August 2024

Attention Winchendon and Gardner Area Senior Citizens! If you want to have some creative fun, read on!

Gardner Area League of Artists is looking for ways to notify you and the public of upcoming art related events and classes.

Our offerings are both free and fee-based (senior discounts available).

We are located at the Old Murdock School in Winchendon (COA). Most of our classes will be held at this location.

Take advantage of GALA's offerings and have fun being creative.

Current classes & events:

• Monthly Greeting Card Making
• Critiques Sessions

Upcoming Classes & Events:

• "Let's Tangle" - Zentangle making (series)
• Introduction to Plein Air painting using Gouache,
• Watercolor Workshop, Drawing, Needle Felting, Alcohol Ink,
• Mixed Media, Ceramics, Field Trips, Guitar Lessons and more...

Stay Informed!

To sign up to be on our senior list email info@galagardner.org. Provide us with your information: name, mailing address, phone, email address, DOB. If you do not have email... call 978-407-1419 and leave your information.

Feel free to share this info with others. We welcome your suggestions for sharing this info on other media platforms.

Next critique is scheduled for Saturday, August 3rd, 10am-12:30pm.

Upcoming critiques:

Saturday, September 21st

Saturday, October 26th

Saturday, November 16th

10 AM - 12:30 PM

Where: All dates will be at the Old Murdock School

52 Murdock Avenue, Winchendon MA

Elevator to 3rd floor, Alumni room

Bring up to 2 pieces of your artwork (finished or unfinished) to share with the group. The first 20 minutes we will be networking, then we will go into discussing our artwork.

You may attend even though you didn't bring any artwork, feel free to join us.

Free to all GALA Members. New artists, first class is Free.

A great way to receive heartfelt feedback from your circle of artists friends.

Janet Dupuis will help guide us during our get together. Email Janet to let her know that you will be joining us at Jandu516@gmail.com.

Mark your calendar!

Instructor: Louise Hammerman

Where: Old Murdock Building (COA)

52 Murdock Ave, Winchendon

When: Saturday, August 10, 9:30am-1:30pm

Cost $35, all materials included.

With a very basic approach to painting using basic supplies, you will experience the joy of producing an art piece en plein air on location near the historic Old Murdock building. We will provide the necessary supplies and basic instruction for a successful art piece using water-based gouache paint pigments.

We will start inside the Old Murdock Building on the 1st Floor in the Community Room. There you will receive around a 30-minute class of instruction and given packets.

Then we will venture outside to the grounds of the Murdock building or the GAR Park across the street to each choose a view for our painting. The Farmers Market will also be in progress from 10-1, which could be a subject. I will circulate among you throughout the day with help and pointers, and at 1 PM, we will gather to share the day's art pieces. The building will remain open for bathroom use.

Participants will bring the following items:

• Light comfortable clothes
• Wide brimmed hat
• Sunscreen
• Plenty of water to stay hydrated
• Folding chair
• Your own snacks

Register with GALA

Register with Council on Aging

For more info contact GALA at info@galagardner.org or 978-407-1419

Would you like to teach an art class or are you looking to find a specific art class to take?

We would like to introduce our new Event Coordinator, Meghan Whitehead. Meghan is an active GALA board member and is working on setting up more art related classes and workshops.

If you are interested in teaching a class in the arts, please fill out this online form to let us know you are interested. We will work with you to put together your class.

If you are interested in taking a class or workshop in the arts, you may also fill out the online form and let us know what you are looking for and we will get back to you.

We are looking for instructors and individuals who will teach or lecture in various forms of art: fine arts, photography, ceramics, writing, poetry, music, digital art, and more.

We have several locations in the area where we can host classes.

Surf & Turf: A Visual Feast of Color and Texture

Expressionist Landscapes by Mark Lore

August 3-September 28

Creative Connections Gift Shop & Gallery

56 Main St., Ashburnham, MA

978-827-6211

Artist Reception - Saturday August 3, 1-3:00pm

Hours: Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10:00am-6:00pm

Scott Niemi has had two paintings accepted into recent exhibits:

2003 acrylic painting entitled, Rise was accepted into the Fitchburg Art Museum’s 88th Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft. The exhibit will be up through September 8, 2024.

