Gallery to open at Wentworth-Coolidge
Lilacs and art will make a return to the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, and soon.
“We’re really excited to have art exhibitions back on site,” assistant site manager Adi Rule says. “The Coolidge family were – are – fantastic artists and it’s great to honor that legacy.”
The new Kolb Gallery is named in honor of Arts Patron Doby Kolb, founder of Wentworth-Coolidge Gallery, which she curated for eight years. The Kolb Gallery opens during the Lilac Festival on Saturday, May 25 on Memorial Day weekend. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“The last (exhibition)?” the mansion’s Lead Guide Sandy Phelps says. “Hmmm, let me think. The last one was when Ali Goodwin had a gallery there. I think maybe four years ago.”
The original Wentworth-Coolidge Gallery was converted into a visitor’s center shortly after Goodwin’s Gallery. The new space is a downsized version, but it’s back; “and it’s important to keep the arts alive here,” Phelps says.
Tess Feltes, the former Children’s Museum art curator, will do the honors at the Kolb.
“She’s volunteering!” Phelps says. “Without Tess’s support and her willingness to handle this, it wouldn’t be happening. She knows a lot of artists, she can make it work.”
The gallery plans two shows for its returning season. The inaugural exhibition features six local plein air artists. The second features renowned children’s book illustrator David McPhail, a Seacoast resident, which opens July 28, the day the museum celebrates Beatrix Potter Day.
“Hopefully this is going to get it started. … This gives us a whole new layer to interpret the site,” Phelps says. “It also brings in visitors and gives them more to see and do. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
‘Chubby the Cat’ stars in new book
The new publication “How Chubby the Cat Was Found!” is a family affair, both the story, and the book. The nonfiction tale is that of Karen Howe’s cat, told by Howe and cousin Denise F. Brown.
The published story is not the one the cousins originally planned. Howe initially approached Brown in January about helping pen a story about Chubby, who she’d adopted from a neighbor.
“I’d initially wanted to write about how I felt … that he’s the most special cat I’d met in my life. He just has a way about him,” Howe says “I didn’t even like cats! But from the minute he jumped on my lap, I was hooked and in love.”
Brown, who grew up across the street from Howe in Rye, says the two worked on the piece a few weeks, “and then the cat bolted.”
The cat escaped during a trip to the vets. Howe immediately called Brown to help with a hunt.
For a month they searched, walked trails, stopped in at businesses, put up fliers, and talked to area residents. All interest in the book was gone. “Then, finally, someone saw the cat flier and said they’d seen the cat … under their mobile home,” Brown says.
After the rescue, the pair changed gears and wrote about Chubby’s disappearance, their search, “and never giving up.” Howe outlined the story and edited. Brown wrote and illustrated.
“How Chubby The Cat Was Found!” was completed last month, and self published. It is available at www.chubbythecat.com, www.raccoonstudios.com, local bookstores and Amazon.
“And we’re heading out to pet stores and rescue organizations, and other animal events to do book signings and share the book’s mission – finding your own pet,” Brown says. “We have information (in the book) on what you can do if your pet is missing … or stolen.”
‘Pippin’ at the Players’ Ring
The upcoming production of the musical “Pippin” at the Players’ Ring, (May 31 to June 16) produced by Ferrill-Chylde Productions, started “as a comedy of errors,” Chris Ferrill, who produces, co-directs and stars in the vehicle, says. “It’s been sort of an amusing process, from the very beginning.”
It was largely a talent issue. It started with the music director’s position. Ferrill would find people, but there was always a conflict. “It was one person after the next,” he says.
“We finally got Taryn Anderson. … It’s her first time music directing,” he says. “She’s a high school teacher of classical voice … getting her master’s in vocal/education, … and she’s really strong and really wonderful to work with.”
This process continued with other positions, and again, “very serendipitously, just the right person was found at the eleventh hour.”
“The funny thing is something would kind of go a bit wrong, then basically we’d find a resolution that was better, or we’d previously been thinking of … and now it worked,” he says. “We almost have a system now; 30 seconds to panic, then resolve in five minutes.”
The comedy of errors continued with co-director, some roles, designers, even the props and prop master. Again, it all worked out.
“It’s so wonderful. There’s a lot of people involved in the show that are new or just starting out,” he says. “It’s all worked out bizarrely well.”
Dance Hall marks 8 years
The Kittery Dance Hall just hit its eight-year mark. There were times early on Executive Director Drika Overton wasn’t sure of its longevity. But today, while the nonprofit still has to stay on its toes, it’s proving a viable plan.
Initially intended as a dance-focused venue, “and music, always music,” it’s been the latter that soared, Overton says.
“The dance has the smaller part of our programming – a surprise,” she says. “I think it’s because the dance community has been decimated here. … It’s about the lack of space for dancers to work in.”
Dance still happens at the Hall, both performers and classes. But, currently, music dominates (“We’re getting the most amazing music.”)
Along with the regional musicians, the venue presents national touring musicians.
A major factor is touring artists are discovering the Hall, which is perfectly position between New York and Portland, Maine, “and so there’s been a steady stream,” she says. The grand piano, donated by the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra (which offers a monthly chamber event), has also drawn people in. “We’re getting world class touring artists, which is blowing my mind.”
Pedrito Martinez is just such an artist. Martinez, a world renowned musician, is scheduled to perform Oct. 19, as the grand finale performance for “Cuba in Kittery,” a new, three-performance Hall series. The trio started with Primo Cubano earlier this month. Next up is Looky Looky, a Boston band, on June 8.
“Pedrito’s (show) is a big event for us. … This one I went out for, and really worked to get,” she says. “It is a challenge. We’re looking for sponsors. But it doesn’t scare me. I’m pretty confident we’ll fill the house.”
“It’s truly one of those ‘not to be missed’ things,” she adds. “It’s an intimate room, incredible music, really powerful.”
Also in Dance Hall news, the organization has hired its first administration assistant.
“So we’ve made some big leaps and it’s kind of exciting. it’s taken a while but everything does,” Overton says. “It just makes me really happy. … I pinch myself all the time. … Really, how lucky we are to live in this community.”
Jeanné McCartin keeps her eyes and ears open for gossip at [email protected].
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