New Solo Shows At Seacoast Artist Association In January

EXETER, NH — “I decided I was an artist in 7th grade. I’ve been creating since then,” says Lisa McManus about her solo show “Peaceful Places” opening on Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Seacoast Artist Association in downtown Exeter.

“I spend the most time making oil paintings, watercolors, and craft jewelry, but digital art and other crafts, like knitting or origami, can take over my agenda at times. What they all have in common is my continuous urge to put things together in unique ways. The paintings excite my thinking and challenge me to make art that goes beyond my emotions or impulses; I accept the challenge of technique; I wonder about the meaning of art. The crafts satisfy my need to shape ordinary materials into items of interest or surprise and connect me to family and tradition. I attended Parsons School of Design and spent a semester in the Delaware Water Gap, plein air painting. It was a turning point in my artmaking. The landscape became alive to me, a constant shifting of plants, weather, and forces. Every look at a tree or object or space generates immediate thoughts of how to share the wonder and awe inspired in me. The sky is a source of peace, the reflections and shadows are sources of intrigue. Mists, fog, and snow are my favorites because there’s no limit to the colors I can use. Dark fascinates me because of what hides in it. Pushing and pulling objects in space, hiding and revealing, and finding the shape of light - this is why I keep painting.”

Steve Carr is an artist in Newburyport, Massachusetts, who began painting when he retired from full time work in 2018. He initially worked in watercolors and acrylics, but since 2020 has been primarily working in oil.

His show, “A Glimpse of My World,” includes a winter outdoor still life “Ice Coated Milkweed,” an imaginary harbor scene “A Harbor in the Artist’s Mind,” and limited view from an attic window “A View from the Attic.” “I have enjoyed moving my subject matter away from water and boats of all sizes and shapes to more land based and architectural settings. I mostly paint from photographs in my home studio. Often before starting a painting, I will sketch the subject with pen. This helps me solidify the composition and understand how the light is falling on the subject.” In addition to being a member of the Seacoast Artist Association, Steve is a member of the Newburyport Art Association and the American Society of Marine Artists. His paintings have been exhibited in numerous NAA Juried, Holiday and Selected Artist Shows, the Seacoast Artist Association, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Newburyport Artist and Culture Shanties, the Boothbay Region Art Foundation, the Exeter Inn, the Lamont Gallery at Phillips Exeter Academy, All Saints Parish (Brookline, MA) and the Cambridge Boat Club Steve lives in Newburyport with his wife Kate and their two West Highland Terriers. When he is not painting, he is the Assistant Boy’s Crew Coach at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Both Body of Work shows run through Sunday, January 26th. Meet the artists at the Seacoast Artist Association’s regular Second Friday reception January 10th, 5-7PM, where you can enjoy refreshments while listening to music by the popular Seacoast duo Green Heron featuring Betsy Heron on fiddle, banjo and vocals, and Scott Heron on guitar, banjo and vocals. The music of Green Heron stretches across the entire folk landscape. Old-time, folk, bluegrass, country, Celtic and blues music are all represented as the band brings the back porch to the stage. Parking in downtown Exeter is free.

Submitted by the Seacoast Artist Association.