Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Faculty Member Publishes in Three Magazines
A story on community-based tourism written by Carol Greenhouse, a member of the Chester College of New England Department of Writing and Literature, is included in the May issue of ODE, on newsstands now. She also has a piece on children's meditation in the July issue of MOTHERING magazine and a story on evolving consciousness and the future of education, co-written with Champlain College faculty member Ron Miller, in the June issue of EDUCATION REVOLUTION magazine. She and Miller will present a workshop on the subject at the annual Alternative Education Resources Organization conference in June.
Chester College Opens Student Gallery at The Coffee Factory
Prints, Painting, & Photography, the first exhibition in Chester College of New England's new Witherill Gallery at The Coffee Factory, will open on Thursday, April 16, with a reception from 5-7 p.m. Students from the creative writing program will be reading poetry as part of the event.
The Witherill Gallery is a student-run gallery designed to exhibit work by Chester College students inside The Coffee Factory in Derry. A gallery committee is working with owners Kevin and Gladys Yorke to plan exhibitions. The relationship between the business and the college started when a Chester College student started to attend weekly poetry open mics. From there, the Yorkes expressed an interest in giving Chester College students the opportunity to exhibit and sell their artwork.
Prints, Painting, & Photography continues through May 5. The Witherill Gallery at The Coffee Factory is located at 55 Crystal Ave. in Derry, NH. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 .m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, email the gallery committee.
Chester College Hosts Seacoast Writers Spring Conference
Chester College of New England is pleased to host the annual Spring Writers Conference of the Seacoast Writers Association, Saturday, May 16, in Wadleigh Library.
The conference begins with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the morning session will recognize the winners in the SWA 2009 Writers’ Contest. First place winners will read their winning entries. Former NH State Poetry Laureate Marie Harris will present the keynote address, "In Service to Language, A Writer's Trust."
Following a buffet lunch, the afternoon session offers a choice of one of four two-hour workshops.
Children’s book author and former librarian Michael Sullivan offers motivational techniques for story telling in “Writing for Kids Who Won’t Read.” He writes the Escapade Johnson series and the Bard series of books for school-age children.
Poet and teacher Kimberly Cloutier Green introduces participants to the four-word-line poem in “Contents Under Pressure.” She is author of the chapbook What Becomes of Words.
Mystery and non-fiction writer Vicki Stiefel shows techniques for writing a compelling narrative in “How Disastrous is Your Adventure?” Co-director with her husband, novelist William Tapply, of the Writers Studio at Chickadee Farm, she is author of four novels of suspense featuring homicide counselor Tally Whyte.
Award-winning film author and director Alfred Thomas Catalfo will show his latest short film, “Ear Whacks,” and take participants through the steps of writing and producing the short film. All conference participants are invited to view “The Norman Rockwell Code,” his award-winning spoof of “The DaVinci Code,” which was selected for the Library of Congress film collection.
Registrations postmarked by May 1 are $40 for first-time conference participants; $45 Early Registration (SWA member); and $60 Early Registration (nonmember). Registrations postmarked after May 1 are $55 for SWA members and $70 for non-members. Fees include a continental breakfast and the buffet lunch. Participants needing assistance may bring an aide for the cost of lunch, $18.
For further information and a registration form, go to www.seacoastwritersassociation.org or contact registrar, Michael Wade by email or by phone, 603-778-8182.
The conference begins with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the morning session will recognize the winners in the SWA 2009 Writers’ Contest. First place winners will read their winning entries. Former NH State Poetry Laureate Marie Harris will present the keynote address, "In Service to Language, A Writer's Trust."
Following a buffet lunch, the afternoon session offers a choice of one of four two-hour workshops.
Children’s book author and former librarian Michael Sullivan offers motivational techniques for story telling in “Writing for Kids Who Won’t Read.” He writes the Escapade Johnson series and the Bard series of books for school-age children.
Poet and teacher Kimberly Cloutier Green introduces participants to the four-word-line poem in “Contents Under Pressure.” She is author of the chapbook What Becomes of Words.
Mystery and non-fiction writer Vicki Stiefel shows techniques for writing a compelling narrative in “How Disastrous is Your Adventure?” Co-director with her husband, novelist William Tapply, of the Writers Studio at Chickadee Farm, she is author of four novels of suspense featuring homicide counselor Tally Whyte.
Award-winning film author and director Alfred Thomas Catalfo will show his latest short film, “Ear Whacks,” and take participants through the steps of writing and producing the short film. All conference participants are invited to view “The Norman Rockwell Code,” his award-winning spoof of “The DaVinci Code,” which was selected for the Library of Congress film collection.
