Public Art raises shopping to a new level at Settlers Green

Public Art Meets Outlet Shopping at Settlers Green

Elevating the outlet experience with locally created public art pieces

North Conway, NH – The first stores have completed their build-outs and are opening on schedule at Settlers Green Streetside, the newest retail and restaurant expansion of Settlers Green in North Conway, NH. Full occupancy and the official Grand Opening, “Dancing in the Street” is set for mid-October and will feature events, live music, dancing and the unveiling of several pieces of custom art created for the outlet center by well-known and lesser-known New England artists. To not only appeal to Mt Washington Valley, NH visitors and shoppers but also add to the beauty of this setting, Settlers Green Streetside will feature a number of custom and commissioned artworks by Northern New England artists. The one-of-a-kind collection of public art will be sprinkled throughout the entire center. When added to the existing play areas, music park, multiple dining options, award winning gardens and unique events already featured in the center, the 300,000 square foot center now becomes even more of a regional attraction and retail destination.

After sending an RFP to New England artists in early 2017, the developers spent months collecting and reviewing proposals for the addition of tens of thousands of dollars in custom and commissioned public art for the center. While shopping is always the primary focus, at Settlers Green the new artworks are intended to bring "shoptainment" and a sense of discovery and delight for the customer. That the new art reflects the beauty of the natural surroundings is no accident.

“We have long recognized that part of our success as well as our strength is tied directly to how our customers appreciate not just the shopping and brands, but also the entire shopping experience,” commented Dot Seybold, General Manager of Settlers Green. “Public art is often a dynamic and enriching encounter on its own; experiencing it while shopping will be delightful surprise to our visitors and shoppers,” she commented. “In addition, today’s consumer has a strong interest in discovering local treasures. Adding stores to Settlers Green is just one piece of creating a successful shopping experience here. Creating an experience, tied to our surroundings, is also an important part of our mission,” finished Seybold who maintains that they’ve successfully added a new attraction to the Mt Washington Valley community with the new Streetside artwalk.

The new public art pieces have just started to appear, with the first being created on site and more are underway. The largest piece, a granite sculpture, is in the works for delivery in the next year.

Well known for their creative marketing and promotional events, the Settlers Green team is committed to elevating the shopping experience to new levels with playscapes, photo opportunities, unique landscaping and custom streetscapes both in the existing mall and the new expansion. Plans are also in the works to add a unique spa experience designed just for shoppers and a new cafe to offer an artisan coffee experience.

Settlers Green will welcome the stores at Settlers Green Streetside with a Grand Opening Celebration, entitled Dancing in the Street, October 10-15, 2017. Dancing In The Street will include a full line-up of musical themed events, community celebrations, shopping specials, art unveilings, giveaways and more. For a complete schedule of Grand Opening events, click here. To learn more about Settlers Green and its new Streetside expansion, visit www.SettlersGreen.com. To learn about the Streetside Art Project launch, click here. For a map of Settlers Green, including the new Streetside addition, click here.

Over 500,000 square feet of North Conway retail centers, including Settlers Green, Settlers Crossing and Settlers Corner are developed and managed by OVP Management, Inc. a Newton, Massachusetts based company with management offices in North Conway. For more information please contact General Manager, Dot Seybold at dot or for leasing information please contact Robert M. Barsamian at RMB. Additional details about the shopping centers located in North Conway, NH is available at Settlersgreen.com or OVPManagement.com.

ARTISTS PROFILES AND ARTWORKS

Two Joyful Dancers, sculpture by Dale Rogers, Haverhill, MA

The first art piece to arrive at the Streetside Art Walk is entitled Two Joyful Dancers, created by Dale Rogers. Created from Cor-Ten, a weathering steel, this piece communicates the joy of two dancers, and can’t help but provide the ideal encouragement for shoppers poised to begin their outlet shopping adventure.

Dale Rogers is a full-time metal sculptor from Haverhill, MA. Rogers designs both large-scale sculptures for individual and private collections, plush temporary and permanent public exhibits featuring multiple pieces. Dale’s interest in art started at a young age. His skill in welding and working with metal grew out of necessity when he taught himself to repair equipment on his family’s farm. “My love for art lies in abstract geometrics, and much of my body of work encompasses the clean simple properties of that style,” maintains Dale. He shares that over the years he’s incorporated a touch of whimsy into his sculptures, meant to engender an emotional connection to his artworks. Dale has always maintained that art should be accessible to everyone, not just in private collections.

After high school, Dale attended Southern New Hampshire University where he majored in business, giving up his passion for art for a more practical degree. After college, extensive traveling spurred not only a sense of adventure but a love for new places, cultures and influences. However, it was his work on the family farm that led to his experimentation with welding and he quickly became consumed by the thoughts of medal and how he could sculpt it. He began a one-man studio in 2001, and early work consisted of “functional art” like clocks, mirrors, signs and wall sculptures and pedaled his pieces to local galleries and art shows. To appeal to a wider audience, he began creating larger pieces and incorporating stone to give the pieces a more organic feel. Dale Rogers Studio is still based in his garage and basement; however, a team of people are utilized to manage the business and demand for his pieces. Dale credits “Team Rogers” with his ability to continue creating and expanding his art and exhibit showings.

