I am an artist and teacher, living and working in Exeter. I have exhibited in several locations throughout NH, as well as New York City, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Cape Cod. I earned my BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, an MA from the School of Visual Arts NY, and an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania.
I owe a great amount of thanks to Scott Ruffner and the Arts Industry Alliance & TEAM for hosting a solo exhibition of my work in October 2017. Moving back to New Hampshire after 2 years away, it was important to be near a vibrant art scene. I chose the Seacoast for this very reason. Considering the level of interest and amount of talent in the area, specifically in Exeter, it is especially important to have spaces in town dedicated to exhibiting art in a dedicated gallery format. With the newly established presence of Art Up Front, run by Rose Bryant, and the FOUNDATION Art Space, run by AIA/TEAM, I can feel the energy of a contemporary art scene forming. AIA/TEAM was supportive in working with me to produce a show of my paintings, and Scott Ruffner worked especially hard to get press coverage for the event. The turnout was fantastic, and the show was quite successful. Scott is committed to keeping the ball rolling on having monthly exhibitions at FOUNDATION Art Space as part of TEAM’s greater project of hosting arts and music related events throughout the year, which benefits the downtown Exeter community culturally and economically. I’m glad to have put roots down in Exeter, and am excited to watch the contemporary arts scene grow as local artists find the support and visibility they need through spaces like FOUNDATION.
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I am a non-traditional, contemporary, fine artist working on the Seacoast and currently living in Rochester. I received an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 1998 and hold degrees in Philosophy and Fine Arts. I have exhibited my artwork throughout the United States and also in Europe. Recently I partnered with the University of Maine Farmington to develop their annual alternative arts festival, Water Bear Confabulum. I am dedicated to providing opportunities to local artists and open up my studio to the public for collaborative opportunities.
The Arts Industry Alliance and TEAM initiative may be the most influential arts organizations in the area. Scott Ruffner and the artist advisors have set out to establish outlets and venues so that local talent can be recognized for their hard work and contribution to the Seacoast and GET PAID. I participated in TEAM's Fall Equinox Festival and had a fantastic time and was so impressed with the high level of organization and professionalism. I wanted to create live art so that Exeter could see the happenings of a local contemporary artist. There were festival goers of all ages, and I sold a painting to an 8 yr old. TEAM/AIA were very easy to work with, organized, and dedicated to helping independent artists. I look forward to participating in upcoming events. I have also worked with AIA/TEAM about the opportunity for other LBGTQ artists to accompany me to "Our True Colors", which is an LBGTQ youth conference every March at University of Connecticut. I am volunteering for AIA by presenting workshops as an arts advocate. I am presenting topics which affect under-represented youth. We can take AIA/TEAM’s model and apply it's principles to help other groups. The LBGTQ youth conference is a great place to demonstrate this philosophy. I have shown my canvas paintings, pastels and mixed media originals in several solo and group gallery shows across the Northeast for more than two decades, and have original works held in private collections both locally and around the globe. I have worked and operated or managed creative and art-based small businesses in the Seacoast through consulting, curation and management until more recently taking a more active approach by leading several art initiatives to create a more vibrant arts and culture scene that is driven by the artists themselves. I founded the BAA (Berwick Art Association) and a popular blog and art research group, Modspoke. I am also an active photographer, and respond to local fire and first response scenes to document the on-call and volunteer fire services in our community.
Arts Industry Alliance and the TEAM initiative is one of only a few organizations that I have felt I can get behind. The mentorships and peer to peer exchanges that have been taking place are beyond amazing and inspiring, and the advisors and Director Scott Ruffner are actually LISTENING to what artists need, and applying it to a growing and organic public dialogue and business model that is defined by what artists are asking of it. AIA & TEAM have been speaking on behalf of a large cross section of artists and putting themselves in the line of fire on our behalf. I have been honored to be a part of AIA/TEAM over the last couple years, as they take my opinion, stresses and experience with total seriousness, and they have connected me with the work and mentorships that I need to keep me on the right track to maintain a career as an artist. I can't be more impressed with the willingness to put themselves out there for the greater good of the art scene itself. I hadn’t been to Exeter in years until I started participating in their events, and look forward to my first solo show in years at TEAM’s Foundation Art Space in June. If I were an Exeter resident or official, I would be putting my faith and financial support behind this community organization. I first met Scott Ruffner when we worked with him as our realtor 15 years ago when we moved to Exeter. Since that time I have known him to be professional and dedicated, including all of his efforts to bring arts and cultural vibrancy to our town. Many of us have discussed ideas for new festivals and events, but Scott has made it happen with the help of the other artists and musicians of the TEAM non-profit organization. I have personally participated in several of these events as a jewelry designer, and have always felt welcomed and most importantly was promoted as an artist and put in a position to succeed with sales of my work. My teenage daughter was even given a complimentary booth for her custom designed t-shirts so she could learn the ropes of setting up and selling at a festival. Needless to say it was a very positive experience for her. The music is always amazing and reflects a diversity of styles and genres we usually don’t get to enjoy here in Exeter or even on the greater Seacoast. TEAM needs to be recognized for the gem and absolute asset to this community that it is. Some of the treatment and lack of support by certain town officials has been shameful. Let’s get behind the arts and those making it happen. Go TEAM !