Registrations postmarked by May 1 are $40 for first-time conference participants; $45 Early Registration (SWA member); and $60 Early Registration (nonmember). Registrations postmarked after May 1 are $55 for SWA members and $70 for non-members. Fees include a continental breakfast and the buffet lunch. Participants needing assistance may bring an aide for the cost of lunch, $18.
For further information and a registration form, go to www.seacoastwritersassociation.org or contact registrar, Michael Wade by email or by phone, 603-778-8182.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Senior Show and Reading, April 6
The second round of senior projects for the class of 2009 will be featured beginning Monday, April 6. The gallery will feature the work of artists Amanda Prue, Jeff Traynor, Emily Brochu and Joe Brown. The opening reception for the exhibition will be on Wednesday, April 8, from 7 to 9 pm at Wadleigh Library. Readings by Jeff Metcho, Laura Spencer and Maggie Hatfield will begin at 8 pm in the conference room adjacent to the gallery.
Tattoo by Amanda Prue.
Prue will be presenting “The Art of Tattoo,” an exhibition of tattoo “flash” art and art on skin, including designs and photographs of some of her work. Also attending will be recipients of Prue’s tattoos, showing off the work live.
by Jeff Traynor
Traynor’s show, “Four Years of Design,” is a collection of his graphic design work, specifically consisting of “three re-branded identities ... from local businesses.” The work includes business cards, letterheads, t-shirts, and vehicle signage.
by Emily Brochu
Brochu’s exhibition, “Character + Creativity,” is presented as a summary collection of graphic design work illustrating the four years of education she has received.
by Joe Brown.
“Hardcore Thanatos,” Brown’s exhibition, will consist of artistic photographs of roadkill.
The senior project gallery opening on April 8 will feature readings by graduating students Jeff Metcho, Laura Spencer and Maggie Hatfield.
Metcho will be reading from Like Gravity Falling Up, his novella. “I’ve been told that it reminds people of Nan Goldin’s photography,” he says of the piece. “I don’t know if that’s founded or not.”
Excerpt from Like Gravity Falling Up by Jeff Metcho:
“The walls were chipped and the bar was soaked and if the lights were any brighter you’d see some really suspect stains everywhere. The music was so loud that it seemed like it was trying to compensate for it being so bad. I could tell that Jade loved it here. It got her all goofed-up inside. Jade was the kind of girl that felt most at home in a place that would make most people feel dirty. It was a filthy and skeezy disco and she would not have wanted it any other way. I’d only known her for a few days and I could tell that about her. I don’t know why, I just can. I can tell things about people. It’s in the way that they walk and talk. It’s in the way that they dance.”
The Other Son is a collection of poetry in sections, written through the eyes of the different characters presented. Spencer will be reading excerpts from the work. She has used the opportunity as a chance to explore a less personal, and more character driven style of writing.
“So Let it Go,” from The Other Son by Laura Spencer:
So Let it Go
I tried to call you last night
but my fingers were tasteless.
The numbers were full of falsehoods
my throat, unarmed.
I tried to call you but day
made me worry that you really
never existed.
That my ready reading,
hollowed head,
tall tendencies,
and ineffable indifferences
made me lose sight.
Plus, the phone booth
was taken by a man with black eyes.
His hands dirty, pulse unknown,
lips chapped and filled with words.
He reminded me of you.
Hatfield will be presenting work from her currently untitled manuscript. Her work can be described as an eclectic, weird slam-style of poetic word constructions. “Word salad,” she says, jokingly, “which would be good if you covered it in ranch dressing.” She also writes fiction.
From “reconciliation poem.” by Maggie Hatfield:
“I’ve got a book of yellow poetry under my pillow with a cannon on the front,
manned by a typewriter.
The cold’s seepin’ into my fingers while I sit up late with these words I will never have the pleasure of knowing personally.
They’re clutchin’ tight to my chest in lamp light,
sneakin’ in and inching past my ribs, screaming admittance loud like a flash bang,
and though I give it readily,
it ain’t never enough to keep me satisfied.”
The gallery opening begins at 7 pm on April 8 in Wadleigh Library at Chester College of New England. Readings will commence at 8 pm in the Wadleigh conference room, adjacent to the gallery.
Tattoo by Amanda Prue.
