Electronics Recycling Fundraiser

ECCA's 2nd Annual Electronics Recycling Fundraiser

Saturday, Sept. 18, 9-1, downtown Exeter

We'll be in front of the Bandstand, in the center of town. Look for the big truck. Bring your old and unwanted electronics to be recycled. There is a fee for disposal, $5-20 depending on the item, which goes toward covering the cost of removal, as well as supporting the art center.

Clean out your home, protect the environment, and help provide art classes for area children, all in one stop!

Open House!

ECCA is pleased to host a fall Open House to be held on August 31, 2010 from 3-6pm! Come and see our creative art spaces. Meet our new Executive Director and lead teacher of the children's classes, along with some of our artist/instructors who teach the adult classes and workshops.

This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet some of our board members. If you've been kicking around the idea of joining ECCA's Board of Directors or the Friends of ECCA group, this is a low-key event where you can get a tour of the facility and chat with current board members.

The event is free and open to the public. Remember, if you register for any of our classes or workshops by August 31, you'll receive 10% off of your registration fee!

Don't miss out!

Fall 2010 Brochure is Here

The Fall 2010 Brochure is now available and we are accepting registrations for all fall classes and programs. We have a wide variety of classes in all mediums and for all ages. Join us for an Open House on Tuesday August 31, 3-6pm, meet our teachers and receive an early registration discount. 10% off registrations received by August 31st.

4th Annual Fine Arts Show

We are very excited to be planning our 4th annual juried and invitational fine arts show. The show will be November 19-21 and 27-28, and is held in the Exeter Town Hall Gallery. If you are an artist interested in participating in this show, please read our art show prospectus, and follow the instructions to apply.

This year, we will also be running a one day fine crafts day on Saturday Nov. 20, in the Exeter Town Hall. This portion of the show is also juried. Please see the fine crafts application for more details and to apply for this show.

Please feel free to contact ECCA at ecca@rcn.com or (603) 778-8441 with any questions.

Puddlejumpers supports ECCA!

We are pleased to announce that ECCA was chosen by Puddlejumpers to receive 5% of sales from a new line of clothing!

Puddlejumpers of downtown Exeter, a children's clothing shop, is now selling a line of clothing called TownWear by BER. This would be clothing such as t-shirts, hoodies, & ball caps that have a graphic related to the town of Exeter, NH. Shop owner, Cheri Smith, has chosen ECCA as the sole beneficiary of this fundraiser. Many, many thanks, Puddlejumpers!!

Get on down there and get your TownWear! They are stocking newborn all the way up to adult sizes. From what I hear, it's not staying on the shelves very long....

Community Arts Series Resumes Tomorrow Night!

When: May 18th, 2010
Where: ECCA, 30 Linden Street, Exeter, NH (the old Exeter High School, now called the Tuck Learning Campus)
Time: 6:30-8:30pm

ECCA's Community Arts Series resumes this month with artist Sharon Price. Sharon lives and works in the southern NH area, painting on site in locations all over the Great Bay of northern MA and seacoast NH to create paintings of these treasured wetland environments.

Sharon works are traditional in approach; she strives to achieve a balance between both realistic and impressionistic painting styles. She exhibits her artwork in outdoor and juried art shows throughout New England, and at galleries in both Manchester, NH and Wellesley, MA.

Discovering the excitement of working "en plein air" has changed the quality and mood of her paintings dramatically. Sharon believes that painting on location adds an entirely new dimension to her landscapes. "The paintings have an excitement about them, because they truly capture a moment in time. Painting under the constraints of time, changing weather and light forces me to focus on the most important elements of the subject. I can't get distracted by small details or portions of the landscape that won't allow me to achieve what I am striving to communicate".

The evening will include a slide presentation of several works in progress with time for questions and discussion. Sharon will also have with her a few paintings for up-close viewing.

The Community Arts Series with Sharon will be a culmination of her oil painting talents. We hope to see you there.

The Community Arts Series is free and open to the public. Please call ahead to reserve your seat, as space is limited.

Refreshments will be served!

ECCA Student Art Show & Benefit Sale CALL FOR ART WORK

ECCA is planning an art show and sale to celebrate the work of our students. This will also be a fundraiser to support program development and much needed new equipment. We are looking for students to donate artwork created during an ECCA class, and would like to have all ages, levels of ability, and mediums represented in the show/sale. If you or your child(ren) have participated in ECCA classes and have artwork you would like to donate to this event, it would be greatly appreciated. Work can be dropped off at ECCA Monday-Thursday 12-4, either in the downstairs classroom or upstairs office. We will be accepting work through May 20th.

Additionally, we will be using artwork left at ECCA, unclaimed, in the show. If you or your child(ren) have artwork remaining at ECCA that you do not want to have available for sale in the show, please make arrangements to pick it up at ECCA.