Stream in Fall has been accepted into the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, 113th Annual Juried Exhibition. The exhibition will be held at the Slater Memorial Museum in Norwich, CT, with an opening on Thursday, July 11 from 5-7pm. The exhibition will remain on view through August 9.

Kat Hastings Solo Debut

Boylston, MA

Meet the Artist: Kat Hastings

Thursday, August 1, 6:00-8:00pm

Boylston Public Library

695 Main Street, Boylston, MA

Art will be on display all month long!

New artists every month

To learn more visit boylstonlibrary.org

kathastingsart.com

Elevate the Arts Fest

Keene, NH

Join us on Sunday, August 11th from 11AM-4PM for our annual Elevate the Arts Fest in downtown Keene! This outdoor community arts festival and fundraiser brings art to the community for all ages. From an awesome open mic hosted by local band Touch the Ocean to a colorful arts market hosted by 17ROX Artist Studios, and DIY arts activities by local creators, this festival has something engaging for everyone!

August 11, 11AM-4PM

Gilbo Ave, Downtown Keen, NH

Learn more

Exhibition of Circles

Lunenburg Public Library, Lunenburg, MA

Massachusetts Women's Caucus for Art Exhibition of Circles

The Massachusetts Women's Caucus for Art will be having their next exhibition of "The Mother Cycle", part of The 6000 Circle Project, this time at the Lunenburg Public Library. This is a traveling exhibition that will be on view at a different location each month through November 2024.

On view August 6-31.

Library Hours: 

Monday - Thursday 10am-8pm

Friday 2-6pm

Saturday 10am-2pm

Lunenburg Public Library

1023 Massachusetts Ave, Lunenburg, MA 01462

Participating artists currently include:

Alana Garrigues

Bonnie Iannotta

Christine Regan Davi

CM Judge

Deb Giordano

Deirdre Haynie

Helen Obermeyer Simmons

Jan Puccelli

Jane Keddy

Joan Sinatra Hathaway

Joanne Stowell

Nicol Wander

Shara Osgood

This exhibition is still accepting circles! There is no fee and WCA membership is not required. Circles must be 18" and based on the theme "The Mother Cycle." Any materials may be used. Contact MA WCA President Joanne Stowell to submit a circle.

88th Regional Exhibition of Art & Craft

Now through September 8, 2024

This annual show celebrates the incredible artists and crafters of our region by providing a museum environment for their work and connecting them with fellow creators and collectors.

Please join us in celebrating the vitality and importance of our immediate artist community!

Learn more

The Warfield Collection

The Jaffrey Historical Society is honored to exhibit the recently acquired Warfield Collection. The exhibition will be from August 10th to September 17th at the Jaffrey Civic Center. There will be an opening reception with music by guitarist/lutenist Andrew Szmauz and refreshments from 5 to 8 pm on Saturday, August 17th. Please join us in welcoming home The Warfield Collection!

Robert and Virginia Warfield lived in Jaffrey, New Hampshire from 1960 until their deaths; he in 1990, she in 2004. They carved and painted over 7,000 detailed and exquisite birds which can be found on display all over the world. The remaining 50, known as the Warfield Collection, were bequeathed to The Sharon Arts Center in 2008 to be put on permanent display. Eleven years later, in 2019, The Arts Center closed, leaving the Collection in limbo and at risk of scattered dispersal. Due to the diligence and generous support of Robert’s son, Bob Warfield, this collection was rescued and returned to Jaffrey, its rightful home.

Friday Night Date Night Performed by Musical Duo Ivychum

Front Lawn Fun continues at the Jaffrey Civic Center, 40 Main St. Jaffrey New Hampshire, Friday August 2, from 6 – 7 pm. Front Lawn Fun is a weekly series of arts and cultural programming which takes place in ideal weather conditions on the front lawn of the Jaffrey Civic Center, in less ideal weather the event is moved indoors. This series was developed to connect the community and engage people of all ages in the cultural arts. Friday's program will be the 2nd installment of this year's series.