Prue will be presenting “The Art of Tattoo,” an exhibition of tattoo “flash” art and art on skin, including designs and photographs of some of her work. Also attending will be recipients of Prue’s tattoos, showing off the work live.
by Jeff Traynor
Traynor’s show, “Four Years of Design,” is a collection of his graphic design work, specifically consisting of “three re-branded identities ... from local businesses.” The work includes business cards, letterheads, t-shirts, and vehicle signage.
by Emily Brochu
Brochu’s exhibition, “Character + Creativity,” is presented as a summary collection of graphic design work illustrating the four years of education she has received.
by Joe Brown.
“Hardcore Thanatos,” Brown’s exhibition, will consist of artistic photographs of roadkill.
The senior project gallery opening on April 8 will feature readings by graduating students Jeff Metcho, Laura Spencer and Maggie Hatfield.
Metcho will be reading from Like Gravity Falling Up, his novella. “I’ve been told that it reminds people of Nan Goldin’s photography,” he says of the piece. “I don’t know if that’s founded or not.”
Excerpt from Like Gravity Falling Up by Jeff Metcho:
“The walls were chipped and the bar was soaked and if the lights were any brighter you’d see some really suspect stains everywhere. The music was so loud that it seemed like it was trying to compensate for it being so bad. I could tell that Jade loved it here. It got her all goofed-up inside. Jade was the kind of girl that felt most at home in a place that would make most people feel dirty. It was a filthy and skeezy disco and she would not have wanted it any other way. I’d only known her for a few days and I could tell that about her. I don’t know why, I just can. I can tell things about people. It’s in the way that they walk and talk. It’s in the way that they dance.”
The Other Son is a collection of poetry in sections, written through the eyes of the different characters presented. Spencer will be reading excerpts from the work. She has used the opportunity as a chance to explore a less personal, and more character driven style of writing.
“So Let it Go,” from The Other Son by Laura Spencer:
So Let it Go
I tried to call you last night
but my fingers were tasteless.
The numbers were full of falsehoods
my throat, unarmed.
I tried to call you but day
made me worry that you really
never existed.
That my ready reading,
hollowed head,
tall tendencies,
and ineffable indifferences
made me lose sight.
Plus, the phone booth
was taken by a man with black eyes.
His hands dirty, pulse unknown,
lips chapped and filled with words.
He reminded me of you.
Hatfield will be presenting work from her currently untitled manuscript. Her work can be described as an eclectic, weird slam-style of poetic word constructions. “Word salad,” she says, jokingly, “which would be good if you covered it in ranch dressing.” She also writes fiction.
From “reconciliation poem.” by Maggie Hatfield:
“I’ve got a book of yellow poetry under my pillow with a cannon on the front,
manned by a typewriter.
The cold’s seepin’ into my fingers while I sit up late with these words I will never have the pleasure of knowing personally.
They’re clutchin’ tight to my chest in lamp light,
sneakin’ in and inching past my ribs, screaming admittance loud like a flash bang,
and though I give it readily,
it ain’t never enough to keep me satisfied.”
The gallery opening begins at 7 pm on April 8 in Wadleigh Library at Chester College of New England. Readings will commence at 8 pm in the Wadleigh conference room, adjacent to the gallery.
Friday, April 3, 2009
First Senior Exhibition Review
by Lisa Pike
The first Senior Show of 2009, featuring work by Krystle Belanger, Jesse Cloutier, Jessica Eastman, Sarah Izatt, is a whirlwind of experiences from the natural, fashion, travel, memoir and philosophic worlds. The pieces are very good examples of the art of the Chester College community, being both unique and skillfully constructed in their individual messages.
Krystle Belanger’s black and white manipulated photographs, cumulatively called “I’ll Remember You…,” are reminiscent of antique postcards yet with a modern twist; two images were spliced together to create ghostly apparitions of the places she visited while in Florence, Italy. These apparitions act as a focal point of each piece, drawing the viewer into the place and the narrative that is being told in the surroundings. The audio track which plays alongside the pieces syncs perfectly with the portrayal of the city and allows for the images to become three-dimensional in nature, enveloping the viewer in Belanger’s whirlwind of experiences while abroad. The audio, lighting, and composition of the pieces all adds to the achievement of the piece in transporting the viewer into a different time and place.
Jesse Cloutier’s natural found object pieces collectively entitled “Silent and Very Slowly Growing” also employ a muted color palette of grays, blacks, and whites, but also have bursts of color in the form of preserved insects and tinted glass within a number of pieces. When looking at the work one can’t help but remember their younger days of exploring the woods and realizing everything natural was a treasure. Cloutier has translated this most astutely in his work by using the dried husks of dead grasshoppers and bees as well as the unraveled paper of abandoned wasps' nests, in essence creating a wonderland of childhood delights. Some of the most impressive pieces of the installation are the photopolymer intaglio prints on wasp nest paper, considering how fragile the nests are and the demand it must have taken to achieve the best end results. The other piece which caught many viewers’ attentions is the found sculpture centered on the floor of the installation area, a mixed media piece reminiscent of sea glass in the light yet blended with mechanical and constructional elements of gears and cement; alas nature meets industry but still lives in harmony.