“Art is the spark that initiates conversations and feeds the imagination,” says Dale, according to The Story and Art of Dale Rogers. Roger’s iconic American Dog sculpture, a 16-foot dog installed on the family farm that abuts route 495, has long been a favorite landmark for travelers driving by.

Can we Talk? Murals by Rebecca Klementovich, Bartlett, NH

Working on site at Settlers Green Streetside, Mt Washington Valley, NH resident, Rebecca Klementovich is painting a series of murals inspired by the “When Warhol died he told me this…series”. With a focus on the space right before the kiss, where the magic is according to Rebecca, the murals are designed to communicate a special moment in time. Using house paint and canvas, the murals depict two semi-abstract faces in an enchanting moment of communication.

Rebecca Klementovich started her career as a fashion textile designer in New York City, where she continued for 20 years. Yet her prior talent in illustration called her into abstract painting. The mural she’s creating for Settlers Green incorporates the graphic illustration elements of her former textile days with abstraction, which is her present focus. “It is marriage between both forms of art,” says Rebecca. “By painting over and the line, or choosing to let the line show, it helps express time and space in a subtle way. It is kind of like painting in and out of the subject matter,” explained Rebecca.

Two passions influence Rebecca’s artworks. With an interest in many forms of dance, movement plays a role in Rebecca’s work. In addition, her mastery in Reiki brings a special energy to her designs too. Rebecca serves as a curator for the Rochester (NH) Museum of Art, and you’ll find her work in many galleries throughout New England.

“I am so honored to be picked for public art in North Conway,” said Rebecca Klementovich when asked about her motivation for participating in the Settlers Green Public Art Project. “When there is well thought out public art displayed it elevates the town. Visitors see that a town takes pride in its appearance and supports the Arts,” noted Rebecca.

Together, Rebecca and co-painter Kristen Pobatschnig, another artist contributing to the Streetside Art Project, call themselves Femme Fatales of the North to distinguish themselves from women as art hobbyists. “We want to show what it is like to paint on mountains, unabridged by white walls. The fatales were created to give another voice for women to step and paint with conviction and focus,” they claim. Both residents of Mt Washington Valley, the Femme Fatales of the North are often found creating abstract works of the Mt Washington landscape.

Waterfall in the Woods, 3-mural series by Kristen Pobatschnig, Conway, NH

Work is presently underway on Mt Washington Valley artist, Kristen Pobatschnig’s, three-part abstract mural inspired by the White Mountain’s Sabbaday, Arethusa and Champney waterfalls. “Waterfall in the Woods” is an installation of three abstract painted plexiglass panels, each measuring 8’x3’, to create a tri-panel mural. The piece will be an abstract representation, utilizing bright, iridescent paint and powdered pigments. Each panel will explore a different view and element of the falls on plexiglass, offering a glimpse for outlet shoppers into the beauty of the White Mountains surrounding the region. “My goal as the artist is to bring people closer to nature, and to encourage an appreciation for our natural environment,” explained Kristen.

Kristen Pobatschnig is an abstract painter from the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where she grew up. After obtaining her BFA in Studio Art from Colby-Sawyer College, she has been painting and exhibiting her work throughout New England. Recently she began designing clothing from her paintings which she sells on her website, and in March, 2017 she completed a month-long artist residency in Chapala, Mexico. Kristen is the founder and manager of Conway Creatives, where she provides instruction in abstract painting to more than 100 Mt Washington Valley residents. She also teaches workshops in other locations throughout New Hampshire.

When asked about her part in the Streetscape Art Project, Kristen explained, “. I grew up in the Mount Washington Valley, and it’s exciting to see my hometown embracing abstract work. My hope is that more organizations will experience the value of public art, and maybe we’ll get to see more of it spring up around the Valley and New Hampshire in the future.”

In 2014 Kristen teamed up with fellow Streetscape painter Rebecca Klementovich and created the Femme Fatales of the North; together they have been recognized as two of the top 11 artists to watch in the state by New Hampshire Magazine.

Bronze Fox, sculpture by Michael Alfano, Hopkinton, MA

Originally from Long Island, NY Alfano now works and resides in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. Michael Alfano is known for creating figurative and surrealistic sculpture to convey philosophical ideas and abstract concepts from literal models. His sculpture of The Red Fox, soon to be placed at Settlers Green Streetside, depicts one of New England’s indigenous creatures. Michael sculpted the bronze fox at the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, where he studied one of their taxidermy specimens from the late 1800’s. “Combining my work at the museum with my experiences observing the animals at my home in the woods of Hopkinton helped me to develop a life-like sculpture, looking up inquisitively, yet poised to flee at any moment,” Michael explained. In addition, Michael shared, “It’s very gratifying to place the Red Fox, a special creature native to New England, at Settler’s Green, surrounded by the towering White Mountains and within view of Mt. Washington. The sculpture is an expression of my love of nature and allows me to share that with the area’s many residents and visitors.”