This week, the center welcomes back Pati and Ken Cloutier for our Front Lawn Fun Friday Night Date Night! They have been entertaining audiences regionally and nationally, with their music talents since 1981. Their band “Ivychum” was a consistent headliner at local popular pub “Harlows” in Peterborough. Pati (Vocals, Percussion), a professional dancer and vocalist, is the owner and Artistic Director of the Peterborough Dance Theatre and teaches her “Chair Tap” Program here at Rivermead. Ken (Vocals, Guitar), and multi-instrumentalist, is also a retired Science Teacher from Conval High School. Together their original music compositions have been recognized at the national level, performing as opening act for recording artists Jonathan Edwards, Robin Trower, and Grammy Award winning artist Marc Cohn of “Walking in Memphis” fame. Come spend your Friday Night with us! Light refreshments will be provided.

This event is free fun for all ages and will take place rain or shine. Front Lawn Fun is made possible through the generous support from the Putnam foundation and Eversource New Hampshire.

The Jaffrey Civic Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit cultural facility founded in 1966. The Center’s mission is to provide and sustain a public venue where citizens and residents of the Monadnock region, as well as visitors to the area, can pursue artistic, educational, and civic activities. The Center’s goal is to contribute to the cultural enrichment and enlightenment of the community. The Center does not charge an admission fee, and all art shows and receptions are free and open to the public. The Center also hosts fee-based educational and other programs, as well as serving as the home of the Jaffrey Historical Society. For more information about the Jaffrey Civic Center, please visit the Center’s website.

All programs are free and open to the public. An adult must accompany children. Inclement weather cancels outdoor programs. Reasonable accommodations available upon request. Wheelchair accessible. For more information call 413-863-3221 or visit: https://www.mass.gov/locations/great-falls-discovery-center; or email janel.nockleby@mass.gov. The Great Falls Discovery Center is located at 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376.

Visitor Center Hours: Open 6 Days a Week

• Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesdays—Sundays, 10 a.m.—6 p.m.

Explore the natural, cultural, and industrial history of the Connecticut River Watershed with our dynamic exhibit dioramas. Adjacent to the Canalside Rail Trail, the center also includes the Great Hall exhibit gallery, restrooms, and drinking water.

Great Hall Exhibit: Local Birds in Colored Pencil

Ongoing, August 1—Sept. 2

Artist Mark Majeski takes photographs of birds and plants and arranges them into collages as a guide for his drawings. Using this process, he emphasizes the coloration and behavior of commonly seen Massachusetts birds.

Exhibit: Made in Montague *

Ongoing, May 5—Oct. 27

This exhibition in our Hallway Gallery explores products made in Montague today. Some have a long local history. Others are on the cutting edge of technology. Businesses include food, farms, beverages, factories, music, movies, electricity, and fine arts.

StoryWalk® — Dear Treefrog

July 4—August 20

Enjoy a story, fresh air and exercise! Join us on the center’s grounds for a free self-guided StoryWalk® featuring the children’s picture book Dear Treefrog by Joyce Sidman for readers ages 4-7 and everyone who celebrates frogs. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. For families with children. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT, and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Story Walk® is a registered service mark owned by Ms. Ferguson. This StoryWalk® is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services.

Pocumtuck Homelands Festival: Fish Printing at Unity Park *

Saturday, August 3, 10 a.m.—5 p.m.

A free two-day celebration at Unity Park in Turners Falls, sponsored by the Nolumbeka Project and RiverCulture. This festival is the perfect combination of live music, drumming, dancing, storytelling, native crafts and food. On Saturday August 3, 10 a.m.— 5 p.m., families may visit the Northfield Mountain and Great Falls Discovery Center tent to make your own vibrantly colored fish print to take home. All materials provided. For more information on the entire event visit nolumbekaproject.org/events. Unity Park is located at 56 First Street.

Kidleidoscope Story Hour

Fridays, 8/16: River Otters; 8/23: Bees/Flowers; 8/30: Butterflies, 10:30—11:30 a.m.

Learn more about our wildlife neighbors in the Connecticut River Watershed. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult, siblings and friends welcome. Meet in the Great Hall.

Great Falls Coffeehouse Presents: Michael Nix & Gloria Matlock

Friday, August 9, 7—9 p.m.

