The Ruth and James Arts Awards

Celebrating the Monadnock Region's Vibrant Arts Community


 

I am thrilled to have been selected as one of the first recipients of the Ruth and James Ewing Arts Awards, sponsored by the Keene Sentinel and Arts Alive .








Craig Stockwell

I don't generally submit my photographs to contests or for awards consideration, and there are a number of reasons for my reluctance. I would like to be able to loftily proclaim that "I don't require the acknowledgement of others to validate my work", but the truth is that I crave approval as much as most artists. No, the unfortunate fact is that I simply fear rejection far more than I require external approval.  Sad, but there are other reasons, beyond my delicate ego.





Lee Dunholter

 In recent years there has been an


Swift water, Gill Truslow

explosive increase in the number of photography contests, and often they seem to be more about profiting from submission fees than honoring excellence. Many require unreasonably broad releases, which can result in the loss of control of my images, even if I don't "win".  Then there is the lazy factor.  Given the complexity of submissions, I could spend most of my time entering contests, with little remaining for actual photography.  So, why the Ewing Arts Awards?  First it was the local focus of the awards and the remarkable people for which it was named.

Ruth & James Ewing

The Ewings
James Ewing was the owner and publisher of the Keene Sentinel and both he and his wife Ruth were strong supporters of the arts within the Monadnock Region. Local organizations that benefited included Apple Hill Chamber Music, the MacDowell Colony and the Grand Monadnock Arts Council. I can't think of any two more deserving of this recognition.









 
Monadnock Focus
 

The Apple Hill Quartet

Given the Monadnock Region's insulation from the rest of New Hampshire, the geographic focus of the Ewing Awards is especially appropriate. I often say that our corner of the state is drawn together by endless miles of bad road. The fact that major roads circle around us, tends to shield the Monadnock Region from the rest of the world and draws all of us together, including the artistic community. Through organizations such as the Monadnock Area Artist Association, The Art Walk and the Fall Foliage Tour, I have come to know many of our local artists, including several of this year's Ewing winners. Some of them are even willing to talk to a photographer!

Canopy, Deborah Lloyd Kaufman

The Artistic Community
 

President Lincoln, Tim Campbell

 

The Monadnock Region is blessed with a wide variety of marvelously talented artists and instead of focusing on a single genre, the Ewing Awards was open to all types of artists, in both the performance and visual arts. They were even willing to consider photography, and I'm especially pleased that the student winner is photographer Annika Kristiansen. I was also attracted by the fact that the awards were not based on the judging of one or two pieces, but on a greater body of work and on the relationship of the artist and his work to the Monadnock Region.

Annika Kristiansen

  

Grazing the Fence

An award focused on my home region and in the name of two remarkable community leaders, this was not your typical photography contest. So I went through the arduous process of submitting my work, my story and my ego to the prestigious panel of judges and was excited to be considered worthy to be among the 14 other amazing recipients. To me it is wonderful that, in addition to the talented painters, the judges also recognized music and dance, sculpture, set design and, yes, even photography.








Animaterra Women's Chorus

"We want to showcase in some small way the amazing creativity that surrounds us", said Keene Sentinel Editor Terrence Williams, "This is a wonderful beginning." 


I certainly agree, and all I need to do is bask in the radiant glory of these talented artists:

• Lee Dunholter, painter and theatrical set designer, Peterborough
• Peter Roos, painter, Walpole
• Deborah Lloyd Kaufman, painter, Spofford
• Gill Truslow, painter, Keene
• Jeanne Maguire Thieme, painter, Swanzey
• Tim Campbell, painter, sculptor, Keene
• Annika Kristiansen, photographer, Keene (student winner)
• Craig Stockwell, painter, Keene
• Richard Whitney, painter, Stoddard
• Animaterra Women’s Chorus, musical performers, Harrisville
• Frank Wallace, classical guitarist, Antrim
• MoCo Arts, dance performers, Keene
• Apple Hill String Quartet, musical performers, Nelson
• Chamber Singers of Keene, musical performers, Keene



Monadnock Orchard, Richard Whitney

Next Thursday, July 23rd, The Ewing Awards recipients will be recognized at a reception in Keene State College's Redfern Arts Center. I will try to jam 2-3 examples of my photography (those shown here) into the 48 inches of "running wall space" that has been allotted to each of the visual artists. Even "running", 48 inches isn't much, but more excitingly, there will be performances by the performing artist winners. I hope to see a few of my friends at the event.

Here are the details:

Ten visual artists and five performing artists or groups will be recognized with the first Ruth and James Ewing Arts Awards. A reception and awards program are planned for these recipients on July 23 at Redfern Arts Center on the campus of Keene State College.


 

Farrier's Touch

The program on July 23 will be from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. with a reception to follow. It will feature a gallery showing some of the work of the visual artists and a sample of performances by the performing artist winners. The Sentinel is publishing a glossy magazine with feature stories and photography of all the winners. The magazine will first be available at the event and then will be inserted into all copies of The Sentinel the next day. 

