Letters
Region
Obituaries
Abstract Paintings & Tribal Masks Exhibition At New Hampshire Antique Co-Op
Now on view through May 31, 2020
Congregational Church Stays Connected
During the suspension of in-person activities in light of the Covid-19 situation, the Congregational Church of Amherst, UCC has a variety of ways for members and others to connect with church programs. This is especially important during April as Holy Week and Easter are on the horizon.
The most up-to-date information about church activities can be found on the church’s website (ccamherst.org) or by calling the church office at 673-3231. Sunday services are broadcast on FacebookLive and recorded for later on-line viewing. Services are followed by a Virtual Fellowship Hour. Links for these and other events can be found on the website.
The church’s Facebook page is another source of information, including updates and video messages from the pastors. Pastors Maureen Frescott and Kate Kennedy are available to provide pastoral care during this time, and the church welcomes community members to connect with this loving, serving, open and affirming community of faith.
Lorraine Alice Hamilton
AMHERST – Lorraine Alice Hamilton of Amherst, New Hampshire, Beach Haven, New Jersey and Rancho Mirage, California died June 14, 2020 from pancreatic cancer at her home in California. She was 73 years old and a participant in the trial of a new cancer drug at NYU Langone in New York City since April 2019. She hoped that results from the trial would improve care for other patients who develop this cancer. She was with her family when she died and was
Donald Richard Haaker
Donald Richard Haaker, 80, born June 2, 1940, son of Carl E Haaker and Jeanne LaRochelle Haaker of Fitchburg, MA, son, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, peacefully passed away on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at Saint Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, MA.
Don, as he was affectionately referred to by friends, and Dad or Grandpa by family, was a proud veteran, avid fisherman, former business owner, collector of “As Seen On TV” gadgets, and
Arts & Entertainment
VIRTUAL ART SHOW OPENS
MILFORD – On November 3, 2020, Small Works—BIG IMPACT Show will be open online this year through Creative Ventures Gallery. This pre-holiday season virtual event features the creations of both professional and non-professional area artists. Limited in size to 12 inches in any direction, works will include both two and three-dimensional pieces in a variety of genre and styles and include a wide range of painting media plus clay, wood and fiber art. The limitation in size makes them more affordable for gifts and holiday spending. Shop from the comfort of your own home. The gallery will put buyers in contact with the artists and they can arrange delivery or mailing.
Creative Ventures strives to provide opportunities for artists to showcase affordable work to the public, regardless of experience level. This show will be available on the gallery website until December 31st so shop early!
Please visit our website at www.creativeventuresfineart.com/small-works-big-impact-show/ or call 603-672-2500 for additional information about upcoming classes, workshops and other scheduled events.
November Performances at the Redfern:
Collaborative Piano exploring Japanese and French Musical and Visual Arts Culture, Percussion in the Gallery, Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days, Student Recitals and More
KEENE, N.H. 10/29/20 – The Redfern Arts Center at Keene State College offers a steady stream of performances by faculty and students this November that reinforce the essential power of art to foster social cohesion, learning, and enjoyment during this challenging time. This month features a compelling piano collaboration between pianist Christina Wright-Ivanova and animator Christine Banna; a Percussion Ensemble performance exploring percussion music tradition in art galleries; a performance by Keene State Jazz Combos; and Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days, a tragicomedy featuring two actors in two acts that offers a resonant story of resilience for our time. The November lineup includes various Keene State Department of Music student recitals and ensemble concerts. A full list of events and links to the Livestream is accessible at https://www.keene.edu/arts/redfern/.