Join us for the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center’s concert series featuring local talent. Enjoy blues, spirituals, and more with Michael Nix and Gloria Matlock playing banjar and guitar. Refreshments available. Sliding scale suggested donations, all in support of educational programming at the Center. For all ages. Meet in the Great Hall.

Art Naturally Series: Papermaking *

Saturday, August 17, 10:30 a.m.—12 p.m.

Discover nature through story, poetry, and art in our series of free Art Naturally programs. Using words and images, instruction and techniques you create an art piece inspired by the natural world to take home. Learn how to make your own paper to take home and learn the history of paper mills in Turners Falls. For adults, teens, and children ages 6 and up (accompanied by an adult). All art materials provided. Meet in the Great Hall.

A French/Breton Jam Session

Sunday, August 18, 1:30— 3:30 p.m.

An informal group of musicians gathers to play the enchanting traditional dance music from France and Brittany, commonly known as bal folk. Please note, this is not a performance but rather a coming together of musically-minded friends. The event is free and open to the public to come and go at will. Meet in the Great Hall.

An Intro to French/Breton Dancing

Sunday, August 18, 3:30— 4:30 p.m., Great Hall

You’ve heard the music, now learn the dances! A very informal introduction to the dances that accompany the bal folk music played at the French/Breton session (see above). Note: to protect the floor of the Great Hall, bring clean soled or dance shoes for dancing, please, no fresh-off-the-street shoes. Meet in the Great Hall.

Food Margins: Lessons from an Unlikely Grocer *

Wednesday, August 21, 5 —6 p.m.

For our Food, Farms, and Factories series, local author, Cathy Stanton, discusses her new book, Food Margins: Lessons from an Unlikely Grocer at the Montague Center Library. Cathy Stanton is a writer and anthropologist who stumbled into the grocery business as part of a community effort to save a small food co-op in Orange. This presentation and conversation shares what she learned - and where she thinks the “local food” movement should go next. The Montague Center Library is located at 17 Center Street.

Antenna Cloud Farm Presents: Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna with Special Guest Seamus Egan

Thursday, August 22, Doors: 7 p.m., Music: 7:30—9 p.m.

Through the looking glass— A fresh approach to traditional Irish music. Renowned Brooklyn-based fiddle & guitar duo Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna are joined by master instrumentalist Seamus Egan (Solas) for an evening of compelling new interpretations of traditional Irish music. For ticket pricing and purchasing information, please visit www.antennacloudfarm.com/2024-concerts. Meet in the Great Hall.

Nice & Easy Walk: Community Gardens *

Saturday, August 24, 10—11 a.m.

Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Enjoy natural and local history highlights along the way. Take a tour of downtown Turners Falls community gardens. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance.

Find us at the Farmers Market! *

Saturday, August 24, 10 a.m.—1 p.m.

Montague Public Libraries is joining in our Food, Farms, and Factories fun with summer visits to the Farmers Market, with books and activities about growing food. The Great Falls Farmers Market is located between 6th and 7th streets along Avenue A at Peskeompskut Park.

Turtles to Toads: Herps of the North

Saturday, August 24, 3 —4 p.m.

The reptiles and amphibians of Massachusetts are some of our least understood and most fascinating animals. Staff from the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum present an interactive slideshow, introducing us to live animals and touchable artifacts. Afraid of snakes? Don’t worry, we can help. Meet in the Great Hall.

*Food, Farms, & Factories: In 2024, the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center present programs and exhibits about Food, Farms, and Factories, continuing conversations about rural life in Turners Falls and Franklin County. Supported by the Friends of the Great Falls Discovery Center, RiverCulture, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, and Montague Public Libraries. Funded by Mass Humanities through the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Visit greatfallsdiscoverycenter.org/foodfarmsandfactories to learn more.

Great Falls Discovery Center

Department of Conservation & Recreation

2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376

janel.nockleby@mass.gov  (413) 863-3221  she/her/hers

Open Hours: Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Office Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays

This monthly dance occurs the 3rd Friday of every month, at the Montague Common Hall at 34 Main Street in Montague, MA.

