TOUR THE WALLS OF FREEDOM GALLERY FOR ART & SPIRIT, LLC

WHAT ARE GALLERIES FOR?

Before I even moved into the property at 8 Elm Street, I intended to set up "My Great White Barn" as a gallery, but it's history, after barn and carriage house, had included a seasonal gallery, traditional site of the Freedom Old Home Week lawn party, and three years of housing "Freedom Rings in the Holidays" crafts fair which was forced by NH winter weather, to move to warmer quarters in Town Hall.

Peg Scully's Wall

As an artist myself, I knew my great white barn was destined to be a gallery, and my studio, but what else? What are galleries for? First thought is for selling art, yes, of course...but if it were only for  people looking to buy art, it would be a lonely empty place.

A gallery is also for looking and learning! Art broadens our perspectives, soothes us, stimulates us, increases our awareness of the worlds around us.  A business name for my gallery kept parading through my mind. Freedom Gallery for ART & SPIRIT?

WHAT THE YOGA CLASSES SEE and FEEL
Spirit? Where did that fit into Art Galleries?

Terri Brooks' Wall

As the Freedom yoga teacher, a seemingly unconnected thought was, "A warm gallery closer to home than Town Hall? Of course, try it...and so I moved my yoga classes to the Gallery once it was heated. It's been a success. Class participants have commented that the paintings and photographs definitely add to the ambiance. They love Yoga in the Gallery! Of course they do. Art adds! That's why we visit museums...not to buy, but to see, to experience! 

Part of Joe Viger's Wall

These thumb nails show the gallery in miniature. They all look better up close and you don't have to join yoga to see what the yoga class sees*. Visit the gallery, in person, 10-3 Sat, 11:30-3 Sunday, or call 610-762-2493 to make an appointment!  We love to share our art, and we welcome visitors, by appointments or as drop-ins.
(*FYI Yoga is open for all levels, M&Th 3:45 & 6, Tues 10:30)

Sarah Tabor's Wall

Barbara McEvoy's Wall

Nancy Griffin's Wall

Joel Rhymer's Wall

THE NEXT STEPS? Don't miss out!

What more can we do with this wonderful space, besides thanking the artists for sharing their work. The answer is, Gallery Talks, but, since art and spirit are visual and active, as well as discussable, we have set up a series of experiential programs where you can come to look, listen, learn and, yes,  "Do something!" "Participate."


STARTING THIS WEEK We've planned free gallery events for the second and fourth Fridays. Join us for one or more. 

Friday February 7, two separate times, 1-2:30 and 6-8:30
     "Journaling: More than you ever imagined " Bring a notebook 8 1/2 by 11, and pens.
      Call Barbara with questions and to let her know you are coming to assure seating.

Friday February 23, two separate times, 1-2:30 and 6-8,  "Good-bye Winter, Hello Spring"  Exhibit opening with artists telling stories behind some of their works.

Friday March 9, 6-8  "Here's Looking at You"   Interactive Demonstration
Gallery Artist Peg Scully will be painting a portrait with a model on hand, and discuss what she is looking at, seeing, and doing as she paints. Artists can bring pencil and sketch pad if they want to try their hand at pencil portraits. 

Friday March 23, 6-8 PM  "Seeing With a Photographer's Eye" 
Gallery Photographer Joel Rhymer will present a power point explaining what makes some photos more appealing than others. Bring one or two photo's of your own to share, talk about, and/or critique.

Friday April 13, 6-8 "Walking the town with a Camera"  

Gallery Photographer Joe Viger will guide you on a short walk, giving photo tips, and return to the gallery for interactive discussion where we can share. Bring your camera phones!

Friday April 27 6-8  "Your Turn"
     Bring a favorite poem to read, one of your own, or just come to listen to other perspectives. 

As community events, you are welcome to BYOB and/or a snack. Seating is somewhat limited, so BYOC (floor pillow, camp chair) or call Barbara to let her know you'll need a chair and it will be provided. (Call 610-762-2493)

GRAND OPENING of FREEDOM GALLERY for ART & SPIRIT

Plenty of room for paintings, plenty of room for visitors, plenty of food...

It happened! It really happened! 
October 21 was the grand opening of Freedom Gallery for Art & Spirit, LLC!
(Yes, that WAS a while ago, but when a baby is born, we are often busier than we realize, and Freedom Gallery has been, still is, my baby! )
But, late being said, it still needs to be said...What a wonderful village Freedom is. 
A general announcement and invitation went out and the town showed up bringing the party with them! The giving spirit here in the Village is remarkable, everyone ready to celebrate. Thank you, thank you...

and drink...

and conversation...

Plenty to look at and admire,
from local  award winning artists. 

The many compliments on the rehabbing were both noted and appreciated. Thank you again! ..Intent was to keep as many "barn aspects" as possible, but to have plenty of "hanging space" in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Notice the "new" ceiling" accents the very old beams, (probably pre 1865) as well as some of the side supports. 

The slider (at rear of photo to right) is an efficient gallery entrance, heat wise, that also allows the original barn door to show through, when we need heat. (Thank you Ed Boyer, for that design idea) while providing excellent gallery space on the ledge above. Old floors were sanded and urethaned, old unsafe stairs replaced, etc. 

Old Glass was maintained in the original windows, but a second layer of inset glass both protects the windows and provides insulation. As an unheated barn originally, it was necessary to essentially build a shell within the shell. In fact, the details of what went in to this "final" show place are too numerous to mention, which probably explains why visitors coming in expect a barn and almost always express surprise. Come and see for yourself!

