Art In The Valley

Road Trip to Mt. Washington Valley Art

The Valley’s Art scene is rich and varied, filled with treasures created along byways and in the mountains this past fall—images of our beloved North Country, as well as far-flung destinations we have visited in the past when travel was the thing.

As the snows of winter drive all but the hardiest of plein air painters indoors, some of us strap boards to our feet and venture out still, driven souls or crazy fools that we may be.

Galleries and studios around the Valley keeping regular business hours for your convenience include ArtWorks/Chocorua Creative Arts Center (CCAC), Cassidy Gallery, Gateway Gallery & Gifts, Jackson Art Studio & Gallery, League of NH Craftsmen, Main Street Art! of the Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association (MWVArts), Macomber Glass, Robert Gordon Gallery, and Skyforest Gallery, a relatively new venue.

Artists, who have been cloistered the same as the rest of us, are breaking into new mediums, styles, and techniques, testing themselves and presenting results along with their tried-and-true works. So, pick a day, fasten your seat belts, and mask up for a road trip into the arts.

You’ll find them all open on Saturdays, Sundays, and some days by appointment. Please check in regarding hours as everyone is constantly adjusting to the new normal. Venues that are open by appointment or chance include Edge of Maine and Bill Fein galleries. Masks and physical distancing are required by all, so suit up and enjoy a leisurely perusal of offerings, a far cry from the somewhat frantic receptions of the past where it was often difficult to see the work and speak with artists at length. This new mandate allows us time and space to appreciate a piece that may strike our fancy and learn more about it.

 

Artists, who have been cloistered the same as the rest of us, are breaking into new mediums, styles, and techniques, testing themselves and presenting results along with their tried-and-true works. So, pick a day, fasten your seat belts, and mask up for a road trip into the arts.

When you slow down for the Chocorua Village crossing at the intersection of Route 16 and 113, turn in at the old yellow cottage, which is home to ArtWorks Gallery and Chocorua Creative Arts Center. This is a cooperative of local artists and fine artisans who exhibit a vast variety of work, including oils, graphite, acrylics, watercolor, glass, wood fiber, and ceramics—plus jewelry and photography in a most attractive, antique farmhouse.

At the lights before you enter Conway Village, take the left onto the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) for a stop at the Robert Gordon Gallery, where Bob himself is always available to show his work, talk art, and the art of hiking with all his equipment to some of the most beautiful and remote destinations.

The gallery scene is rich and varied, filled with treasures created along byways and in the mountains this past fall—images of our beloved North Country, as well as far-flung destinations we have visited in the past when travel was the thing

Back on the White Mountain Highway headed north through Conway Village, there is a gem of a venue in the restored Majestic Theater Block, the Cassidy Gallery. It features 35 New England artists and craftspeople (see their ad on page 20 and 21). It’s like entering a jewel box, stunning and great for shopping—or you may do so online at www.cassidygallery.com for shipment or curbside pick-up.

Further up Route 16 in Conway is a new gallery, Skyforest Gallery, piloted by two experienced artists from past Valley venues who took to the road, and air, for years and have returned. Rik Phillips and Jean Bradley feature their own eclectic fusion of styles and mediums into a fantastic exhibit.

A must-see gallery/studio just as you enter North Conway Village is that of Nate Macomber, a master glassblower. His array of finished pieces is striking. If your timing is good, you may catch him at his craft, a fantastic process to watch.

MWVArts’ “Main Street Art!” gallery is tucked behind The Met Coffeehouse in Norcross Place in the Village. It offers refreshing exhibit space filled with local art and photography to entice any art lover.

Up the White Mountain Highway and through the much-photographed Jackson Honeymoon Covered Bridge in the Snowflake Inn is White Mountain Photography, with an endless inventory of local scenes and creatures available in many sizes, framed and unframed for your choosing.

Heading up Route16A North back onto White Mountain Highway, you will come upon Ridge Road, where–nestled among the tall pines–will be the Jackson Art Studio & Gallery. The abundance of creativity will amaze your senses. There is usually an “artist in residence” working on weekends. They also offer painting classes and more via Zoom. You may sign up at jacksonartnh.com.

There is art created by local artists in every price range for the appreciator at all of these galleries. Most of these galleries will be offering in-person workshops again, as soon as it is safe to do so. Refer to the accompanying gallery list for location and contact information and stay in touch with them.

The Bill Fein Gallery off Route 302 in Center Conway is accessible by chance or appointment on Fein Lane. Contact Bill for the grand tour.