The show is scheduled for Saturday June 5, 11-4, so mark your calendars and plan to attend. If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please contact ECCA at (603) 778-8441 or ecca@rcn.com

APRIL VACATION CAMP OFF TO A GREAT START!

April vacation camp is off to a wonderful start. There is still space available so call us up! 603-778-8441. We would love to have your child(ren) spend some time at ECCA to express themselves through art.

A typical camp day includes two hours of instruction beginning at 9am in the morning with a snack break, followed by lunch and outdoor playtime (weather dependent). After lunch there are two more hours of art instruction before ending at 3pm. Your child(ren) can attend either of the two-hour sessions (9-11am or 1-3pm) or for the entire day. Call for more details!

JAPANESE BOOK BINDING WORKSHOP!

Join book artist and instructor Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord in this one-evening workshop. Susan is a wonderful teacher filled with enthusiasm and humor. You'll learn how to make a simple, soft-covered book using recycled materials and a side-stitched Japanese binding. There will be time to experiment, too.

Susan's various book sculptures and other book art has been shown in galleries and other venues all over New England. Visit her website to view her work: www.makingbooks.com.

ONLY $35! SIGN UP TODAY!

DATE: April 19th
TIME: 6:30-8:30pm
WHERE: 30 Linden Street Exeter, NH (The old Exeter High School, now called the Tucl Learning Campus

To inquire or register call 603-7778-8441 or email ecca@rcn.com.

Spring Vacation Camp

April vacation is just around the corner and ECCA is here to provide wonderful art programming during that week! Our Spring Vacation Camp runs from April 26-30. Each day has a morning session from 9-11am and an afternoon session from 1-3pm. You can register for all day camp, or just the morning or afternoon sessions. Check it out on our website, www.exeterarts.net.

The Art of Welding

The Art of Welding taught by Joseph Montroy, is set to begin a new session on April 8th! Consider welding as a medium to express an artistic flair. This class is a hands-on experience. The beginner can learn basic skills and safety practices with the tools while exploring ways of creating art pieces. The intermediate and more experienced artists can continue practicing skills learned in previous welding classes.

Joe is a wonderful teacher. He is highly skilled as a sculptor and brings a deep passion for it to his work with both beginner and experienced welders. He is especially adept at allowing the student to direct their work. He steps in and out of the teaching moment, watching and guiding with a keen eye and gentle method.

Classes are held at the Seacoast School of Technology on Linden Street in Exeter, just up the street from ECCA. Two levels are scheduled, both on Thursday evenings. The continuing student/artist begins each evening at 6pm and goes until 8:30pm. The new student/artist will come in at 6:30pm, and also work until 8:30pm.

Don't delay...it begins in just a few days!

Youth Art Month

View some of ECCA's student's art work at the Town of Exeter Arts Committee Youth Art Month show, in the Exeter Town Hall Gallery. Open Sat. and Sun. 12-4, March 27-April 11.

Gardens, gardens, we need gardens...

We are beginning to put together our 2nd annual Art in the Garden Tour in Exeter, scheduled for Saturday June 26, and are looking for people in Exeter who would be willing to open up their gardens for us. During this tour, an area artist who does out-door artwork (sculptors, wood workers, potters) will display their work in your garden. Visitors will follow a tour we lay out, from garden to garden, to see the landscaping and artwork. Last year's tour was great fun and a huge success. This is a fundraiser for ECCA to help support our art education program, and provide class scholarships to area children. If you have a garden you are willing to share to support this great cause, please let us know and we'll provide you with all the details. You can reach ECCA by phone at 778-8441 or email at ecca@rcn.com

Summer Camp Brochure

It's here and registrations are open. ECCA's summer camp brochure is now available. Use the link to the right or access the brochure on ECCA's website

Early registrations, before June 15th, are eligible for a 10% discount.

Barnes & Noble Bookfair Fundraiser

Remember, ECCA is having a book fair fundraiser at Barnes & Noble, Newington, NH, this Saturday, March 13, 1-5. Join us for good music, demonstrations, discussions, and authors, meet our teachers, and have the kids do an art project. Use this book fair voucher for all your book, music, and cafe purchases and a percentage of your purchase will be donated to ECCA by Barnes & Noble.

Color & Texture with Rose Bryant

Capturing Color & Texture in Acrylics with Rose Bryant
Tuesday March 16, 6:30-8:30 at ECCA, 30 Linden Street, Exeter

Bryant’s work has been described as color-rich, emotional and uplifting. In this demonstration Bryant shares tips about how she approaches her processes. She will discuss the use of photography, the absence of color as an “inhibition buster”, as well as her techniques for layering colors and handling (or not handling) visual details. Free and open to all. For more information or to register (requested but not required) call ECCA at 778-8441 or email ecca@rcn.com

Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord - Coming Tue!