On Sunday, November 8 at 3:00 p.m., the Music Faculty Performance Series presents Hai! Oui!, A Dance Between Countries: French & Japanese Piano Compositions, a one-hour collaborative performance between pianist Christina Wright-Ivanova and animator Christine Banna. It highlights the influences between Japanese and French musical and visual arts culture through piano compositions with representations from 19th century classical piano works and 20th-century new music. Featured composers include Claude Debussy, Olivier Messiaen, Jo Kondo, Akira Miyoshi, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Sonoo Terauchi, and Toru Takemitsu. Several famous 19th-century French composers were heavily influenced by Japanese and Eastern visual arts and sculpture, which had entered the Parisian arts scene around the time of the World Exhibition of 1889. One hundred years later, Japanese composers, intrigued by the beauty of French visual arts and French music from the Impressionist era (~1870-1900), wrote contemporary, classical piano works with both French and Japanese musical traits. The Hai! Oui! performance features 35mm film animations by American artist Christine Banna who interprets the relationship of these two art
cultures through her own medium. Banna worked with two animation assistants, Ren Loureiro and Amanda Connell, who spent over 100+ hours on this collaboration project.
Keene State College Jazz Combos presents its autumn concert of traditional and contemporary music on Tuesday, November 17, 7:30 pm. KSC Jazz Combos are students from all disciplines who enjoy learning and sharing the art of performing live music. Bassist Steve Cady directs and arranges for three separate combos which will present material ranging from Chick Corea to The Champs and from Duke Ellington to Freddie Hubbard.
This semester’s KSC Percussion Ensemble concert explores the relationship between new music and art galleries on Thursday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. Artists and musicians have long inspired each other and formed collectives. Robert Rauschenberg, Jackson Pollock, Buckminster Fuller, and Marcel Duchamp were part of the “New York” School that was associated with sound artists like John Cage. The concert will feature percussion, found objects, organized sound, spoken word, hand drums, and even theater spread through the gallery as sound sculptures. Composers include John Cage, James Tenney, Juri Seo, Alice Gomez, Pauline Oliveros, Glen Velez, Jason Treuting and Christopher Swist. Swist’s “Chance 64” is a computer piece written in tribute to John Cage. The computer creates the form in real time using the I Ching Hexagram of 64 random possibilities. Access Livestream HERE. Named in The Independent as one of the 40 best plays of all time, Samuel Beckett’s Happy Days is a two-act play containing one of the most famous images of a middle-aged woman buried up to her waist in act one and to her neck in act two. Widely recognized as one of the greatest dramatists of the twentieth century, Samuel Beckett (1906-1989) wrote his sixth play Happy Days in 1960. The KSC Theatre and Dance department production of Happy Days will be performed for campus audiences and available for livestream for the general public November 18-21 at 7:30 p.m. (2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday, November 21). Access Livestream HERE.
Though written 40 years ago, the play offers a powerful meditation on human struggle and resilience, themes that are especially resonant today. Confined, isolated, and buried to the waist, Winnie’s zest for life transcends slight moments of apprehension and despair. Imaginatively she weaves “another heavenly day” by sharing stories, singing, and alternately quoting the classics. Winnie handles her situation with eternal optimism even in the face of what seems like insurmountable obstacles. Beckett offers a compassionate view of Winnie; while cognizant of her impossible predicament, she remains positive and hopeful.
Happy Days is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com.
The Redfern’s new podcast series, Inside the Redfern, explores how and why artists, students, and faculty at the Redfern create, collaborate, and share their work. Developed as a partnership with the KSC Department of Journalism, Multimedia, and Public Relations, the podcast offers a behind the scenes perspective into how arts and culture is moving forward through COVID. Episodes are released on a monthly basis; episode 3 will explore the rehearsal process for Happy Days and will be released on November 13. Listen HERE.
Based on current state and College Covid-19 restrictions the Redfern will remain closed to the general public and is offering virtual programs as a means for community members to access Redfern’s programming. Virtual performances and activities are free and open-access for audiences. Attendees are encouraged to make a contribution in lieu of purchasing a ticket.
Redfern in-person events are open only to faculty, staff, and students who have been approved to be on campus. The Redfern’s event schedule is available on its website at http://www.keene.edu/arts/redfern. While the Box Office is currently closed to foot traffic, audiences can call 603-358-2168 and leave a message or email boxoffice@keene.edu. Audience members are encouraged to sign up for Redfern’s newsletter for more information and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @RedfernArtsCenter.