Today, Eye on Art turns to Portsmouth, N.H., and the New Hampshire Art Association for the lead in this week’s column.
NHAA prides itself on playing the role of adviser or thought partner for exhibitions, helping to refine an exhibition and coach artists through the process.
This month, the association presents a unique style of exhibition: a retrospective by longtime NHAA member and Portsmouth icon Bob Thoresen.
This type of exhibition — a curated collection of a life’s work — is a unique process. With artist curated proposals open for 2027, this seemed like a good opportunity for a peek behind the scenes of what it takes to build an exhibition.
For the last two years, Thoresen has been diligently working behind the scenes to get his website updated, photographs of his work taken, asking private collectors and family members to lend his pieces for the exhibition, wiring and framing pieces, writing and publishing a corresponding book, and working closely with Executive Director Amanda Kidd-Kestler on the selection of his strongest pieces.
With his architecture background, it came as no surprise that Thoresen also meticulously planned the exhibition to scale to help visualize the layout before any pieces entered the gallery.
How does an artist select which pieces to include? For a prolific artist like Thoresen, editing is key. With assistance, he selected the strongest pieces that epitomized different eras of his life and practice while leaving behind works that might distract from the overall artistic vision and intent.
While a retrospective has unique curatorial challenges, the principles for all solo exhibitions remain the same: plan and prepare ahead of time, identify common through lines and themes, select the strongest pieces, leave out anything that interferes or distracts from the vision.
Interested in applying for an artist curated exhibition in 2027? NHAA is here to help guide you through it. The gallery is located at 136 State St. in Portsmouth, N.H. For information on hours and events, visit www.nhartassociation.org/events.
GALLERY NOTES
LOWELL ART — Meanwhile, the Lowell art scene continues to thrive and flourish. This month the Art in City Hall program focuses on emerging artists attending Middlesex Community College. On this week through Oct. 29, view the stunning photography captured by MCC’s talented Communication, Art and Design students.
Participating photographers include Addison Bauer, Anthony Furia, Ethan Wright, Ilianna Cepeda, Mauser Sencion, Raja Fitch, Sherine Haughton White and Yolson Dumbard. See the photos during regular City Hall hours.
BUSKER FESTIVAL — The Lowell Busker Festival will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Derby Park, 166 Middle St. Besides the performers and musicians, which will go from 2 to 6:30 p.m., watch live art by artists from the Sketchers Lowell group, and bring your own sketchbook, paint set or camera to join in the fun, says organizers with the Cultural Organization of Lowell.
Nancye Tuttle’s email address is [email protected].
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