By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
ROLLINSFORD—
Most of the Artists of Salmon Falls Mills will open their studios to the public this weekend.
The studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The doors are open and the artists are present,” Chris Volpe, one of the artists said in his shared studio recently while hanging landscape paintings in preparation for the event.
“The artists will be happy to talk about what they do and how they do it,” Volpe said.
There are 105 artists housed in the upper mill, Leanne Pellerin, a spokeswoman for Cutter Family Properties, owners of the mill, said. She said over 3,000 people attended the open house last year.
There are two open houses each year, one the weekend before Thanksgiving and the other in May around Mother’s Day.
Volpe, who came here from New York over two years ago, said the open house allows people to “experience the art in a low pressure environment.”
Volpe, who shares a studio with his wife, Anna Birch, said the activity is “a great way to meet people who are interested” in art. “You meet all kinds of new people,” he said.
Volpe came to New Hampshire from New York to take classes at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, became interested in visual arts and began teaching. He said there is “a healthy arts community in the Seacoast,” making this a good place to be.
He said another positive aspect of the open house is that it provides “an opportunity for artists to meet each other” as well as the public.
For the public, it provides an opportunity to ask questions about the art and the artist and to buy art directly from its creator.
There are many activities scheduled in the lower mill as well. These include magician B.J. Hickman performing at the library at 11 a.m. Saturday and a kids’ craft project at the library both days.
There will be live music in the Elysium Folk Club both days and live performances by the Touring Actors Company both days in the mill lobby.
Also in the lobby will be face painting by Squirrel Cat Design both days, complimentary seated massage Saturday afternoon, and children’s performer Jules Fogg both days.
Activities at the upper mill include live demonstrations by resident artists, live music by Stuck in Time, Lotus Rising Belly Dancing, and children’s art stations.
Activities to help local charities include stuff the truck with canned goods for the local food pantry.
There will be a golf cart ferrying guests to and from the mill buildings from the lower mill parking lot all day, both days.
Pellerin said she thinks this is the sixth year for the activity that was organized by the artists themselves. The Cutter Family provides support in promotion and advertising.
The mills were built in 1848, she said, and were purchased by the Cutter Family from Damart in 2000. Renovations began in 2001 with the first artist moving in that year.
In past years the mill served as a shoe factory and before that it was a woolen mill.
Photo caption: Chris Volpe, one of the artists whose studio will be open this weekend during Fall Open Studios at the Salmon Falls Mills positions one of his landscape paintings in preparation for visitors. The artists will display their work to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 Front St. in Rollinsford. (Larry Favinger photo)
Most of the Artists of Salmon Falls Mills will open their studios to the public this weekend.
The studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The doors are open and the artists are present,” Chris Volpe, one of the artists said in his shared studio recently while hanging landscape paintings in preparation for the event.
“The artists will be happy to talk about what they do and how they do it,” Volpe said.
There are 105 artists housed in the upper mill, Leanne Pellerin, a spokeswoman for Cutter Family Properties, owners of the mill, said. She said over 3,000 people attended the open house last year.
There are two open houses each year, one the weekend before Thanksgiving and the other in May around Mother’s Day.
Volpe, who came here from New York over two years ago, said the open house allows people to “experience the art in a low pressure environment.”
Volpe, who shares a studio with his wife, Anna Birch, said the activity is “a great way to meet people who are interested” in art. “You meet all kinds of new people,” he said.
Volpe came to New Hampshire from New York to take classes at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, became interested in visual arts and began teaching. He said there is “a healthy arts community in the Seacoast,” making this a good place to be.
He said another positive aspect of the open house is that it provides “an opportunity for artists to meet each other” as well as the public.
For the public, it provides an opportunity to ask questions about the art and the artist and to buy art directly from its creator.
There are many activities scheduled in the lower mill as well. These include magician B.J. Hickman performing at the library at 11 a.m. Saturday and a kids’ craft project at the library both days.
There will be live music in the Elysium Folk Club both days and live performances by the Touring Actors Company both days in the mill lobby.
Also in the lobby will be face painting by Squirrel Cat Design both days, complimentary seated massage Saturday afternoon, and children’s performer Jules Fogg both days.
Activities at the upper mill include live demonstrations by resident artists, live music by Stuck in Time, Lotus Rising Belly Dancing, and children’s art stations.
Activities to help local charities include stuff the truck with canned goods for the local food pantry.
There will be a golf cart ferrying guests to and from the mill buildings from the lower mill parking lot all day, both days.
Pellerin said she thinks this is the sixth year for the activity that was organized by the artists themselves. The Cutter Family provides support in promotion and advertising.
The mills were built in 1848, she said, and were purchased by the Cutter Family from Damart in 2000. Renovations began in 2001 with the first artist moving in that year.
In past years the mill served as a shoe factory and before that it was a woolen mill.
Photo caption: Chris Volpe, one of the artists whose studio will be open this weekend during Fall Open Studios at the Salmon Falls Mills positions one of his landscape paintings in preparation for visitors. The artists will display their work to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1 Front St. in Rollinsford. (Larry Favinger photo)
