Exhibit
November 2 - 27
Reception
Tuesday, November 19th at 6:30 PM

Ethel Hills grew up in rural Hollis, New Hampshire amidst farms, apple orchards, hayfields and woods. After high school, she attended Dickinson College for two years before taking some time off. During this break in her schooling, she explored black and white photography, primarily the natural forms in the landscape around her parents’ home in Hollis. She briefly toyed with the idea of returning to school to learn more about photography, but panicked when she found out that meant art school.

Instead, she enrolled at the University of New Hampshire to complete her BA. While at UNH, she fell in love with the seacoast area, the beaches, the rocks, the marshes, and the solitude of the area in the off season. After graduating, she moved to Hampton, eventually settling next to the salt marsh.

Shortly after moving to Hampton, she took up traditional rug hooking. As she learned more and more about rug hooking, she wanted her rugs to become more her own creation. Although she learned to plan her own colors and dye her own wool, she was still working with commercial patterns. It was her pursuit of more personal and creative hooked pieces which brought her to her love of art. Her goal was simple, to learn just enough drawing to be able to produce the very simple line drawings that are the basis of rug designs.

One thing led to another, first a couple of books on drawing, then a drawing class at a high school, then a watercolor class, then a workshop and on and on. There was always something new to learn. After getting a feel for watercolor, the next step was to strengthen her drawing skills. She went back to UNH, only this time studying in the Art Department. She’s worked hard to develop her skills by taking traditional classes at both UNH and the New Hampshire Institute of Art, and also by studying with well-known watercolor artists and teachers, Dustan Knight, Don Andrews, DeWitt Hardy, Ed Betts, Skip Lawrence, and Gerry Brommer.

Hills came to art later in life and through a circuitous route, but has no regrets about it. She has been painting seriously for almost twenty years and is currently pursuing her art career from her small studio in downtown Hampton. She is an active member of the Ogunquit Artist Association, Abstract Artists’ Group of New England, Women’s Caucus for Art, Arts League of Lowell and the New Hampshire Art Association. She has exhibited in numerous juried, group and solo shows in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. She is represented by Paula Estey Gallery in Newburyport, MA.

WHEN: Monday, October 14, 2019
WHERE: Library Main Floor

Carol & Crew Puppet Show kicks off our fabulous soup day at 10:00 AM in the Lane Room. Patrons praise Carol for her fun story telling, fabulous puppets, easy rapport with children, and the many ways youngsters are able to interact with the show.

SOUP TIME: Soups will be served to the public @ 12:00 PM
Enter your family favorite soup featuring 2 ingredients unique to the New World to win!  New World food examples include Corn, Potatoes, Cranberries, Chocolate, Vanilla, Maple Syrup, Pumpkin, Chilies, Allspice, Black beans, Turkey.  Soups will be judged by popular vote and Chef’s Choice. ENTRY DEADLINE: Friday, October 11th.

SOUPS MUST ARRIVE BY 11:00 A.M. ON THE MORNING OF THE COMPETITION IN A SLOW COOKER. A complete list of ingredients must be disclosed for an allergen statement.

Voting will close at 12:45 PM.  The library will hold a Chocolate Tasting at 12:30 PM, followed by a professional soup demonstration by Chefs John Amodie and Nick Grandmason from Ronaldo's Italian Restaurant in North Hampton at 1:00 PM.  We will announce the winners of both the People's Choice and chef's Choice following this presentation.

Chef’s 1st - $50 Gift certificate to Ronaldo's in North Hampton
Chef’s 2nd - $25 Gift certificate to to Ronaldo's in North Hampton
People’s 1st - $50 Gift certificate and gift basket to On the Vine
People’s 2nd -$25 Gift certificate to Seacoast Soups

Last Year's Winners: Djamel Hafiani, Stacy Mazur, Josiah Howard with assistant Annika Howard, and Jenn Beigel

On Friday, July 12th beginning at 1:30 PM everyone is invited to drop by the library to see our new stairway mural created by artist Kit Collins, standing here with Library director Amanda Reynolds Cooper. The Friends of Lane Memorial Library commissioned this colorful new addition to the library, and we would like to celebrate her accomplishment.  We will serve light refreshments and visitors will have a chance to meet Kit and hear about her work and the story she’s created.

The mural has been months in the making. Kit was tasked with drafting up three different mural designs on which the Hampton community voted in person and through the library website. The three themes were "Wide World of Books", "Local, Gone Global", and "New Hampshire Nature". New Hampshire Nature was voted as the top pick and features a variety of wildlife and scenery that can be found in and around Hampton and New Hampshire. It’s playful and imaginative, with bobcats reading to their kits, an octopus flipping through an underwater novel, and more.

Starting at 2:00 PM, the Library will also be holding a Community Art Project. Just for fun, families will get to splatter, swirl and splash together a universe of color on a massive, parking-lot size roll of paper.  

We would like to invite those interested in learning more about the feathered members of our community to an evening slideshow by Dr. Stephen Hale on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 PM in the downstairs Lane Room.  Titled Hampton Birds, this presentation features a selection of common and uncommon birds that can be found in Hampton, NH. Whether nesting in Summer or visiting in Winter, the birds found in Hampton, NH are a spectacular assemblage that attracts birdwatchers all year-round. Residents of Hampton can find and enjoy many of these birds in their back "yards" or while walking the beach or viewing the marsh. Those who attend will see and discuss the snowy owl, piping plover, peregrine falcon, winter finches, and many more.

Presenter Steve Hale holds university degrees in marine biology, evolutionary biology, and ecology.  He has lived in New Hampshire over 20 years and has explored most of the state.  An avid hiker, birder, and experienced naturalist, Steve loves to share his experience and knowledge with others.

This month the library welcomes 11 artists from the Seacoast Open Studio who will be exhibiting their work in the Weston Gallery during the months of May and June.  They will welcome guests and patrons at a reception on the evening of May 21 at 6:30 PM.  We asked them to share a bit about who they are and why they come together:

"Seacoast Open Studio (SOS) is an eclectic group of visual artists from the Seacoast NH area that has been meeting weekly for the last nine years in Exeter, NH.  We get together September through June on Friday mornings, 9:30-noon, upstairs at the historic Exeter Parks and Recreation Building to create art and share ideas, critiques, and inspiration.

Our styles range from wild abstracts to the more traditional.  The mediums and subjects are diverse; even the size of our works stretch from miniature to murals.

Venues where the SOS exhibits includes local libraries, D Squared Java, Exeter Hospital, the Provident Bank, Blue Moon Evolution, and Exeter Old Town Hall.

Our open and supportive group enjoys welcoming newcomers."