What’s New at The Art Place

By Sarah Wright

The Lakes Region is full of beautiful scenery any time of the year. Many visitors and residents bring that natural beauty back to their homes with amazing artwork created by local artists. It’s no surprise the scenic vistas that surround us inspire artists to pick up their paintbrushes and cameras to capture a single, breathtaking moment. The Art Place in downtown Wolfeboro always has lovely artwork on display, and also takes care of custom matting and framing for their many customers. (I had a painting framed by The Art Place a few years ago, and I was delighted to see all of their various framing options.)

The Art Place represents local and New England artists, and you can find a sampling of the artwork currently available, as well as artist biographies on the gallery’s website at www.theartplace.biz. One of their most popular featured artists is the very talented Peter Ferber, who unveiled his latest original paintings in a gallery show over the summer at The Art Place. On September 28, customers were delighted to watch him in action when he gave an art demonstration at the gallery. If you’re not yet familiar with Peter Ferber, his paintings are inspired by the rural New Hampshire landscape that he first experienced as a child spending his summers in Wolfeboro. Simple things like the evening light sparkling across a lake, the purity of a white barn in the snow, and the patina of a weathered boathouse, warm Peter’s heart. His illustrations have appeared in national magazines as well as in books. He’s also exhibited in many shows throughout New England and the Midwest, and had more than 40 reproductions made of his work. It’s no wonder The Art Place has sold countless prints of his pieces!

Another notable artist whose work is currently on display is Christine Knight Coombs. Her award-winning watercolors feature rural scenes of lakes, woods, people, and animals. She has also illustrated children’s books and covers for national sporting magazines and catalogs, such as Down East Books. Christine says, “In my paintings, I wish to document the beauty of the moment. Within that moment is a story. It may be a story that reminds the viewer of a well-known or forgotten feeling, or it may be a story that he or she may wish to escape. For all who experience my paintings, I hope to provide inner nourishment, renewal, and reconnection with the beauty within them and around them.”

There are also beautiful watercolors on display by artist Denise Patchell Olson. She was a popular local artist, known for her paintings of countryside settings with a Martha’s Vineyard look. After she passed away, her daughter found some of her mother’s original artwork in storage, and wanted to share it by featuring the pieces in a show at The Art Place. Much of the inspiration for Denise Patchell Olson’s paintings came from her travels throughout historic New England. They speak to both the reality and fantasy that is the American small town. Her artwork has been exhibited in over 75 shops and galleries across the United States, and purchased by international collectors.

If you enjoy photography, there are some amazing photographs on display by Bob Ness. Capturing the beauty of every season, his colorful photographs will inspire you. Bob Ness traces his interest in photography back to high school, although he didn’t pursue this interest until the end of his college years when he began to capture scenes of the world around him. Wolfeboro and other regional delights serve as both model and muse for his art. Many are drawn to the intricate details of his work, like the shapes and lines in the photos.

If you’re a fan of fall foliage (who isn’t?), you’ll want to see the photos on display by John Geery. His photographs beautifully capture the vibrant colors of the season, while also showing the softness of autumn scenery. I can easily get lost in his photos, and wish I could transport myself to those places. Originally an easterner, John returned to New England in 1984, after nine years of living out west. He was initially concerned that the east wouldn’t be as photographically inspiring as the grandiose west. He soon discovered that while totally different, the great diversity of seasons and intimacy of the eastern landscape quickly won him over.

Other featured artists include Plein Air painter Madelyne Albee; Valerie Schurer Christle, who works with different media; self-proclaimed “outsider” artist Tim Campbell; traditional painter Eric Koeppel; Charlene Lehto, who paints with oil and watercolors; pen and ink artist Gene Matras; watercolorist Helene Pierce; Lauren Sansaricq, a White Mountain School of Art painter; and Corina Willette, who works with mixed media. Visitors to the gallery will also enjoy WaterMark Maps, created by Concord artist, Morgan Walton. She originally started her business with her father when she was a senior in high school, and since then, she has created maps of over 350 locations. Some of them, like her map of Lake Winnipesaukee (which includes all 262 islands), took quite some time to create. The detail that Morgan captures with her watercolors is unmatched.

There are other maps and charts available at The Art Place. A popular seller at the gallery are laser-cut, “reverse relief” wood charts. These framed maps show the depth and height of the landscape through layers of stacked, precisely cut wooden pieces. The maps feature popular local destinations like Lake Winnipesaukee, Boston Harbor, Sebago Lake in Maine, and Cape Cod, among others. Customers also really enjoy the wooden cribbage boards, featuring a carved Lake Winnipesaukee design. 

In the summer season, The Art Walk events are popular and well-attended Wolfeboro events. Hosted by the Governor Wentworth Arts Council (GWAC), the Art Walk is a self-guided tour of galleries and other art locations in Wolfeboro including The Studio Gallery, The Kalled Gallery, The Art Place, Artisans Corner, The Sandy Martin Gallery, Winnipesaukee Chocolates, and The Connelly Gallery as well as Northeastern Ballet Theatre Studio. Although the season has ended, you can still support the arts year-round by visiting any of these featured local businesses.

The Art Place is located at 9 North Main Street and is open year-round. For further information, visit www.theartplace.biz or call 603-569-6159 (toll-free at 866-569-6159).