Friends, Ray Desmarais, the coordinating contractor of this undertaking,
and his artist wife, Joyce are enjoying the exhibit. 

It is indeed a "Fine Arts Gallery" as several guests have commented,  and many thanks go to Ray Desmarais contractor, his son Steve, and his group of workers for a job exceedingly well done.

If you missed the opening and have been meaning to stop by, do so please.
Gallery hours are Saturday 10 to 3 and Sunday 11:30 to 3:30, 
BUT if you are in town or passing through, the gallery phone number is on the sign out front. 
Don't hesitate to call the number. Or make an appointment. Whether I'm in my home or my studio, I'll be glad to show off the gallery and its' artists' works. 

Remember, a Gallery isn't for selling, (though no-one complains if you buy), it's for enjoying someone else's perspective and broadening your own as well.

We're located at 8 Elm Street, Freedom, NH...Next to the church and opposite the Village Store!

Stay tuned, follow the blog. Next installment will tell about the fine art artists and feature their works. 


Check out my artist blog, Barbara McEvoy, Artist.blogspot.com, and my website Barbara Mcevoy, Artist of White Mountain Scenes

FREEDOM GALLERY: Upstairs, Downstairs

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS, WALLS AND DOORS

Upstairs

A phrased often used to describe the development of a New England home site is,"Big house, little house, back house, barn...You can't travel far in New England without seeing the big house, little house, back house, barn...with the barn often connected to the big house.   

As the rehabbing progresses, I find myself thinking, upstairs, downstairs, walls and doors.


 
Upstairs (actually 2/3's of the upstairs) is being dry walled, both walls and ceiling, with the second floor and stairwell insulated and heated separately from the downstairs. Drywalls, taping and sizing are in process. Insulation has been blown in, or fiberglassed, varying with the situation.
Retrofitting barns with insulation wasn't something anyone thought about 30 or 50 years ago.

Downstairs will have a different look. Ceiling beams are maintained and a second "shell" of barn wood creates the inside wall, hiding the insulation. 

Downstairs

Because effectively insulating barn doors and old windows with old glass is difficult if not impossible, several strategies are being used. Window frames are insulated and thermal "interior" storm windows will be installed. The glass next to the open barn door, pictured above, is ready and waiting. 

Of the four sets of barn doors visible from the exterior, the two middle sets will be hidden inside behind insulation and walls...a gallery needs hanging space.


The far end will be left as is, operating as garage doors, and the near end will be left working and visible from the interior, but a thermal 8 foot slider will be inset with  a narrow shelf above it reaching to the ceiling. The structure for the slider is also visible above.

Details waiting!

The garage portion still holds some of the details...rennai waiting to be installed and several doors, furniture displaced, waiting to return.

And so, the Great White Barn is shifting with the times, entering the fifth phase of her life since 1865. Neither connected nor close to my house, by New England standards, she started smaller, was doubled in size towards the back, with her loft out the back and her barn door in the front,  either connected to or very close to the Merritt House which was moved out of town and has since burned down.

At some time after the property switched hands, The Great White Barn became a carriage house with four sets of doors on the side, as pictured to the left.

With Mary Hockmeyer, the barn took on the new role of gallery and meeting place with some fun parties as well, accompanied by an old player piano. And, also started with Mary, the Old Home Week Annual Lawn Party.
Barn, bigger barn, carriage house, gallery and meeting place, and fifth phase, winterized gallery, meeting place for continued fun activities Times change...

No official opening date yet, but aiming for mid-October with an exhibit of regional art...White Mountain Landscapes, Townscapes, Lakescapes! And of course Freedom Rings in the Holidays.  Classes, yoga, and creative workshops in the new year.

FREEDOM GALLERY, NH

IT WASN'T EVEN A DREAM

One of the first things I noticed when I drove into Freedom was the Great White Barn with an accompanying antique cape, sitting next to the church and across from the Village Store. Wistfully I thought, "Wouldn't it be great?" without even finishing the sentence. 

That was June 2010. In June of 2016 I moved into the the cape and started making plans for winterizing a section of the barn for my studio, and of course planning to use a major part of the barn as a gallery,
FREEDOM GALLERY...that's what the sign out front indicated.  Perfect!

The advice is common, live in a place for a year before making changes...get to know it. But the annual Freedom Old Home Week Lawn Party was held on the lawn my "new" old house, and I couldn't let the opportunity pass. Four other Freedom Artists and myself used the main room of the barn for a gallery. And then there was "Freedom Rings in the Holiday," just before Thanksgiving. Fortunately the weather was mild. With a little wine to warm our blood, and a few electric heaters, strategically placed so not to flip the circuit breakers, we were warm enough.

But such a beautiful big barn! Seeing it every time I walked out my front door, my head and heart were saying, "It needs to have more than an occasional exhibit/sale." And so it will!

I envision a busy, bustling place, not only for use as a gallery/sales room, but also a place for classes of varied sorts, throughout the year. 

Visit us at 8 Elm Street (next to the church) and http://freedomgallerynh.blogspot.com

We expect to be open for Ducky Day, June 24; FreedomOldHomeWeek July 28- 5.


Watch for the Grand Opening  of MY GREAT WHITE BARN in Sept or Oct
Meanwhile, if you're looking for a landscape, (my speciality),  viewing is available by chance or by appointment. (610-762-2493) or e-mail me at barbaramcevoy@me.com.

Check my website, barbaramcevoyartist.com
 and my other blog at barbaramcevoyartist.blogspot.com