I wholeheartedly support grassroots and local arts organizations. These organizations are part of the creative economy that helps to employ local artists (visual, performing, musicians etc). These organizations also often offer educational opportunities along with entertainment to communities. Embracing local artists and arts organizations is a smart economic move as well as a way to strengthen our communities. Creativity can’t be outsourced; it needs to be grown at home.
I am an Exeter resident, filmmaker, actor, and writer. This summer I had the pleasure of directing my first film entirely in Exeter, with the majority of the filming taking place at Swasey Parkway. With the assistance and support of T.E.A.M., I was able to connect with the Park Trustees and get the permission I needed to film. I am very proud that I had the opportunity to spotlight this beautiful town and to have the support of the community was crucial.
T.E.A.M. was generous to help in screening my film, titled “Namaste” (a New Hampshire Film Festival official selection) at their First Friday event at the Exeter Town Hall. This opportunity doesn’t come often for local filmmakers. To be able to share my film to a full house was incredible. I was able to give back to the community the art they helped me create. Additionally, earlier this year I founded the NH Actors Group, a place where actors local to NH and beyond could gather and work on their craft in a safe and fun environment. I needed a location to hold these monthly meetings. Once again, T.E.A.M./Arts Industry Alliance provided the space we needed at the Foundation Art Space, also in Exeter. I have actors gather monthly who come from various towns in New Hampshire and as far as Rhode Island. The arts, in whatever form it comes in, is crucial for a community to be diverse and well-rounded. Artists simply desire to share their talents and to have a platform to do so. We need the support of the community to be able to thrive and reach our fullest potential. I am an Exeter resident and business owner who has practiced Psychiatry in the Seacoast area for 30 years. I graduated from Harvard College and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and completed my Psychiatry Residency at Harvard Medical School’s McLean Hospital. I later went on to obtain an MBA from Harvard Business School. Throughout my education and professional career, I have studied extensive medical research linking the mental health of a community with the level of involvement in art, music and culture, with the greatest benefit coming from active participation rather than passive exposure to “the arts”. As a board member of Arts Industry Alliance and the TEAM initiative, I am a strong proponent of prioritizing the channeling of community resources to programs that support artists and musicians producing original work. This gives both the creators and the community at large a sense of self-worth and pride. I have been extremely impressed with the strides this organization has made despite the hurdles they seem to face on a regular basis. These artists and musicians have a wealth of professional experience and knowledge of the various genres within the arts industry. They also bridge social barriers at their events, often bringing people together from different age demographics, diverse cultural backgrounds, and different political viewpoints. I encourage everyone to get behind Arts Industry Alliance and TEAM. They have the best of intentions for the future of Exeter.
As a resident of Exeter for over 45 years, I appreciate all that Exeter has to offer. Exeter was a wonderful place for my wife and me to raise our children. Being a performing musician for over 50 years, I historically noticed a lack of musical and performance arts in our town until Scott Ruffner and his group began to pull together music and art events through their non-profit organization, TEAM, a clever acronym of Town, Exeter, Arts, Music.
I recently became aware that TEAM is experiencing difficulty in securing local venues, which I find ironic since they are the group that made these spaces relevant and desirable once again. There seems to be a serious lack of support from local bureaucracy for an organization that is accomplishing what many others have failed at over the last 20 years. In my years in town I have operated businesses in both Portsmouth and Exeter. Early on I realized that Exeter is not a destination. As we all know, Portsmouth is. For the most part, Exeter businesses and community programs depend on local residents. Likewise, local residents would like to shop and avail themselves to support local events. With the hiring of Economic Development Director Darren Winham, Exeter has taken a positive step in improving the local economy, broadening the tax base, and helping our town become a destination. TEAM compliments that effort. I think it is time for all of Exeter to embrace and encourage this group and their intentions of helping Exeter become a hub for homegrown talent. As a 23 year old musician who has lived almost my entire life in Exeter, I must say that the events that TEAM has put on in the last year are the first times I have ever felt like I was part of and proud of something the community was organizing. We all know that New Hampshire is not seen as a hot spot for professional artistic or musical talent, but the work these guys are doing is starting to give younger people hope that we could potentially build up a scene here worth sticking around for. I met Scott Ruffner at a music event he produced in the upstairs art gallery at town hall, and he, Sharon, Marissa, Bruce, Dave and the other artists I’ve since met have all been excellent mentors and given me guidance on how to get paying gigs in the area, and have never asked me for anything in return. These guys are doing so much for Exeter and the Seacoast and if more support was given, then young musicians like me wouldn’t feel the need to relocate to larger markets.
I have lived in Exeter for over 30 years and the two festivals in Swasey Parkway sponsored and organized by TEAM have been the best and most tasteful use of a town property or building I have seen in all my years in town. TEAM has proven to be an extremely capable and professional organization that Exeter could greatly benefit from if they were given increased responsibility and support with overseeing more of our arts and music programming,
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March 2021
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