Book artist and calligrapher, Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord will be at ECCA on Tuesday, March 2nd (rescheduled from the snow storm), 6:30-8:30 to give an illustrated talk on her journey and inspiration as an artist. (More details below.) This evening is free and open to the public. Join us at ECCA, 30 Linden Street, Exeter, for a fun and fascinating presentation and discussion.

Bookfair fundraiser

ECCA is having a bookfair fundraiser at Barnes & Noble on Sat. March 13, 1-5. We'll have music, author/illustrator Carey Armstrong-Ellis, cartoon drawing demonstration, portfolio development discussion, and art projects. Join the fun and buy some books. A percentage of purchases on books and music, and in the cafe will go directly to ECCA. Use this voucher with our bookfair number for your purchases at any Barnes & Noble store, by phone, or online to ensure that ECCA gets a donation for your purchase.

Do we have tea cups?

Our first Family Tea Cup making day, a joint project between ECCA and Passport to Peace (a Three Cups of Tea project) was a huge success. We had a steady crowd of all ages coming through to make pinch-pot tea cups to donate to the project.

Look for more of these community events to come!

Susan K. Gaylord Rescheduled

With the expected storm, we've decided to reschedule tonight's Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord event. We don't want anyone taking the risk of driving at the worst part of the storm, or missing the event because of the snow, and our location has parking/plowing issues that will make it difficult for everyone.

We are rescheduling the event to Tuesday March 2nd, 6:30-8:30.

Hopefully that still works for people.

Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord - Coming Tue!

Book artist and calligrapher, Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord will be at ECCA on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 6:30-8:30 to give an illustrated talk on her journey and inspiration as an artist. (More details below.) This evening is free and open to the public. Join us at ECCA, 30 Linden Street, Exeter, for a fun and fascinating presentation and discussion.

Become a Fan

We did it. ECCA can now be found on Facebook as ECCA Art Center. We'll post updates, events, pictures, and more. Become a fan and keep up with all the great new things going on at ECCA!

An Evening with Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord

An Artist's Journey: From Calligraphy to Book Arts and Beyond
An illustrated talk with Susan Kapuscinski Gaylord.


Susan subscribes to the belief that the only work you can do better than any one else is that which is truly your own. Her journey as an artist, thirty years and counting, has been an exercise in patience as she has striven to do work that is a true expression of herself and her place in the world. In her ten years of calligraphy, she progressed from traditional work to expressive gestures. When she began to use her own texts, she sought a more intimate format and discovered the artist's book. Her early books with text evolved into wordless and image-less sculptural works using natural materials, textures, stitching, and beads. Since completing The Spirit Book Series in 2005, she has brought lettering and words back into her two-dimensional work along with imagery created in Photoshop and created installations both indoors and out.

February 16, 6:30-8:30 pm
Exeter Center for Creative Arts, 30 Linden St, Exeter, NH (in the Tuck Learning Campus, formerly the Exeter Area High School)

This event is free and open to the public. Registration requested, 603.778-8441, but not required, or email ecca@rcn.com

ECCA Teams Up with Passport To Peace

ECCA is thrilled to announce that we are working on a new project with Passport to Peace. The mission of Passport to Peace—a Three Cups of Tea project—is to promote cultural understanding and raise global awareness, support education for girls worldwide and encourage our children to be active participants in global peace.

ECCA will facilitate the creation of tea cups throughout the community. These tea cups will then be available to purchase, with proceeds going to support Passport to Peace and ECCA.

If you would like to learn more about Passport to Peace, visit their website at www.passport2peace.org

ECCA will be hosting a Family Tea Cup day on Saturday February 13th, 1-4pm. This event will be open to the community. Come in and make tea cups, some to take home and some to donate to this worthy project. The fee is $5 per person, $20 maximum per family. Representatives from both organizations will be available to share information.


For more information please contact ECCA at (603) 778-8441 or by email at ecca@rcn.com

It's not too late

Have you ever wanted to try welding, but haven't had the opportunity? Have you longed to reuse and recycle old scrap metal into unique and creative works of art?

Our next session of the highly popular Art of Welding class will begin on Thursday, January 21st. This class has been fun and rewarding for everyone who has taken it. Learn the basic skills of welding pieces of scrap metal together and create sculptures from recycled scrap metals.

Read the ECCA brochure for full details of the class or call the ECCA office at 778-8441. Space is limited but there are a couple of spots still available.

Sculptor Joe Montroy Presentation

Sculptor and ECCA Teacher Joseph Montroy will be giving a slide presentation and discussion about his work, process, and inspiration as a part of ECCA's Community Arts Series.

Joe works with a wide range of materials and techniques to create his work, including metal, plaster, wood, casting, and welding.

Join us for this fascinating look at and inspiring discussion of 3D mediums.

Tuesday January 19th, 6:30-8:30pm, at the Exeter Center for Creative Arts, 30 Linden Street, Exeter, in the Tuck Learning Campus. This event is free and open to the public. For more information call ECCA at 778-8441 or email ecca@rcn.com