Swing Dance Lesson is 7:00-8:00PM

Live music provided by the Butterfly Swing Band is 8:00-10:00PM

$20 for dance and lesson, $15 dance only

Supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council

Fourth Wrapping Paper Fundraiser for the Montague Reporter

People have probably been wrapping up presents in newspaper for many years. In 2020, the Montague Reporter, a weekly non-profit community newspaper, invited seven local artists to design pages to be used exclusively as recyclable and unique wrapping paper. The project became a fundraiser for the little independent newspaper that covers Montague, Erving, Gill, Wendell, and Leverett, and subsequent Special Wrapping Paper Editions came out in 2022 and 2023.

The Montague Reporter announces a call for artists for the 2024 Wrapping Paper Edition. Artists from western Mass and southern Vermont are invited to submit designs and proposals for wrapping paper pages from now until the September 1 deadline.

Each artist will have the space of two full adjacent pages for their design, making a double page measuring approximately 20 by 22 inches. Artists may design in full color or in black and white in any style. The designs do not have to reference any holidays.

The paper offers a $200 stipend to each of seven chosen artists, thanks to several anonymous donors. The selected artists will also receive five copies of the Wrapping Paper Edition for their personal use.

The Special Wrapping Paper Edition will be sold between Thanksgiving and the end of December in local stores and online, at the special price of $5 each or five for $20. All proceeds go to support the paper.

Artists and designers may submit up to three designs before the September 1 deadline using an online, Google submission form available here: tinyurl.com/more-wrap.

For those who can’t use the online form, send your name, address, phone number, and up to three images for a unique wrapping paper page, to features@montaguereporter.org with “Wrap” in the subject line. More information including examples of previous winning entries and digital file preparation guidelines, is available at montaguereporter.org.

The Fitchburg Arts Community will provide 68 mixed-income, artist-preference apartments in three former historic municipal buildings. NewVue Communities (NewVue) is converting the former BF Brown Middle School (62 Academy Street), the former City Stables, and the former High School Annex (82 Academy Street) into apartments and artist amenities. The project is located across the street from and in partnership with the Fitchburg Art Museum.

Anyone can apply for housing at the Fitchburg Arts Community. However, artists will be given a preference in the housing lottery. To receive this preference an artist must demonstrate they have been active in their work over the past three years.

How the process works:

• Applicants complete the pre-application online
• NewVue will contact all eligible artists with a link to submit materials (letter of interest, 3 work samples, resume, two letters of reference)
• Artists will be assessed on the materials to determine if they should receive the artist-preference in the lottery.
• August 7 the lottery will be held for units in the Fitchburg Arts Community
• Those selected will go through a final verification process with the property manager Wingate.
• January 2025 - units will be ready for tenants to move in.

More detailed information will be coming soon to the NewVue website. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to Samantha deManbey, Artist Tenant Recruiter, at sdemanbey@nvcomm.org with any questions or concerns.



The Destination: Nature 2024 Juried Art Show invites artists inspired by nature to reflect their interactions with and response to the wild and scenic Nashua River Watershed. Juried by Jane Winchell, Director of the Art & Nature Center at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Cash and future exhibit awards. Submissions open September 6, 2024. Artwork specifications and all additional information at destination-nature.org.



This year’s theme is “Wild and Scenic” offering artists the chance to reflect their interactions with and response to the wild and scenic Nashua River Watershed. Artists are free to interpret this theme in any way that captivates viewers' attention and imagination.

Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) and check out the MCC blog ArtSake

The Painter's Keys where you can subscribe to twice weekly letters from artist Robert Genn.

Visit the Arts Marketing Project website for info, ideas, tools and training on marketing art.

Mini Grants for Professional Development are available through NewVue Communities. More information.

Please send your news "publication ready" to news@galagardner.org. See previous newsletters for example formats and the type of info to provide. We strongly recommend that you include a digital image related to the news as well as your website address & links to any venues. Image filenames should include the name of the artist and the work. Please post your press releases online whenever possible and submit a link.

Submission deadline is the 23rd of each month for publication on the 1st of the following month.

Inclusion of items/announcements is always at the discretion of GALA, but inclusion of submissions from non-members is limited to information deemed to be of benefit to GALA members.