Jessica Eastman’s digitally manipulated photographs, entitled “Raw,” show a darker side of her life, not often seen in her positive, energetic personality. The pieces consist of a mélange of images, which in turn each tell a part of the larger narrative summarized in one sentence below each piece. The sentences are left for interpretation through the viewer’s emotional response to the accompanying images. Many of the images are quite visceral and gut wrenching, realizing the tremendous impact upon the artist’s life and how she can tragically sum it up in one sentence while the images speak volumes and could write a book. The most riveting piece of the installation is the final image in the series, consisting of only a blurred, almost warped, face pressed up against glass and the simple statement of her pleading for protection from her ex-boyfriend. The image elicits great emotion in that it is almost inhuman in form, showing the intensity of the memory and its impact upon her life to the extent that she still can’t see it clearly.
Sarah Izatt’s model-based photography creates a very interesting dynamic with its hanging installation. Each photo-prism, when viewed at a certain angle, forms a triptych with the other photo-prisms, creating a larger image of the same model in varying positions and lighting. The positioning and use of color on and surrounding the models helped to create a seductive allure to the pieces, which makes them much more than just fashion photography. The emphasis on the models rather than the clothing makes the pieces much more relatable and enjoyable instead of the usually stiff fashion photography which is the standard in the fashion world.
Steph Libby and Blake Lagasse read work from their senior projects at the opening on April 1.
Steph Libby's manuscript, She Is There, is a collection of fiction and poetry. She read from one of the fiction sections of the manuscript, concerning a young woman meeting up with a couple of wanderers and their adventures together. Her main character, the young woman, remains an enigma to the reader, never saying who she is but is willing to share her life experiences and philosophies. Her syntax and diction have a poetic flow, crafting very tangible imagery and the characters’ internal thoughts. The wanderers she meets up with soon become very three-dimensional and relatable to the reader while the main character remains somewhat two-dimensional because she does not yet know who she is herself. Libby paints a striking portrait of a girl lost and trying to find herself in the lives of other people.
Blake Lagasse read a short story entitled “The Caretaker” which portrays the all too tragic situation of grown children abandoning their elderly parents because they are too wrapped up in their own lives of consumerism and capitalism. The main character, a young caretaker, is an exception to this conformity in that he is stuck in his life and feels he must take care of others to have some feeling of fulfillment. The secondary character, Harold, the caretaker’s patient, is painted as a miserable old man at first but the reader soon comes to love him for his comical quips and pity him for his tragic view of life after his wife’s death. Lagasse does a stellar job of portraying the many types of love in this story and the degrees to which they are life changing to every person connected.
The night was an utter success for everyone presenting their final works. There are still more receptions to come, so be sure to check back here at the SO Good blog or the Chester College of New England website for dates and times of upcoming senior shows and who will be exhibiting and reading.
The first Senior Show of 2009, featuring work by Krystle Belanger, Jesse Cloutier, Jessica Eastman, Sarah Izatt, is a whirlwind of experiences from the natural, fashion, travel, memoir and philosophic worlds. The pieces are very good examples of the art of the Chester College community, being both unique and skillfully constructed in their individual messages.
Krystle Belanger’s black and white manipulated photographs, cumulatively called “I’ll Remember You…,” are reminiscent of antique postcards yet with a modern twist; two images were spliced together to create ghostly apparitions of the places she visited while in Florence, Italy. These apparitions act as a focal point of each piece, drawing the viewer into the place and the narrative that is being told in the surroundings. The audio track which plays alongside the pieces syncs perfectly with the portrayal of the city and allows for the images to become three-dimensional in nature, enveloping the viewer in Belanger’s whirlwind of experiences while abroad. The audio, lighting, and composition of the pieces all adds to the achievement of the piece in transporting the viewer into a different time and place.