Michael’s artistic goal is to create art that relates to the everyday, yet causes people to experience, think, and understand life more fully. Alfano is also an accomplished portrait and realistic artist, having studied at the Art Students League in New York City. Michael Alfano is known for creating figurative and surrealistic sculpture that transcends normal, adapting artworks to convey mindful notions and abstract concepts. Major influencers of his work include Salvador Dali, Jo Davidson, and Jean-Antione Houdon, in addition to Buddhist, Taoist, Sufi, and other eastern philosophy and literature. Alfano has more than a dozen public sculptures in the Northeast, including George Brown at the starting line of the Boston Marathon and five sculptures at the Museum of Science in Boston. His portraits of leaders include Anwar Sadat, Senator Edward Kennedy, and Bollywood superstar, Rajinikanth. At juried exhibitions, Alfano has won over 60 awards, including the designation “Sculptor of the Year.” His work is found in private collections, galleries, and museums around the world.

“Caryatid”, Vermont Marble Sculpture by Melanie Zibit, Shirley, MA

Melanie’s sculpture “Caryatid” will be carved from a six-foot-high block of marble. Like the Greek columns called “Caryatids, the sculptureis intended to stand watch over Settlers Green serve as a landmark for both the outlet mall and the North Conway community.

Melanie grew up inspired by her mother’s love of art and art collection. Ironically, she went to college to study biology, yet a short introduction to carving was all she needed to realize that art was her calling. With a need to express herself, she finished her college career at Brandeis University, experimenting in various art mediums, then went on to achieve a Master’s in Education from University of Illinois and an MBA from Harvard University. Yet, early in her life, art was her focus. After college, she studied with the masters in the marble workshops of Carrara Italy where marble was everywhere, including pavers in the street, Melanie explains.

Melanie told a reporter for Gatehouse News, ““My passion is to take stone, something so hard, and make it look soft. Stone is demanding. Like other things in life worth doing, you have to put your heart and soul into it to do it well.” In her artist statement, Melanie shares, “For me the act of creating sculpture is an act of love. It is a sharing of something deeply personal from one human being to another, sharing something deeply spiritual and beautiful.”

Melanie is inspired by ancient and modern sculptors. While she learned to carve in the marble workshops in Italy, she has also lived and worked among artists in rural Eastport, Maine and New York City. Melanie currently carves at the Vermont Carving Studio and Sculpture Center with other New England sculptors. In addition, she offers presentations at museums, schools, and universities, galleries, and arts festivals, and has exhibited in museums and galleries throughout America, along with commissions for private collections too. Melanie’s recent awards came in 2017 from the Cape Cod Art Association for Best in Show – Artists Vision and third place overall at the International Light Space & Time online Figurative Art Exhibition in April.

Granite Mother Sculpture, Antoinette Prien Schultze, Eliot, ME

Antoinette’s “Granite Mother” sculpture at Settlers Green is the largest of the new public artworks being added. At more than nine feet tall, the sculpture offers a commanding invitation into the stability and durability of granite, while inviting the public to explore, touch and joyfully interact at the outlet center. Made of granite and inlaid colored caste glass, an opening in the design offers an exploratory window to view the shopping center, while the round blue inlaid glass creates a sundial, reflecting blue light into the mall. Antoinette has chosen to use granite as the medium for the sculpture given its importance to New Hampshire, the Granite State, giving it a strong sense of place while at the same time offering a little whimsical magic into the design.

Antoinette describes herself as “the singing sculptor”, often filling her days with sculpting and farm chores, while she hums a tune. Living and working on a farm in Eliot, Maine, Antoinette’s introduction into the art world began in 1961 when she audited a Masters impressionist class at Columbia College in New York City and learned that an artist can express her feelings, not just copy nature. Her first love was music, but a desire to express herself led her to teach herself oil painting, and many years (plus four children) later, tried sculpting. She went from clay, to wood, to stone moving easily from one material to the next. She read library books, and with a baby in one arm, made her first casting on her dining room table. Her first commission was for a 10-foot bronze “Mill Girl” and she’s never stopped sculpting since.

“The materials and process of creating my sculptures are a manifestation of myself,” says Antoinette. “I carve stone and wood, coupled with glass into a marriage seeking light. The work is dirty, laborious and time consuming. Expending my energy in a meaningful way, I create order and insight from a chaotic world,” she explains. “I did not sing for 35 years and consider it a gift to be able to sing again. Sometimes I will sing while speaking about my art. I am the singing sculptor,” she finished.

When asked about the sculpture she’ll create for the Streetside Art Project, Antoinette tells us, “The Settlers Green setting provides a surprise to viewers in that sculpture is not expected here. I have a great enthusiasm, that awakens in me great joy whenever I begin a new project like this. I consider this a much-appreciated opportunity to provide the public with a thought provoking and spiritually human experience in a commercial place, a somewhat unusual setting for my art.”

Photos:

  1. Kristen Pobatschnig works on murals for Settlers Green in her Conway Studio.
  2. Rebecca Klementovich is creating a mural on site at Settlers Green Streetside.

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