New Hampshire
Folklife in New Hampshire

Exhibitions of folk and traditional arts are a way to see and learn about our heritage up close. Over the years, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts has contributed to and sponsored several exhibits:

The cover of the Sur Bois catalog features Carving Boy by Louis St. Gelais of Lanconia, NH. Photo by Gary Samson.

The cover of the Sur Bois catalog features "Carving Boy" by Louis St. Gelais of Lanconia, NH. Photo by Gary Samson.

A poster from the exhibit featured Dancing Limberjack Twins by Maine artist Fred Légère. Photo by Gary Samson.

A poster from the exhibit featured "Dancing Limberjack Twins by Maine artist Fred Légère. Photo by Gary Samson.

SurBois: Franco-American Woodcarvers of Northern New England A project of the Franco-American CENTRE Franco-Américan, produced in 1996. Curated by Winnie Lambrecht, Folk Arts Coordinator, Rhode Island Arts Council. Accompanied by a 48-page catalog with various contributors. Photos by Gary Samson and other contributors.

The exhibit focused upon traditional Franco-American woodcarvers living in three states that share a border with Canada -- Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The exhibit featured work representing 44 traditional woodcarvers. It opened at the Franco-American CENTRE Manchester, New Hampshire in 1996 before traveling to several other locations in New England.

Deeply Rooted: New Hampshire Traditions in Wood A project of the Art Gallery and the Center for the Humanities at the University of New Hampshire, produced in 1997. Curated by Jill Linzee, Traditional Arts Coordinator, New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. (1993-1997) Accompanied by 54-page catalog written by Jill Linzee and Michael P. Chaney, with an introduction by Burt Feintuch. Photographs by Gary Samson.

Deeply Rooted

This exhibit focused upon the heritage working in the woods and wood crafts in New Hampshire. It featured the work of five traditional craftsmen: ash basketmaker Newt Washburn, boat builder Jeff Fogman, decoy carver Fred Dolan, dog sled maker Jeff Johnson, and fiddle maker Marcel Robidas. The exhibit opened at the Art Gallery of the University of New Hampshire, Durham in October, 1997.

 

 

 





Explore New Hampshire for exhibits of local traditions!

Check out listings in local newspapers, or the events calendar sponsored by Dept of Resoureces & Economic Development Division of Travel & Tourism.

Exhibits are also presented in New Hampshire at agricultural fairs, historical societies, and libraries.

Photo credits
Left: Photographer - Gary Samson  |  Subject: The cover of the Deeply Rooted exhibit featured curly maple fiddles made by Walter Godet
Right: Photographer - Gary Samson  |  Subject: The front is piece of the catalog featured the inside of a boat by Jeffrey Fogman