hanging out hanging up

hanging out hanging up, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Sorry for the lack of posts - but it's been a busy one. So much fun with Amy Ruppel and Lisa Congdon in the past two days here in NH! Hanging the show and heading out for an auction over in Concord last night took up blogging time *happily* and so ... here is a shot of the work part of that time. Amy was a huge help with most everything and a super fun person to have around.

Today finishing touches going on and then we are going to do a little podcasting. That will be fun as well... I will present that here early next week so keep your eye on this spot! Until then, stop by tonight to see this fun fabulous New England show filled with beautiful iconic interpretations of our part of the world. It's smashing. 5 to 7 p.m. tonight. Do come! Directions here!

Portable Pantry in downtown Rochester!

lemon squares - my favs

yum

the case of deserts

friendly staff!

eat outside if the weather lets you!

stroll down to Hanson Street
We have been waiting for a nice little cafe to pop up downtown ... and it did! Susan over at the Portable Pantry had a booming business out in Northwood and a year ago made the move to Hanson Street right around the corner from artstream. All I can say is simply go. Her breakfasts are divine, her lunches are filled with fresh - fresh -fresh and as one who can't say no all the time to desert, well, she fills the bill there too. Friendly staff, and a little place to eat outside if the weather is allowing that. Ah, the coffee - Carpe Diem! (not that I drink coffee, but just sayin) So get on over to Hanson Street in downtown Rochester and have yourself a gourmet sandwich or bowl of homemade soup! My personal fav is the roasted tomato soup. If you go to her website you can see the menu and sign up for the lunch menus to be sent directly to you. Temptation! The deserts range from large home made cookies to sinfully rich cupcakes and scones. Just go. And don't forget her take out freezer. All sorts of dinners and extras to go!

Susan also hosts some dinner time events at her wonderful cafe - check in with her website or get on her list to be informed of the delightful once a month fun!

Fragmentary Blue an exhibit for April

green vase by Kim Westad

lisa congdon's drawings

at artstream we are getting quite geared up for our next show with Lisa Congdon and Kim Westad. Here are the beautiful drawings (tiny but each one packs a punch!) which we are unpacking this afternoon!
Everything from the show is on the shop right here!

Spring!

Happy Monday from super sunny NH! Lots of yardwork done this weekend (see our forsythia we are forcing?) along with much painting and work on a variety of projects. We are prepping the studio for our next show with Lisa Congdon and Kim Westad so will be leaving you with these links to peruse the work and at 5 tonight you can go to pre-purchase your favorite pieces! A few are already spoken for so don't lallygag!

Lisa Congdon- sapbuckets

Lisa Congdon- sapbuckets, originally uploaded by artstreamstudios.

Yep. It's that time again ... and this newest painting by Lisa Congdon just really sums it up. It's maple sugaring time! And time for a new exhibition!
Please join us on Friday, April 9th from 5-7 p.m. to celebrate the opening of "Fragmentary Blue" an exhibition of San Francisco artist Lisa Congdon's paintings and drawings. Along with Lisa's work we will be introducing sculptural functional porcelain ware by Kim Westad of the Bronx.

About the show in Lisa's words:
Why make so much of fragmentary blue In here and there a bird, or butterfly, Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye, When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue? Since earth is earth, perhaps, not heaven (as yet) Though some savants make earth include the sky; And blue so far above us comes so high, It only gives our wish for blue a whet. -“Fragmentary Blue” -Robert Frost, New Hampshire, 1923 Fragmentary Blue is an homage to New England, a place that San Francisco artist Lisa Congdon has grown to revere since she first visited in 2005. Like many before her, Lisa is drawn to its rich colors, expanses of thick forest, old signage, kind people, starkly different seasons and vast coastline. She dreams almost daily about building a very small dwelling in some small New England town in the woods and living alone there for periods of time to draw and paint everything around her. The show will include 25 paintings and 25 drawings.

All the work will be available for preview at our shop and available for purchase beginning April 5th. Visit our site for more info: www.artstreamstudios.com

Saturday - Sunglassees People

Daughter Grace is in Rennes France this year studying. She has a couple of blogs. One is about her adventures in studying and living in France. The other is Sunglasses People. It's an adventure in meeting people during her travels and asking them to wear her sunglasses and let her snap a shot. Go take a peek at her posts so far and leave her some love. It's a pretty sweet idea. Go Grace!

What April brings ...

happy happy birthday mom! her cake we celebrated last night... recipe at http://www.weekdayfood.blogspot.com

i just adore scaffolding. no idea why. rusty metal perhaps?

plaster disaster!

Kim Westad's spring green vase

from Lisa Congdon
Oh April, how we have waited for you! Through the rains and pains of March we (not so quietly) waited. Boo hiss March -- yay! April. We are in the construction mode at the moment at the gallery. Repairs on the old girl (she's 106 now) are underway before our new exhibit opens next week: Fragmentary Blue by Lisa Congdon and new porcelain by Kim Westad. It's also my mother's birthday today so there is just so much to celebrate. Remember to go out and enjoy the sunshine, be happy and plant a flower. It's time!