At AVA, the construction of our new Sculptural Studies Building is moving ahead at a rapid pace, but not so rapid that the work crew doesn't take time to give our art campers hard hat tours of the site. Please scroll down to see the playful and instructive ways that the construction is informing our summer programs.

Additionally, new classes, workshops and camps for all ages and abilities are offered throughout the summer.

And please save the date: on July 22, we open five new exhibitions. Complete details are below.
 
We hope to see you at AVA soon,
~The Board and Staff of AVA Gallery and Art Center

2015 Juried Show Award Winners: Bartlett, Granott Fox, Hufschmid, Pollock  
July 22--August 19
Opening Reception: Friday, July 22, 5-7pm 

   AVA would like to thank Ledyard National Bank, generous sponsor of these exhibitions.

 
 

Take Another Look: Aging with Dignity, A United Valley Interfaith Project
July 22--August 19
Opening Reception: Friday, July 22, 5-7pm

photo: Robin Roche
  
A collaboration of United Valley Interfaith Project (UVIP), ReThink Health: Upper Connecticut River Valley, and CATV 8/10  
Johnson Sisters Library (Second Floor)


Enrollment in AVA's 2016 Summer Art Camps Continues  
June 27--August 26
Our exciting, nine-week program features some of AVA's classic camps combined with a selection of brand new offerings. Camps include partnerships with: the Dartmouth College Architecture Faculty, the Dartmouth College Biology Department, the Dartmouth College Computer Science Department, the Enfield Shaker Museum, the Upper Valley Land Trust and the Upper Valley Music Center.

Click here to learn more about AVA's 2016 Summer Art Camps.
Kira's Garden 2016
   

Kira's Garden is a sculpture garden dedicated to the memory of Kira Fournier Schore (1950-2002) and her contribution to the arts community of the Upper Valley. It is located on the east side of AVA's Carter-Kelsey building, and was given by her widower, Benjamin Schore, in 2008.

Sculptures by fourteen artists are featured for the 2016-2017 season: 
  • Herb Ferris of Windsor, VT
  • Liz Sibley Fletcher of Mason, NH
  • Scott Gordon of Norwich, VT
  • Fitzhugh Karol of Brooklyn, NY
  • Michael Kraatz and Susan Russell of Canaan, NH
  • John Kemp Lee of White River Junction, VT
  • Phil Lonergan of Campton, NH
  • John Matusz of Waitsfield, VT
  • Bill Martin of Grantham, NH
  • Lynn Newcomb of Worcester, VT
  • Abraham Oort of Hartland, VT
  • Teresa Taylor of Barnstead, NH
  • Jamie Townsend of Springfield, VT

Click here to download the press release for AVA's 2016 Installation in Kira's Garden.

   AVA would like to thank Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty, generous sponsor of this exhibition.  
 
 
The Construction of AVA's Sculptural Studies Building Is Proceeding Beautifully, and AVA's Art Campers Delight in Being Part of It All  
 
 
Barely two months into the construction of AVA's Sculptural Studies Building, the new workspaces that will provide opportunities for exploration in metal, glass, clay, wood, stone and more, are beginning to emerge. The ell-shaped, 4,000 square-foot building, located on the lot to the north of AVA's Carter-Kelsey Building, will-thanks to Trumbull-Nelson Construction's hardworking team-be completed by mid-October. Even in the middle of their busy schedule, the work crew has done its utmost to accommodate requests from AVA that our summer art campers gain insight into the construction project. In late June, Chris Orcutt Henderson took her Architecture Adventures camp participants on a hard hat tour of the site (photo of kids on hard hat tour here). During Chris' CAOS camp in early July, when the enthusiastic participants worked together to create Orgly the Dragon-a seven-foot long purple apparition with yellow eyes and red scales-the work crew willingly took Orgly for a free ride during a brief lull in the construction. The flight ended safely, and Orgly is now on temporary display in AVA's lobby.
Summer Camp Spotlight  
Ripe! and Secrets of the Green World 

AVA is delighted to announce that space is still available in two very special summer art camps: Ripe! and Secrets of the Green World. Come explore the inner and outer workings of plants through art and experimentation and be inspired to create realistic and abstract works of art!

