New Hampton School organizes art exhibit 'Between Time'

NEW HAMPTON — The exhibit “Between Time” will be on display in New Hampton School’s Galletly Gallery through Thursday, Feb. 26. The public is invited to a reception for the artists on Thursday, Feb. 12, 5:30-7 p.m., with a ‘snow date’ of Thursday, Feb. 26.

Charlie Smith, Mary Grehan, and Amy Wilson all teach full-time in the visual and performing arts department at New Hampton School. The work in this exhibit represents their current, personal investigations. As full-time teaching artists who also have families, they are always looking for the interstitial moments when they can work creatively. The work in this exhibit was created in these in-between moments, some series over days, and some series developing over years.

Grehan’s work in this exhibit includes three different series of drawings and mixed media illustrations, in various stages of completion.

“The work that I am showing reflects the complexities of life over the last 10 years. When I was younger, I prioritized work in the classroom and studio,” she said. “However, as I progressed in the game of life and my little plastic car filled up with more people and responsibilities, my art practice took a series of ‘two steps forward, one step back’ dance moves. This work represents my finding ways to create through the last era, and a shift back to studio work after a long time identifying primarily as a photographer.”

Grehan completed her masters of education in art education at Plymouth State University and began teaching high school art in southwestern NH. Moving to California in 2001, she continued teaching and making art in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sonoma County. During her career, Grehan has taught a wide array of media in public and private schools, mentored student teachers and written curriculum for the DeYoung Museum’s education department.

Smith works in ceramics. He has been teaching for 16 years and is currently earning his masters in fine arts from Clark University.

“In my current practice, I am exploring the deconstruction of masculine archetypes, the blurring of online and offline selves, the isolating effects of social media/the internet, and the systemic challenges of navigating different social structures and environments,” Smith said. “Using pop and internet cultural imagery, domestic and historical references, and autobiographical elements, my ceramic work employs a semi realistic aesthetic while also incorporating found objects and abstractions. I am interested in the liminal space that exists between places, objects and time and the how our lived experiences, relationships, and identities are shaped by these factors, as well as how our digital lives are impacted by these physical realities.”

Wilson is a painter and photographer. Her work in this exhibit features wet cyanotypes.

“My work reflects my sense of wonder and reverence for the natural world —especially water, the play of light, and the organic forms of plants,” she said.

She believes creating and sharing beauty is more important now than ever. Wilson’s cyanotypes and paintings are held in private collections throughout New England. For more than 35 years she has taught art in independent schools. She is currently the director of visual and performing arts, a visual arts teacher, and the director of Galletly Gallery at New Hampton School in New Hampshire.

This exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 to 11 a.m.   For more information, visit newhampton.org.