By Larry Favinger
Staff Columnist
ROLLINSFORD—
Thousands of art lovers visited Open Studios 2009 at the Salmon Falls Mills over last weekend. The twice a year event drew more than 3,000 people a year ago and it was expected a like number from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and beyond would visit the studios this year.
“It was a nice and busy day,” Sam Goodall, who has a studio in the lower mill, said Sunday afternoon. “It was a nice turnout of people.”
Goodall does custom art tiles for insulation along with mixed media sculpture and “lots of things ceramics related.” Her tiles are used for many things including to surround a fireplace and to decorate kitchens.
She has had a studio in the mill for over two years, moving to Rollinsford from Portsmouth.
Diane Minuti moved to a studio in the upper mill six months ago so was involved in her first open studio activity.
“I love it,” she said. “I’ve met interesting people.”
Ms. Minuti, who lives in Candia and commutes to her studio daily, said it gave her an opportunity to meet other artists as well. “It’s incredible,” she said.
Robert Nichols of Eliot was a guest at the upper mill and was working on caning a chair. He said the concept is great in that it gives people an opportunity to see an artist work, talk to the artist about it and also learn how it is done.
He said many people know what caning is but “it’s nice to see it done” as well.
“We’ve had a very good crowd,” Nancy W. Fulton, who formerly had a studio in the mill and was another artist invited to display their work, said. She and her two partners do work in jewelry and other aspects of art.
The open studio program included woodworking and fine furniture making, photography, pottery making, weaving and much, much more. Over 100 artists displayed their wares during the two-day event.
The Open Studio is organized by the artists themselves and held twice a year, the weekend before Thanksgiving, and Mother’s Day weekend in the spring.
Parking was at a premium both days with on street parking and the mill’s parking lots near capacity.
Activities and entertainment were also part of the celebration. There were magic shows, and kids’ craft projects at the library.
There was live music, performances by an actors’ company, and face-painting performances for children.
There were also live demonstrations by some of the resident artists.
Photo caption: People visiting the lower mill during the Open Studio celebration at the Mills at Salmon Falls had a lot to look at during the two-day festivities. More than 100 artists displayed their art last weekend. (Larry Favinger photo)
Thousands of art lovers visited Open Studios 2009 at the Salmon Falls Mills over last weekend. The twice a year event drew more than 3,000 people a year ago and it was expected a like number from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and beyond would visit the studios this year.
“It was a nice and busy day,” Sam Goodall, who has a studio in the lower mill, said Sunday afternoon. “It was a nice turnout of people.”
Goodall does custom art tiles for insulation along with mixed media sculpture and “lots of things ceramics related.” Her tiles are used for many things including to surround a fireplace and to decorate kitchens.
She has had a studio in the mill for over two years, moving to Rollinsford from Portsmouth.
Diane Minuti moved to a studio in the upper mill six months ago so was involved in her first open studio activity.
“I love it,” she said. “I’ve met interesting people.”
Ms. Minuti, who lives in Candia and commutes to her studio daily, said it gave her an opportunity to meet other artists as well. “It’s incredible,” she said.
Robert Nichols of Eliot was a guest at the upper mill and was working on caning a chair. He said the concept is great in that it gives people an opportunity to see an artist work, talk to the artist about it and also learn how it is done.
He said many people know what caning is but “it’s nice to see it done” as well.
“We’ve had a very good crowd,” Nancy W. Fulton, who formerly had a studio in the mill and was another artist invited to display their work, said. She and her two partners do work in jewelry and other aspects of art.
The open studio program included woodworking and fine furniture making, photography, pottery making, weaving and much, much more. Over 100 artists displayed their wares during the two-day event.
The Open Studio is organized by the artists themselves and held twice a year, the weekend before Thanksgiving, and Mother’s Day weekend in the spring.
Parking was at a premium both days with on street parking and the mill’s parking lots near capacity.
Activities and entertainment were also part of the celebration. There were magic shows, and kids’ craft projects at the library.
There was live music, performances by an actors’ company, and face-painting performances for children.
There were also live demonstrations by some of the resident artists.
Photo caption: People visiting the lower mill during the Open Studio celebration at the Mills at Salmon Falls had a lot to look at during the two-day festivities. More than 100 artists displayed their art last weekend. (Larry Favinger photo)