These partnership programs unite AVA with the Dartmouth College Biology Department and the Dartmouth College Computer Science Department and are funded, in part, by a grant from the National Science Foundation.

To learn more about these unique art and science offerings, please follow the links below:

AVA at the Lebanon Farmers' Market   
Lebanon's beautiful Colburn Park -- a mere stone's throw away from AVA -- is a favorite gathering place to come and enjoy all kinds of activities, especially during the summer time. We are delighted to continue being part of the weekly Thursday Farmers' Market (4:00-7:00pm) with our plein air studio and free art activities for children of all ages. Once again, from early June to late August, weather permitting, AVA's capable summer interns will be in charge of this high-spirited offering, adding yet another layer of color to this marvelous downtown venue.

And keep in mind that on Thursday evenings our gallery hours are extended until 7:00pm, so be sure to combine a stroll through Colburn Park with a visit to see what's on display at AVA! 

Sunday Soup at AVA
Sunday, August 7, 3pm

AVA is excited to announce that we will be hosting quarterly Sunday Soup gatherings, with the second session to be held on Sunday, August 7 at 3:00pm. Initiated and led by Randall Szott, Head Chef at The Prosper Valley School in Pomfret, VT, these playful engagements promise great food, creative community and newly funded art projects!

What is Sunday Soup?
Sunday Soup is a grassroots model for funding small-to-medium sized creative projects through community meals. Basically, community members are invited to share in a meal of soup prepared by Szott, accompanied by Red Hen bread, for a nominal fee. The proceeds will be pooled as a grant, and at the conclusion of the gathering, will be awarded to support a developing, local art project. Artists seeking funding for their work should bring a printed, one-page description of their goal, with accompanying images, to the Sunday Soup event. All proposals will be tacked to the wall for participants to review. Every diner gets to vote. At the conclusion of the event, the proposal with the most votes receives the collected monies - no strings attached.
 
Why do it?
Sunday Soup is worth engaging with because it generates independent funding for the arts, sparks dialogue among local creatives, cultivates how we think about collaboration and community, and gives artists of all ages and abilities the opportunity to propose projects they might not otherwise be able to complete. For applying artists, the proposal process is more streamlined and fun than traditional grant application packages. For participating diners, the decision-making process is quick and democratic, and the outcome will reflect our local priorities. Sunday Soup is platform that gives everyone the opportunity to discuss ongoing projects with new audiences, meet new collaborators, and share ways of working.

Search for AVA's New Executive Director Is Underway

Following the announcement that AVA Gallery and Art Center's longtime executive director Bente Torjusen will be retiring at the end of 2016, AVA's Board of Directors secured the services of the executive search firm Arts Consulting Group (ACG) to lead a national search for a new executive director.

ACG is the leading provider of hands-on interim management, executive search, revenue enhancement, facilities and program planning, and organizational development services for the arts and culture industry.

AVA's operations and programs will not be impacted by the cost of the search, as it has been offset by donations from current and former board members. Additionally, ACG is providing its services including a generous in-kind contribution in support of AVA and the Upper Valley arts community.
 
 
  
Call for Artists: Art In The Mountains      
Deadline: August 1

The Littleton Area Chamber announces a call to artists for a juried art exhibition on September 24, 2016. The 47th Littleton Art Festival is open to all fine arts media including: painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, jewelry, pottery, stain glass, and fiber. Professional artists working within New England or New York are eligible. 
  

Call for Artists: a blade of grass Fellowship  
Deadline: September 19

a blade of grass is seeking individual artists and collectives to apply for its one-year fellowships. Fellowships pair project support of $20,000 with strategic support, field research tools, video documentation, and other tailored resources for socially engaged artists working nationwide. They support seven to ten artists or collectives per year, who are selected via an open application process.
AVA Gallery and Art Center   
11 Bank Street
Lebanon, NH 03766
(603) 448-3117
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 5pm, Open until 7pm on Thursdays
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturdays 11am - 5pm
 
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