Hampton Arts Network

By Liz Miller

Hampton Union, June 30, 2015

[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]

Linda Gebhart (left) shows off some of the gallery's art work

HAMPTON – The Hampton Arts Network Gallery is gearing up for their second summer at Hampton Beach. With added storefront space this year, they’ll be offering classes in addition to the original gallery and gift shop.

“It’s something different, something really good for Hampton Beach,” Vice President of HAN Linda Gebhart said. “To have an artistic venue at the beach is a giant step forward.”

HAN, a non-profit organization, was started five years ago with the aim of “enriching, promoting, and supporting the arts in the Hampton area by providing art related events and education.”

Two years ago, Oceanside Mall owner Skip Windemiller called the organization and told them he would like to see a gallery in a newly open storefront at the mall, wanting something different on the beach. “You can only buy so many t-shirts and eat so much fried dough – then you want something different,” Windemiller said.

“We jumped at the opportunity to have a real gallery at the beach,” Gebhart said. Windemiller, excited by the idea of having art, galleries, and upscale shops in the area, generously provided the space to HAN at no charge.

Gebhart and a few other instructors will be teaching various classes, from acrylics and watercolor to clay. “We’re just trying to think of the different mediums we can offer in just a one night, two hour class,” Gebhart said, anticipating that they will teach tourists who may not be around for a longer class.

While HAN will focus on an adult audience for the evening classes in their new studio space, they’re also organizing a summer enrichment program. Led by teachers from the NH State Council on the Arts, the five day program is being offered for free to 12 students who were awarded attendance based on a written application.

The gallery will officially open on July 1 from 2-8 p.m. The public is invited to an opening reception on Thursday, July 8 from 6-8 p.m. Throughout the rest of the summer, the gallery will be open from 2-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sunday.

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