Jesse Cloutier’s natural found object pieces collectively entitled “Silent and Very Slowly Growing” also employ a muted color palette of grays, blacks, and whites, but also have bursts of color in the form of preserved insects and tinted glass within a number of pieces. When looking at the work one can’t help but remember their younger days of exploring the woods and realizing everything natural was a treasure. Cloutier has translated this most astutely in his work by using the dried husks of dead grasshoppers and bees as well as the unraveled paper of abandoned wasps' nests, in essence creating a wonderland of childhood delights. Some of the most impressive pieces of the installation are the photopolymer intaglio prints on wasp nest paper, considering how fragile the nests are and the demand it must have taken to achieve the best end results. The other piece which caught many viewers’ attentions is the found sculpture centered on the floor of the installation area, a mixed media piece reminiscent of sea glass in the light yet blended with mechanical and constructional elements of gears and cement; alas nature meets industry but still lives in harmony.
Jessica Eastman’s digitally manipulated photographs, entitled “Raw,” show a darker side of her life, not often seen in her positive, energetic personality. The pieces consist of a mélange of images, which in turn each tell a part of the larger narrative summarized in one sentence below each piece. The sentences are left for interpretation through the viewer’s emotional response to the accompanying images. Many of the images are quite visceral and gut wrenching, realizing the tremendous impact upon the artist’s life and how she can tragically sum it up in one sentence while the images speak volumes and could write a book. The most riveting piece of the installation is the final image in the series, consisting of only a blurred, almost warped, face pressed up against glass and the simple statement of her pleading for protection from her ex-boyfriend. The image elicits great emotion in that it is almost inhuman in form, showing the intensity of the memory and its impact upon her life to the extent that she still can’t see it clearly.
Sarah Izatt’s model-based photography creates a very interesting dynamic with its hanging installation. Each photo-prism, when viewed at a certain angle, forms a triptych with the other photo-prisms, creating a larger image of the same model in varying positions and lighting. The positioning and use of color on and surrounding the models helped to create a seductive allure to the pieces, which makes them much more than just fashion photography. The emphasis on the models rather than the clothing makes the pieces much more relatable and enjoyable instead of the usually stiff fashion photography which is the standard in the fashion world.
Steph Libby and Blake Lagasse read work from their senior projects at the opening on April 1.
Steph Libby's manuscript, She Is There, is a collection of fiction and poetry. She read from one of the fiction sections of the manuscript, concerning a young woman meeting up with a couple of wanderers and their adventures together. Her main character, the young woman, remains an enigma to the reader, never saying who she is but is willing to share her life experiences and philosophies. Her syntax and diction have a poetic flow, crafting very tangible imagery and the characters’ internal thoughts. The wanderers she meets up with soon become very three-dimensional and relatable to the reader while the main character remains somewhat two-dimensional because she does not yet know who she is herself. Libby paints a striking portrait of a girl lost and trying to find herself in the lives of other people.
Blake Lagasse read a short story entitled “The Caretaker” which portrays the all too tragic situation of grown children abandoning their elderly parents because they are too wrapped up in their own lives of consumerism and capitalism. The main character, a young caretaker, is an exception to this conformity in that he is stuck in his life and feels he must take care of others to have some feeling of fulfillment. The secondary character, Harold, the caretaker’s patient, is painted as a miserable old man at first but the reader soon comes to love him for his comical quips and pity him for his tragic view of life after his wife’s death. Lagasse does a stellar job of portraying the many types of love in this story and the degrees to which they are life changing to every person connected.
The night was an utter success for everyone presenting their final works. There are still more receptions to come, so be sure to check back here at the SO Good blog or the Chester College of New England website for dates and times of upcoming senior shows and who will be exhibiting and reading.
Senior Shows & Readings Continue
Work by Chester College of New England's Class of 2009 will be featured in a series of exhibitions and readings in Wadleigh Library continuing through May 4. All exhibitions will run Monday through Sunday with opening receptions held from 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays, with readings beginning at 8 p.m.
The first show, featuring work by Krystle Belanger, Jesse Cloutier, Jessica Eastman, and Sarah Izatt, will continue through Sunday, April 5. The second show, featuring work by Emily Brochu, Joe Brown, Amanda Prue and Jeff Traynor, begins on Monday, April 6. Maggie Hatfield, Jeff Metcho, and Laura Spencer will read at the opening reception on Wednesday, April 8 at 8 p.m.
Keep checking back for more information as the senior shows continue, including interviews with the artists and writers.
Keep checking back for more information as the senior shows continue, including interviews with the artists and writers.
Work by Faculty Member Included in Gallery X Exhibit
Two paintings by Christina Renfer, a member of the Chester College of New England Interdisciplinary and Fine Arts faculty, will be included in a juried exhibition called About-Face: Contemporary Figurative Portraiture at Gallery X in New Bedford, MA. The show will run from April 8 to May 3 with an opening reception Saturday, April 11, from 7-10 p.m.
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