NASHUA, NH – On Tuesday, July 16 a reception open to the public will be held for four new local artists exhibiting and selling their work at the Sandy Cleary Community Art Gallery, located on the ground floor of the Nashua Center for the Arts on Main Street in downtown Nashua. The doors to the Center open at 4 p.m. with the reception ending at 6 p.m.
“We are welcoming four new artists expressing their unique perspectives during the Summer rotation, which will run through the end of September,” commented Arts Commissioner Carol Robey, Curator of the Sandy Cleary Gallery, and chair of the Gallery Steering Committee. All the artwork is available for sale by contacting the artist.
Madeleine LaRose has been drawing and painting since childhood. Although she has no formal training in fine art, she has had instruction with various local and international artists over the years. Madeleine works primarily in pastels and uses original photos she has taken over the years as a source of inspiration. She is an active member of the Nashua Area Artists’ Association, regularly showing her work in their Nashua area exhibits. She is also a member of the Pastel Society of NH and the Central Mass Pastel Society. Most recently she has had work juried into in the CMPS Marks of Distinction National Exhibit in Harvard, MA, and into the PSNH 14th Annual National Juried Exhibition in Portsmouth, NH.
“I love working in pastels because the colors are so rich and because working with the chalk and my fingers brings me closer to my subject matter. I also work in acrylics and other media, always challenging myself in new ways. My goal is not to create an exact representation of what I see, but rather to convey the impression the subject made on me.”
Contact Info: [email protected]
Krysta Rhiann LeBlanc is a self-taught oil and acrylic painter whose art is inspired by travels, her love of living in New England, and self-reflection. Although she has always had an immense appreciation of art, her interest in painting especially heightened after she moved from Arizona to New England and realized that she needed an indoor hobby during the long winters. Her hobby of painting quickly grew into an everyday passion and personal form of meditation. Krysta lives in Nashua, New Hampshire with her husband, cat, and Springer Spaniel. You can follow her on Instagram @krystarhiannart or check out her website www.krystarhiannart.com .
“I believe that everyone sees the world differently, and that painting allows people to show that through color, shapes, and ideas without any limitations.“ Contact Info: [email protected]
Kate Pritchard is a professional artist currently living in Nashua, New Hampshire. Originally from Buffalo, NY, Kate started painting professionally as a teenager and went on to become an art educator, teaching in various schools and museums.
Primarily focused in watercolor as a medium, Kate started painting miniatures when she became a mother and needed to find a portable and practical way to create, while keeping her work out of the reach of curious little hands. Her subject matter ranges from tiny dream-like illustrations to small town studies, pop culture and the natural world. Kate’s paintings have been shown in various galleries and exhibitions throughout New England and New York, and she currently works at the Currier Museum of Art, in Manchester, NH, as the Senior Educator of Youth and Family Programs.
“I’ve always liked tiny things you can put in your pocket. Find something in the mud, clean it up and it’s your own mini treasure. I think that is why I liked watercolor painting when I started doing it over twenty years ago. You start with puddles, and end with treasure. Its unforgiving nature forces me to focus on the process, instead of my anticipation of the result, which I find creates a more thoughtful, harmonious painting experience and pleasing final product. It’s a mindful, problem-solving journey, not just a means to a preconceived end.
I started painting tiny watercolors when I became a mom because small paintings can be added to quickly, then conveniently tucked away safely, with little planning and emotional investment required. I ended up discovering limitless possibilities in these small spaces, and my hope is that the intimacy I put into these works, paired with the size and detail of the painting, gives viewers their own personal relationship to each piece.” Contact Info: [email protected]
Matthew Robertson is an artist based out of New Hampshire. Using Charcoal and Pan Pastels, he creates Abstract/ Realism portraits. After an extensive break from art to serve in the Marine Corps, and to pursue a career in the Fire Department, Matthew felt it was time to give his true passion another chance . Analyze, visualize, extrapolate, and apply what I perceive to be true, forging the relation of charcoal’s obsidian nature, and the canvas’ yearning for creation. He attempts to fuse together the natural elegance, allure, and grace of human expressions to coincide with his perception of art.
“The way I have been able to feel, and make others feel through the use of compressed charcoal, a kneaded eraser and paper, has been nothing but an incredible inspiration to continue my journey. This is only the beginning; I will never stop creating.” Contact info: [email protected]
Nashua Community Arts and the Nashua Arts Commission are collaborating to provide Spectacle Live, the operator of the facility, with planning, operation, and management of the gallery. Exhibitions include recognized local artists, emerging artists, and student artists with a goal of reflecting the demographics of Nashua, the most diverse city in New Hampshire.
The mission of the nonprofit Nashua Community Arts includes supporting the Nashua Center for the Arts to ensure it is a community cultural facility that enhances quality of life, serves as a resource and gathering place for the community and links the arts and cultural activities to the community at large, making them accessible to all. The Nashua Arts Commission includes support of the Nashua Center for the Arts in its Arts and Culture Plan adopted by the Board of Aldermen in 2022.
The Nashua Center for the Arts, managed by Spectacle Live, is located at 201 Main Street in downtown Nashua, NH. For program schedules, tickets and additional information go to www.nashuacenterforthearts.com