Seacoast arts and culture news

July at the Franklin Gallery

ROCHESTER — The Franklin Gallery at RiverStones Custom Framing, 33 North Main St., Rochester, will host an exhibit during the month of July showcasing the works of The Field and Borough Painters”: Maryann Goblick, Lauren Hammond, Norman Royle and Cheryl Shanahan, four local artists who love to paint En Plein Air. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, July 10, from 5-6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served and the public is invited to attend and meet the artists.

Hanging out with people who share similar interests always makes life more enjoyable. That’s exactly what happened when a group of plein air painters came together to do what they love most. Not everyone is willing to stand outside, braving the elements to capture a scene on canvas, but when you do, you see so many more colors and can truly grasp the essence of the moment in a way that a photograph just can’t convey. Ask any experience painter, and they’ll tell you: painting from life is always the way to go.

This particular group came together through the Governor Wentworth Arts Council, each bringing their own unique perspective to the easel. They have painted together many times, always taking the time to offer constructive critiques, share words of encouragement, and, of course, enjoy plenty of laughter. It’s the kind of camaraderie that makes the creative process even more rewarding.

RiverStones Custom Framing and the Franklin Gallery are open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For information about this exhibit and other RiverStones events and services, call Kris at 603-812-1488 or visit the RiverStones website or Facebook page.

New art space in Dover sets the scene for healing through arts

DOVER — A new kind of café is opening its doors in downtown Dover, not one serving coffee, but creativity. The Aplomb Project announces the launch of its Art Café, Gallery + Healing Space, a welcoming space located at 262 Central Avenue, where art supplies are on the menu instead of food, and absolutely anyone can take part.

Whether you’re a seasoned artist or someone who hasn’t picked up a paintbrush since childhood, the Art Café offers an inviting environment to explore creativity, unwind, and connect. “You don’t have to be an artist to benefit from making art,” says founder Danielle Festa. “Creative expression is for everyone—and we’ll even clean up the mess.”

The new space triples the organization’s original space and features a vibrant gallery, restoration room, and an open area for sessions, workshops, and events. Guests choose from a menu of drawing, painting, and mixed-media materials, and rotating inspiration ideas for self-guided art making at any level.

Bring your friends, work solo, or meet new people in a social experience that’s good for your well-being.

What to Expect:

• Live music every Saturday 4-6 p.m., launching with Michael Skinner on July 12

• A calming restoration room with a massage chair, sound healing and ambient lighting

• A full calendar of workshops, classes, and restorative services

• A rotating art gallery featuring work from local and national artists, including The Aplomb Project’s 2025 Portrait Series

The café is operated by The Aplomb Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports healing through the arts. While the organization provides trauma-informed services, the café is open to everyone, individuals, families, professionals, students, and anyone looking to reconnect with their creative side.

Memberships include various levels with included café or restoration sessions per month, discounts on artwork and classes, and access to our community platform. Walk-ins are welcome, and bookings are available online at theaplombproject.org/cafe.

New Hampshire Art Association announces July art exhibitions

PORTSMOUTH — The New Hampshire Art Association will has announced their lineup of July art exhibitions:

Clay & Ink – Ceramics & Printmaking Open Juried Exhibition

Clay & Ink, a juried exhibition examines two tactile, process-driven mediums rooted in transformation. On view from July 2-27, the show features over 60 works that highlight the diverse ways artists use surface and form to tell visual stories. The exhibition was juried by two accomplished artists: Erica Hood, a ceramicist with over 15 years of experience whose work often incorporates printmaking techniques, and James Chase, Associate Professor of Studio Art at New England College and founder of Arts Build Community. Both bring an interdisciplinary approach and deep knowledge of their fields. Clay & Ink showcases everything from screen printing and monotype transfers to classic ceramic methods like Sgraffito and Mishima, inviting viewers into a layered conversation where the old and new coexist in harmony.

Tidepool by Amanda Kidd-Kestler and Elise Morissette, ceramics, printmaking, book making, sculpture 

Step into the tidal zone, where the ocean breathes in and out, and life clings to every surface. Tidepool, a collaborative installation by artists Amanda Kidd-Kestler and Elise Morissette, transforms the East Gallery at the New Hampshire Art Association into a multisensory world inspired by the vibrant, ever-changing ecosystems of New England’s rocky shoreline. Tidepool invites visitors of all ages to rediscover the coastal environments that shape our region

The Nature of Color by Barry Tarr, photography

In his latest body of work, experimental photographer Barry Tarr invites viewers into a kaleidoscopic world where technology meets abstraction. Tarr transforms light itself into his subject, using vivid color and futuristic geometry to stimulate the eye and spark the imagination. At the heart of this series is a fundamental question: what can color do when freed from representation? His images abandon traditional subject matter in favor of pure visual sensation. Through layered compositions and carefully controlled lighting, Tarr explores color as a language of emotion, energy, and form.

Loom in Essence – Mihoko Wakabayashi and Free-Style Weaving Group, textile weaving

Loom in Essence is a testament to the power of creative community and collaboration. Presented by a collective of 18 freestyle weavers based in Worcester, Mass., the show features a deeply personal and intuitive body of textile work rooted in the spirit of exploration, connection, and unity. Formed by artist and teacher Mihoko Wakabayashi, the Loom in Essence group has spent years gathering regularly to weave, not simply to make, but to learn and support one another. Though most members do not come from traditional art backgrounds, they’ve found that freestyle weaving offers an open-ended, accessible way to express inner landscapes and collective energy.

All Exhibitions will be on view at Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth, from July 2-27, with an opening reception on July 11, from 5-8 p.m. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 12-5 p.m.

PSO Principal Winds added to NH Arts Education Roster

PORTSMOUTH — Principal Winds, the chamber ensemble comprised of Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra wind musicians, was recently added to the NH State Council on the Arts, Arts Education Roster, a recognition of the group’s professional caliber and commitment to musical education.

The New Hampshire State Council on the Arts maintains three juried rosters, including the Arts Education Roster, to assist organizations and schools to find professional, qualified artists for their programs. The Arts Education roster features teaching artists that work as both artists and educators. These individuals and groups bring unique real-world knowledge and perspectives into the classroom and can play a crucial role in the process of arts learning and developing creative thinking.

Formed in 2017, Principal Winds is led by New Hampshire flutist Aubrie Dionne. The group has performed in various community settings including Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club, the PSO’s Family Matinee Series at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, NH, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH, and the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire in Dover, NH.

The group often tailors the themes of their programs to complement the performance venue  and to engage the audience in new and exciting ways. Their concert experiences are often multi-sensory and involve an element of storytelling that ranges from mythological to pop culture, STEAM topics such as the history of space travel, facts about the planets, and creatures under the sea.

Founded in 1997, the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra is comprised of over 65 local professionals, educators, dedicated amateurs and advanced students, including those that are part of the Principal Winds. The PSO recently announced its 2025-2026 season dates. A calendar of events and program details can be found at www.portsmouthsymphony.org.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Exhibits, galleries, theater and more: Seacoast arts and culture news