DURHAM — A special fall art exhibit brings local galleries together in effort to breathe new life into the University of New Hampshire’s former Museum of Art.
The exhibit Not for Sale will be the inaugural show to be held at the art gallery at UNH, located in the Paul Creative Arts Center at 30 Academic Way. The exhibit, which will showcase the work of more than 40 artists, runs from Aug. 26 through Oct. 11, is a collaboration of area galleries, Katzman Contemporary Projects (Dover), the RMFA (Rochester Museum of Fine Arts) and See Saw Gallery in Manchester.
The exhibition marks a significant milestone following the closure of the UNH Museum of Art last year due to a $14 million budget cut, a setback that was deeply felt by the greater New Hampshire art community.
In an attempt to revive the space, Benjamin Cariens, chair of the Department of Art and Art History at UNH, contacted the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts and Katzman Contemporary Projects to produce an independent exhibition in hopes of ushering in a new era of programming focused on art accessibility, community engagement, and sustainability.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Matthew Wyatt of the RMFA. “We are working with a Dover gallery to essentially re-open the art museum after closing last year due to budget cuts. To be clear, we are just opening it up by doing one temporary exhibit until October. Then, it’s our hope, that organizers will continue it in the same way as our methods are sustainable, affordable, and accessible.
Wyatt said the NFS: Not For Sale exhibition invites artists to present works of personal significance, whether newly created or from their past. In order to foster a diverse and introspective collection, each artist was asked to submit 3-5 pieces, without knowing what others would bring. Additionally, the curatorial team asked each participant to look back at the time when they were emerging artists and ponder the question: What insight would you share with your younger self?
“This show is a small sampling of contemporary artists connected to the Northeast brought together by curators from New Hampshire,” said Eric Katzman of Katzman Contemporary Projects. “For me, the excitement is the interplay of the personal works that each artist brings. The emotional aspect of nostalgia, combined with exhibiting pieces with personal significance, makes this show compelling in a current landscape of rapid change.”
Wyatt said, “We’re happy to volunteer our time to curate an exhibition with Eric and Julee Katzman in the Museum of Art at UNH. We look forward to bringing artists and art enthusiasts together to celebrate such an important art space in New Hampshire.”
Amy Regan of See Saw Art and the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, added, “Our respective organizations represent a new wave of art initiatives that are artist-focused and financially sustainable. We appreciate the University’s efforts to move in a new direction, reopen to the public, and give curators like us a chance to extend our reach to a greater audience.”
Invited artists include Alex Leith, Alicia Ethridge, Ashley Page, Bethany Engstrom, Brett Marcel, Chris Thibault, Claudia Rippee, Cozette Russell, Damion Silver, Dave Pettengill, Dean McCrillis, Douglas Breault, Edgar Paredes, Forrest Elliott, Forrest Knight, Hannah Hirsch, Heather Morgan, Holden Willard, Jackie Brown, Jason Bagatta, Kerri Kimura, Kevin Kintner, Kevin Xiques, Kristy Cavaretta, Lauren Karjala, Lydia M. Kinney, Marcus Greene, Matt Demers, Meg Hahn, Mike Howat, Miles Warner, Ned Roche, Rachelle Beaudoin, Raquel P. Miller, Richard Yu-Tang Lee, Ryan John Lefevbre, Sean Weare, Steven Cabral, Susan Schwake, Tara Lewis, and Tracy Hayes.
NFS: Not For Sale will be on display Aug. 26 to Oct. 11, with a reception on Friday, Sept. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit katzmancontemporaryprojects.com, rochestermfa.org, and seesaw.gallery for information and updates.
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