On Saturday, August 19th from 10:30AM-1:30PM, Arts Alive invites local artists and arts enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the story of Harrisville, NH. The gathering will take place in one of Historic Harrisville’s renovated mill buildings at 71 Main St. Breakfast-style refreshments provided. Registration at monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips.
Once a water-powered textile mill town that supported a thriving population in the early 19th century, Harrisville is now a hub of historic preservation and appreciation for culture and the arts. Attendees will hear the story of this national historic landmark through the lens of the creative community. Two organizations that played major roles in its history and current development, Historic Harrisville and Harrisville Designs, will take us from the 1800s to today. Chair for the Historic Harrisville Board of Trustees Michelle Aldredge and Harrisville Designs owner and operator John “Chick” Colony will be present to describe their organizations’ roles in Harrisville’s history and current projects. Aldredge is a designer, writer, and founder of Gwarlingo. The curated arts publication and design company, Gwarlingo Studio, is also an artist tenant of Historic Harrisville.
The Loom founder Rebecca Kaiser Gibson will then introduce her relatively new contemporary poetry initiative. A short poetry reading will give a glimpse into her programming.
Afterwards, participants are invited across the hall to visit the studio of a full time professional artist. Joan Hanley, one of several artists who rent within Historic Harrisville’s renovated mill buildings, will speak to fellow artists and arts enthusiasts about her life and work. Hanley is a contemporary artist in painting and installation who works in Harrisville.
A tour through the village (weather permitting) with Chick Colony to Harrisville Designs will conclude the trip.
Arts Alive’s July field trip to Pipe Dream studio in Swanzey
Arts Alive field trippers have previously enjoyed “meeting other people involved in the arts and comparing stories.” Attendees continue to join us in “learning about the artists and organizations in our community,” and “connecting with other artists.”
The event will answer the questions: What do arts and culture look and feel like in Harrisville? How might one get involved in and engaged by the community? What opportunities and resources for growth, learning, and creative inspiration can local artists access? This event is part of a series of "Artist Field Trips," where Arts Alive explores different towns within the region through the lens of arts and culture. Field Trips are characterized by a laid-back atmosphere to spark friendly connection, exploration, and creative inspiration. During these events, artists dive into local arts spaces and businesses to explore available resources and opportunities for community-building, learning, and professional growth. Coffee, tea, and light bites are a staple at these trips.
Field Trips are $10 to cover the cost of refreshments and $5 for Arts Alive members. Limited space is available on field trips to artist studios. To register for the event and check on future trips, visit monadnockartsalive.org/artist-field-trips. For information about accessibility, please call 603-283-0944 or email nina@monadnockartsalive.org.
Arts Alive hears from the Hannah Grimes Fine Arts Gallery on their June Field Trip!
Previous field trips explored a variety of large and small, new and old arts spaces in the New Hampshire towns of Dublin, Keene, Swanzey, and Jaffrey, as well as in Brattleboro, Vermont. Locations included the Hannah Grimes Gallery, DublinArts & Muse Gallery, MAXT Makerspace’s Ceramics Center, 17ROX Artist Studios, the Keene Public Library, the Jaffrey Civic Center, The Park Theatre, Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts, and First Proof Press.
Arts Alive is supported in part by National Endowment for the Arts, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, and this program is supported by a generous gift from C & S Wholesale Grocers.