On Main Street in Brownfield, Maine there is a very interesting gallery and frame shop called Edge of Maine Art & Framing—worth the drive, by appointment, for the time being. There are no classes until further notice.

Vintage Frameworks offers a vast selection of custom-framed vintage postcards, posters, maps, and original art for curbside pickup. Or you may make an appointment for counter service to choose your own frame from their vast collection.

If a longer road trip is to your liking, head farther east along Route 302 and on up to Lovell, Maine’s Main Street to find two worthy spots to explore: Harvest Gold Gallery, which is open daily, and Roger C Williams Fine Art, which requires an appointment. Swing back through Bridgeton to take in Gallery 302, showing the work of many local artists.

Or strike out to the west to Center Sandwich, NH for a treat at the Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery, to view a collection of her work. You can travel north through Pinkham Notch for a chance to see the Gateway Gallery & Gifts in Gorham and the spectacular scenery along the way.

There is art created by local artists in every price range for the appreciator at all of these galleries. Most of these galleries will be offering in-person workshops again, as soon as it is safe to do so. Refer to the accompanying gallery list for location and contact information and stay in touch with them. Until then, become the admirer, the critic, the champion, a supporter of local arts and artists.

It will enrich all our lives.

Mt. Washington Valley Artists & Galleries

Please email info@mwvvibe.com to report corrections.

Artworks
132 White Mountain Highway, Chocorua, NH
(603) 323-8041
www.chocoruaartworks.com

Bill Fein Gallery
106 Fein Lane, Center Conway, NH
(603)-356-7943

Cassidy Gallery
28 Main Street (Majestic Theatre Bldg)
Conway Village, NH
(603) 662-2074
www.cassidygallery.com

Cook Memorial Library
93 Main Street, Tamworth, NH
(603) 323-8510
www.tamworthlibrary.org

Edge of Maine Art & Framing
182 Main Street, Brownfield, ME
(207) 935-2817
www.edgeofmaine.com

Erik Koeppel Fine Art
P.O. Box 325, Jackson, NH
(603) 383-7062
www.erikkoeppel.com

Fryeburg Harbor Antiques
and Fine Art Gallery
506 Harbor Road, Fryeburg, ME
(207) 925-2848
www.fryeburgharbor.com

Gallery 302
112 Main Street, Bridgton, ME
(207) 647-2787
www.gallery302.com

Gateway Gallery & Gifts
32 Exchange Street, Gorham, NH
(603) 466-9900
www.gatewaygallery.biz

Harvest Gold Gallery
1082 Main Street, Center Lovell, ME
(207) 925-6502
www.harvestgoldgallery.com

Jackson Art Studio & Gallery
155 Ridge Road, Jackson, NH
(603) 387-3463
www.jacksonartnh.com

Jesse Mixer Metalsmith
North Conway, NH
www.Jessemixer.com

Karen Eisenberg Designs
North Conway, NH
(603) 662-9887
www.kareneisenberg.com

League of NH Craftsmen North Conway
2526 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH  (603) 356-2441
www.northconway.nhcrafts.org

Louise Perry of Vintage Frameworks
28 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH
(603) 356-7711
www.vintageframeworks.com

Main Street Gallery/MWVArts
16 Norcross Circle, North Conway, NH
(603) 356-2787
www.mwvarts.org

Nathan Macomber Glass Studio
480 Eaton Road, Conway, NH
(603) 447-1825
www.macomberglass.com

Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery
69 Maple Street, Center Sandwich, NH
(603) 284-7728
www.patricialaddcarega.com

 

Robert Gordon Gallery
Kancamagus Hwy, Conway, NH
(603) 356-7943

Roger C. Williams Fine Art
125 Main Street, Lovell, ME
(207) 925-3380
www.rogerwilliamsfineart.com

Skyforest Gallery
407 White Mt. Hwy, Conway, NH
760-770-3777

Surroundings Art Gallery
12 Main Street, Sandwich, NH
(603) 284-6888
www.surroundingsart.com

Stained Glass Shack Studio
63 West Main Street, Conway, NH
(603) 447-4949
www.stainedglassshack.com

St. Kieran Community Center for the Arts
155 Emery Street, Berlin, NH
(603) 752-1028
ww.stkieranarts.org

White Mountain Artisans Gallery
3358 White Mountain Highway,
North Conway, NH
(603) 356-6546
whitemountainartisansgallery.com

White Mountain Photography
95 Main Street, located inside Snowflake Inn Jackson, NH
(603) 374-6050
www.whitemountainphoto.com

With These Hands Pottery
397 Tasker Hill Road Conway, NH
(207) 256-2522
www.withthesehandspottery.com