Removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life, the Monadnock Region is an escape for artists to focus on their craft and be one with the beauty of nature. Many prolific and award-winning artists keep their studios here, and many arrange visits by appointment!
What kinds of studios could you visit in the Monadnock region? Famous portrait painter Richard Whitney works and resides at his Studios at Crescent Pond in Stoddard. In Swanzey, watermedia painter Jeanee Maguire Thieme works and teaches in her home’s Pipe Dream Studio. Dreamy oil painter of the natural world Alicia Drakiotes established her base in Marlborough. In the same town, Mary Iselin paints her luminous equine, landscape, and fantasy oil paintings, often lovingly depicting the sheep from her very own Earth Haven Farm. In Jaffrey, painter and installation artist Joan Hanley draws inspiration from contemplating contemporary life in her Hanley Studio. Maggie Cahoon, who crafts encapsulating abstract works from fiber, alcohol ink, and encaustics, has a warm, quiet straw-bale nook in Marlow that she calls her Studio-Sanctuary. Once a furniture-maker, painter Chris Myott applies this expertise and his unique oil paint and wax process to depicting objects close to his heart. A visit to his studio in Jaffrey might uncover dinosaurs, plants, motorcycles, baseball cards – all in handmade frames! And this is just a small list of artists you could visit!
Right in the heart of downtown Keene are the 17ROX artist studios, rented by all kinds of artists, from painters to jewelry makers to fascinating fiber artists. There is also a fantastic concentration of artists studios at the Historic Harrisville Mills.
This region is also an inspiring destination for artists from around the country and the globe. MacDowell, an artist residency program based in Peterborough, welcomes hundreds of artists each year to focus on their craft. The organization offers exclusive fellowships to architects, filmmakers, visual and interdisciplinary arts, writers, musicians and composers, and playwrights purely on the basis of talent. Though reclusive, the renowned organization welcomes the public to view their 31 uniquely-built artist studios for one day per year only – in the summer on MacDowell Medal Day.
And of course, secluded lone studios are not all the region has to offer in terms of the arts. Many local artists open up their studios for one of two annual art tours over Columbus Day Weekend: The Monadnock Art Open Studio Tour and the Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour. These self-guided excursions to dozens of working studios across the region – during peak leaf-peeping season, no less – bring tourists from all over the New England area and beyond! Monadnock region artists and artisans also come together to showcase their creativity and excellence in local art festivals including Art in the Park in Peterborough in July and in Keene in September, and Elevate the Arts Fest in Keene. Look out for a sea of white tents to explore countless unique works and wares!
