Vote for the Newmarket Farmers' Market

WITH YOUR HELP, THEY COULD EARN A CASH PRIZE

Have you been to the Newmarket Farmers' Market yet? (What's that? You hadn't heard that there was a farmer's market here in Newmarket!?! Well, it's been mentioned on my blog a time or two, and you can learn a lot more about it over at Newmarket Happenings, the Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance's blog.) Local farmers and vendors offer a terrific selection of fresh, locally-produced foods—and other great stuff!—every Saturday morning from 9 AM–1 PM (no market on July 4) in the parking lot of the historic Stone Church meeting house. You've got to check it out!

And, of course, if you have been, you already know what a great little market we've got here in town. So I shouldn't have to ask you twice, then, to give them your vote. (Just click on the graphic below.)

Please Vote
By clicking on the graphic (above), you'll be connected to "care2care," an organization who, along with "Local Harvest," is running a contest amongst farmers' markets to promote fresh, local, healthy foods. The winning farmers' market (that is, the one with the most votes) wins a $5,000 cash prize! All you have to do to is give the Newmarket Farmers' Market (Newmarket, NH) your vote. It's quick and painless, with no strings attached—and it could help the Newmarket Farmers' Market to win $5000! Please vote today (and tell your friends)!

Double Daggers

GOTTA LOVE THE GLYPHS, NO. 1

A Beautifully Designed Anicillary Character Gives Me Pause
Yes, it's true, the name of my business, Ampers&® Studio, is centered around, and includes, an ampersand (&) character. Not so surprising. I am, after all, a typographer. And what typographer doesn't love ampersands? I've written about them here.
But in this instance, the letterform giving me pause is that third-order reference mark used in punctuation, a.k.a. the double dagger (‡), pictured here in a graphic I came across on Typography.com. (And isn't it lovely?) The graphic accompanies an article about Reference Marks:
"Daggers come from that archipelago of typographic symbols known as reference marks, which refer readers elsewhere for explanatory or exegetic notes. The traditional first-order reference mark is the asterisk (*)…."
And that, my friends, makes fascinating reading for typography fanatics such as myself (seriously). If you love type, too, you might enjoy reading more from H&FJ News' article, House of Flying Reference Marks, or Quillon & Choil, here.*
A Dire Dagger Dillema
This glyph, in particular, happened to catch my eye because of a situation in a recent project I'd been working on. You see, an asterisk had already been used within the project's text, as had the dagger (the second-order reference mark). So when my client requested to add in a third reference set, I used a double dagger, which is standard operating procedure in typography.
Well, as it happens, the dagger had been used to indicate those deceased individuals mentioned within the text (which, if you think about it, is kind of ironic...). Anyway, to use the double dagger as a reference for a distinguished position held, even though proper, somehow didn't seem right. Further, it was difficult to tell who had been honored and who had passed on! (This would not do at all.) So instead, I threw the rules of typography right out the window (gasp!), and went with a lovely lozenge or diamond (◊), which seems like a much more distinguished mark to use for signifying a distinguished position. So forgive me, my mentors—who taught me the differences between, and proper usage of, EM- EN- and regular ol' dashes—I know the situation called for a double dagger, but "sometimes you just gotta do whatcha gotta do, eh?"
*Check out the asterisked bit at the end of H&FJ's article, an advisory notice from the New Oxford English Dictionary on pronunciation. (Don't you just love it? :)

The Emerald Isle Through an Artist's Eye

INSPIRING WORKS BY INSPIRING ARTISTS, NO. 4

Candace Reed Stella Returns
Only recently returned from a trip to Ireland, local artist-teacher Candace Reed Stella has been inspired—okay, and perhaps challenged a bit, by yours truly when I asked her if she could handle an impromptu show for our upcoming "NH Wines" tasting/educational event ;)—to create a series of small canvases based on her journey. This will be her second solo show here at Ampers&.

How Beautiful!
The brushes must be a-flyin' over at Candace's because in the last couple of weeks she has painted and posted photos of several gorgeous pieces on her blog, that are hauntingly beautiful in their simplicity of palette and capture the true spirit of the Irish countryside perfectly. I've been fortunate to have visited Ireland a few times, and I found my mind pleasantly drifting back over the western coast of Ireland when I saw her new canvases.

Show Opens June 20 (sneak preview on 6/19)
In celebration of summer's arrival, Candace's exhibit officially opens on Saturday, 6/20, from 11-2 PM, with light refreshments offered. This coincides nicely with the grand opening of the Newmarket Farmers' Market (every Sat, 9-1, in the parking lot of the historic Stone Church Meeting House) and the kick-off of the Music on Main Street series—now in its second season (with live music by local musicians, every Sat. through Labor Day, from 11-2 PM at the bandstand downtown).

A sneak preview of Candace's works (and hence, my aforementioned "challenge" to Candace) is afforded those guests who sign up to attend a very special NH Wines wine tasting/educational event, featuring local wine expert Carla Snow, CSW. Click here for more info on Carla's new book: Wine & Dine with New Hampshire, featuring six NH wineries.

The show will run through Thursday, July 2, in the gallery at Ampers&, with weekday hours from 2-6 PM each T, W, & Th afternoon. Hope to see you there!

It's Hip…It's Happenin'…It's Now!

THE 2009 NEWMARKET HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR PORTFOLIO EXHIBITION IS UP AT AMPERS&

Detail of large format painting, by Kendra Mongeon

I'm always amazed by the distinctive change in moods evoked by whatever art hangs on the soaring navy blue walls in my gallery space…. And for one week only (June 4-11, 2009), I'd have to say the feeling in here is decidedly one of energy and youth.

Detail of photo collage, by Kalie Goodwin

The second annual student portfolio review—sponsored by the Lamprey Arts & Culture Alliance (LACA)—is held each year to honor artistically-inclined members of Newmarket HS's graduating class. In addition to showcasing their works—including ceramics, photography, paintings, prints, and charcoals—participating students get a chance to win a $100 check from LACA, towards the purchase of art supplies. This year's lucky winner, selected in a random drawing, was Dana Wergen.

A happy D. Wergen, holding her $100 check,
with art instructor A. Blake

Chock full of colorful, creative expressions by twelve budding artists, this show is truly a feast for the eyes and senses. Participating Seniors include: Danielle Dodds, attending Great Bay Community College to study Liberal Arts/Vet Tech; Kaylie Goodwin, attending New England School of Photography to study Portraiture; Jordan Greenfield, attending University of Vermont to study Nursing, with a minor in Art; Jaclyn Jensen, attending Boston College, with an undeclared major; Kendra Mongeon, attending Great Bay Community College to study Liberal Arts; Emily Roulo, attending the New England Institute of Art to study Graphic Design; James Rosa, attending Marine Maritime Academy to study Marine Engineering; Samantha Scott, attending Great Bay Community College to study Vet Tech, with a minor in Art; Michael Sheehan, attending Great Bay Community College to study Art Education; Emily Small, applying to Emerson College to study Film Production; Danarae Wergen, attending Great Bay Community College; and Lindsey Wood, attending Sage College of Albany to study Graphic Design.

Props must go to Ms. Annette Blake—NHS Art Teacher extraordinaire—and her crew of friendly volunteers who came in on Thursday after school and, in a flurry of activity, worked together to install the show in record time. Last night we held a reception for family, friends, and neighbors, and with over 70 people in attendance, the gallery was a bustling hub of happy, smiling visitors—all gathered together for a pleasant evening of community celebration.

Dont' miss out: stop by next week (open T-W-TH afternoons, from 2-6 PM each day) to check out these talented students' artwork—and be inspired!

At the reception, on June 4th