130, five for $110, four for $88, and three for $65. There is also a live stream option.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased directly on the festival’s website. For details of the individual performances or to buy tickets, visit www.HalcyonMusicFestival.org/concerts.
Garrison Players Youth Ed shows on outdoor stage
ROLLINSFORD — Garrison Players Youth Ed Shows “Catch Me If You Can” (Musical) and “Alice In Wonderland” to be held on our outdoor stage.
Catch Me If You Can: Based on the hit DreamWorks film, this splashy spectacle follows the high-flying adventures of a globetrotting con artist. Based on the hit film and the incredible true story, “Catch Me If You Can” is a musical comedy about chasing your dreams and not getting caught! Show dates: June 17, 18, 19, 25, 26 at 6 p.m. $15
Alice in Wonderland: Lewis Carroll's confounding classic takes Alice to Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Along the way she meets the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, a hookah-smoking Caterpillar, the Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and a menagerie of other characters. What a curious dream! Show dates: June 18, 19, 25, 26 at 2 p.m. and June 24 at 6 p.m. Tickets: $15
Visit www.garrisonplayers.org, email boxoffice@garrisonplayers.org, or call 603-750-4278 for details, tickets, and volunteer opportunities. Garrison Players Arts Center, 449 Roberts Road, Rollinsford.
The Kittery Art Association presents ‘A Road Less Traveled’ all member exhibition
KITTERY, Maine — The Kittery Art Association was founded in 1958 by a group of twelve seacoast artists. In 1959, they purchased the former firehouse on Coleman Avenue in Kittery Point. The group remained relatively small, with membership fluctuating for several decades. In 1999, a fire broke out on the gallery’s second floor, significantly damaging the building. Out of the ashes a small, yet dedicated, group of volunteers restored the building, and with it, revitalized a community of multidisciplinary artists in the area. Since the building’s restoration, the Kittery Art Association has continued to grow. In 2021 the KAA Board began negotiations with the town of Kittery to purchase the Taylor Building, former home of the Rice Public Library annex. In May of this year we packed up our firehouse-turned-gallery in Kittery Point in order to move to a larger space in Kittery Foreside that will better accommodate our members and programming.
It is now with great pleasure that we announce our first All Member Exhibition in our new home, at 2 Walker St., in Kittery, Maine June 16 through July 10 with a special Open House to occur during the Kittery Block Party on Saturday, June 18. Gallery hours are Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and the public is invited.
Some see art as expressive problem solving. Artists have a reputation for paving their own path. The Kittery Art Association presents A Road Less Traveled, an All Member Exhibition of art that honors the journey and emphasizes exploration of self.
For more information visit www.kitteryartassociation.org or contact KAA at info@kitteryartassociation.org /; 207-451-9384.
The Midnight Wrens headline fundraiser for Key Collective in Exeter
EXETER — The KEY Collective’s #areuin? card program, which makes it possible for all children, regardless of economic status, to have an equal opportunity accessing out-of-school programming with no social stigma attached, is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
A celebration and fundraiser to mark the occasion will take place on June 26 at the Word Barn Meadow in Exeter, featuring a concert by The Midnight Wrens, food, drink, a silent auction, and activities for children.
“This annual event is not only a perfect way to spend a summer afternoon outside with family and friends, but a chance to support an organization that truly does make a positive impact on the lives of kids in our area,” said Kristyn LaFleur, the organization’s executive director. “Our hope is that both those already familiar and those new to The KEY Collective will leave feeling good about knowing what great work we are doing in our community for the kids that need it most.”
The program provides qualified students in K-12th grade with the #areuin? card, which makes it possible for them to access programs through 25 partner agencies across the Seacoast. Most programs are offered for free or at a greatly reduced rate.
The program serves the Seacoast from Exeter to Portsmouth to Seabrook and Hampton. They have relationships with the Exeter Area YMCA; Northeast Junior High Football; Exeter Youth Lacrosse Association; Exeter Youth Baseball & Softball League; Play Practice Basketball; Stratham Parks and Recreation; Exeter Parks and Recreation; Hampton Parks and Recreation and the Portsmouth City Soccer Club.
Tickets for the fundraiser and celebration at the Word Barn are now available and can be purchased here: www.eventbrite.com/e/midnight-wrens-meadow-concert-to-benefit-the-key-collective-tickets-321446514177.
Press Room presents Cisco Brewers Summer Concert Series
PORTSMOUTH — On Sunday, June 26, the first of many incredible summer concerts will be held at Cisco Brewers Portsmouth, 35 Portsmouth Drive, Portsmouth, leading off with Galactic!
Get ready for an exciting new concert series! Good friends The Press Room and Cisco Brewers Portsmouth are combining forces to officially welcome concerts back to Portsmouth in a big way. We’ve got some pretty exciting bands lined up for multiple unforgettable nights of live music taking place outside at the incredible Cisco Brewers Portsmouth. Bands include Galactic, Railroad Earth, Ripe and more announcements to come soon.
For information about the series, please visit: www.Ciscobrewersportsmouth.com. For Ticket info, please visit: portsmouthnhtickets.com/events/galactic-6-26-2022.
Seacoast Wind Ensemble Performs Summer Concert
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine — The Seacoast Wind Ensemble will present a concert Thursday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the South Congregational Church “Green on the River” (across the street from the church), 2 North St., Kennebunkport, Maine. The concert is free and open to the public. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy this concert on the green.
Our first outdoor performance of the summer will feature music both familiar and new, including “Selections From Encanto” and “The Mandalorian”, both arranged by Paul Murtha; “Women of the Podium March” by Virginia Allen; “American Riversongs” by Pierre LaPlante; Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes” March; and many more. Other upcoming performances include “Summer in the Streets” July 2 at 5:30 p.m., in Portsmouth, and the Ellis Park Bandstand July 22 at 6:30 p.m., in York, Maine.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exhibits, galleries, theater and more: Seacoast arts and culture news