Tickets — $25 for adults and $10 for students 18 and under — will go on sale Friday, June 26m.  Tickets can be reserve at 603-352-1234 x 1004 or aruest@keenesentinel.com.

I hope to see you there.

Jeffrey Newcomer
partridgebrookreflections.com
603-363-8338

Calendar Time

Buy, Buy, Buy!

Lost In the Toadstool Calendar Rack

It seems like everyone is publishing a calendar these days. There are some beautiful ones out there including a few from my friends in the New England Photography Guild. A visit to any bookstore will reveal hundreds of choices with themes ranging from local and global natural wonders to the artistically posed, but profoundly disturbing naked forms of members of the local Rotary Club. Please don't expect to see the "Men of the Chesterfield Conservation Commission" any time soon.

Of course this article is an unapologetic attempt to get you to support my "New England Reflections Calendar." With all the competition it can be a struggle to command the attention of the calendar buying public. I have no magic formula, but I can relate what has seemed to work for me over the last ten years.

Find a Cause
First and foremost, I feel that it has been the cause, to which all of the profits have been dedicated, that accounts for the popularity of my calendar.  For a number of years I struggled with the thought of producing a calendar. I felt uncomfortable with the idea of profiting by trying to market my work to all my unfortunate friends and family. Then a patient who is also a friend suggested that I sell the calendar to benefit a local charity. I knew exactly where I wanted the money to go, and over the last 10 years I've managed to send over $40k to support the work of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, New Hampshire. The money has been used to help patients who would not have been able to afford the program and has made possible special events that have added to the experience for many needy participants. Getting no financial benefit from the sales has also made me much more comfortable when I shamelessly and obnoxiously hawk the calendar throughout the community. Of course, with the money going to such a worthy local cause, it has been easier to get a long list of wonderful stores to sell the calendar.

Quality Counts
All tricks aside, the quality of the images is most important for the long term popularity of the calendar. I've talked about the struggle

November

of selecting each year's images. Throughout the year I am looking for the perfect scenes, but in the end it is impossible to predict what will capture the eye of my audience. I really like this year's November image, but I was afraid that many would not enjoy a picture of frozen ground liter.  Happily the image has been one of the most popular in the 2015 calendar.  The large monthly pictures are important, but I think it is often the little additions, the thumbnail images, the banners, the choices of holidays, and the descriptions of the images, that make the calendar more attractive and complete. And of course the cover image is always a critical marketing choice.


 


2015 Gallery

 
Image Information and Links

 














Keep it Local
Of course the content of the calendar is very important. I know my customers and, as the "New England Reflections" title implies, I

Westmoreland, NH

have images that focus on my home region, trying to reflect a mix of landscapes from the Monadnock Region and Southern Vermont. I always like to add one Seacoast image and at least one of local wildlife. It is remarkable how many calendars get sent out of the region to those who have moved away or to explain to distant friends why we choose to live in this uniquely special corner of the world. I am told that there are folks in Germany, China and throughout the world for whom my calendar has become a holiday tradition, so it is important to select images that reflect the special character and feel of our region.

Get it Out
I have mentioned before the importance of getting the calendar out early. This has always been a problem for me, but in the last couple of years I have been able to start distribution in the late summer. The key is to get to people before they make their yearly calendar purchases and before the flood of free calendars start flowing in.

The real purpose of this blog is to remind everyone that it is calendar time. I, and the patients with chronic lung diseases in our community, would appreciate you considering buying one ( or ten ) New England Reflections Calendars. You can find the calendar at the Cheshire a Medical Center Gift Shop off of the main lobby or on-line at the hospital web site, and we will pay for the shipping.

Calendars are also available in many fine stores including:

Toadstool Bookstore in Keene and Peterborough, NH
Hanna Grimes, Keene, NH
Sharon Arts Center, Peterborough, NH
Harrisville General Store, Harrisville, NH
Monadnock Imaging, Keene, NH
Ingenuity Country Store, Keene, NH
Monadnock Food Co-op, Keene, NH
Heidis/Tildens Hallmark Store, Keene, NH
Nicole & Bonnie's Salon, Keene, NH
Leon's Auto Center, Keene, NH
Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH
J & J Discount Store, Chesterfield, NH
Westmoreland General Store, Westmoreland, NH
Gilsum General Store, Gilsum, NH
Walpole Grocery, Walpole, NH
Jingles Christmas Store, Westmoreland, NH
Harlow's Sugar House, Putney, Vt
Newfane Market, Newfane, Vt
Vermont Artisans Design, Brattleboro, Vt
South Woodstock Country Store, South Woodstock, Vt


 
This week's snow is a potent reminder that January is right around the corner, so get out there and buy calendars!

 

We thank you all for your wonderful support.


Jeffrey Newcomer
Partridgebrookreflections.com