Gallery: Click on images to enlarge
MANCHESTER, NH – The city’s underground arts movement found a temporary home for a pop-up artists’ collective at the Jewel Night Club for a one-night celebration of local art, artisans and music.
The former dance club is under new ownership, and opened its doors Feb. 22 for artist Carolina Davidson and her non-profit Eclectic Avenue, for a chance to showcase some of the city’s aspiring artists – from music and fine art, to hand-hewn object of art, jewelry and other creations as part of the inaugural Community Arts Jam.
It’s something Davidson believes strongly in, and something she plans to continue on a regular basis, to build momentum for the city’s burgeoning underground arts community.
“It’s about artists helping artists,” said Davidson, who has “gone mobile” with Eclectic Avenue, after giving up her lease in a more industrial gallery space last year.
She believes it is the right move for bolstering the city’s underground arts movement, which is growing and thriving, a collective of musicians and artists who have a common interest in promoting the joy of art, for art’s sake.
“The goal is to keep momentum going with similar pop-up events around the city, focused on parks and other public spaces,” says Davidson. She’s hoping to continue to collaborate with other organizations and city entities to make public art front and center.
“Anyplace we can go, that’s where we want to be,” she says.
Among other things in the works, she says she’s planning for a summer “Bob Ross” event, to celebrate the quirky yet beloved – and dearly departed – artist-in-residence of the public TV program, “The Joy of Painting,” replete with Bob Ross wigs and the menagerie of “critters” he so loved.
“Yes, we’re working on planning a Bob Ross Day at one of the city parks. There will be lots of afros and painting, for sure,” says Davidson.
As the city continues to identify itself as a hub of new wave arts and culture, Davidson looks forward to growing Eclectic Avenue at a time when the city can use a respite from things like drug addiction and aimlessness.
“I volunteer at the methadone clinic, doing art,” says Davidson, whose vision for Eclectic Avenue includes becoming a haven for everyone from young people at loose ends, to people in recovery from drugs and alcohol, who find some release in self-expression and the kind of creative outlet only art therapy can provide.
“The arts can be such a healing force,” says Davidson.
You can follow Eclectic Avenue on Facebook.
Participating artists included:
- Dani Schmidt, who specializes in tiny paintings and is working on a series of paintings based on her selfies, featured on her Instagram at @myrandomcat
- Eric Harty of 2nd Chance Metal Art, on Instagram @2ndchancemetalart and Etsy, at 2ndChanceMetalArt
- Carrie Benavides, of Manchester – face painter and fine art
- Linda Feinberg, of Manchester, who delved into art in her mid-50s and 20 years later, is loving life, creating fine art, greeting cards, prints and poetry (www.amazon.com/author/lindafeinberg)
- Chi Chi Love of Weare, an experimental artist
- Dave Dixon, who has done a series of paintings exploring how human movement and competition intersect (MMartworks on Facebook)
- Hajrija Kovacevic, who makes Totes Awesome handcrafted tote bags from scraps of material she collects from her day job
- Colby Lynch of Creations by Colby, a variety of handcrafted blown glass items
