Patricia Ladd Carrega Gallery presents a gallery talk, exhibit and performance by this year’s White Mountain National Forest artists in Residence, Xavier Cortada (“Time-Space Species: Glacial relics and the thrush” exhibit) and Juan Carlos Espinosa (“Climbing Mt. Israel” and “Legacy Trail Soundscapes”). For the second year The White Mountain National Forrest and The Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire have gotten together to bring exciting new talent to the forest.

White Mountain National Forest Artists in Residence Talk
at Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery

Above: Xavier Cortada,”Glacial retreat,” acrylic on canvas, 12″ x 12″, (2012).

Patricia Ladd Carrega Gallery presents a gallery talk, exhibit and performance by this year’s White Mountain National Forest artists in Residence, Xavier Cortada (“Time-Space Species: Glacial relics and the thrush” exhibit) and Juan Carlos Espinosa (“Climbing Mt. Israel” and “Legacy Trail Soundscapes”). 

Artist:  Xavier Cortada

Title (Terra):  “Time-Space Species: Glacial relics and the thrush”

and

Composer: Juan Carlos Espinosa

Title: “Climbing Mt. Israel” and “Legacy Trail Soundscapes”

When: Saturday, July 28^th, 2012 at 11 am

Where: Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery, Center Sandwich, NH

Time-Space Species: Glacial relics and the thrush

“Time-Space Species: Glacial relics and the thrush” is an exhibit of works created by Cortada during his residency at White Mountain National Forest . The exhibit focuses on three sensitive species living in the WMNF at the top of Mt. Washington that allow us to see nature through the prism of space (habitat: global migration and habitat change) and time (evolution: glacial relics, evolving subspecies):

The White Mountain Arctic (Oeneis melissa semidea) and the White Mountain Fritillary (Boloria titania montinus) are glacial relics.  These butterflies evolved as subspecies at the mountain’s alpine elevations after the glaciers receded.  Scientist’s have yet to discover the plant the Arctic Butterfly uses to lay its eggs, so it is difficult to gauge potential global climate change threats.

The Bicknell’s Thrush (Catharus bicknelli) only summer habitat is below the alpine area in White Mountain National Forest, a habitat shrinking as global climate change allows hardwoods to encroach from below and high winds at the alpine elevations restrict the upper boundaries of their dense Balsam Fir habitat.  This bird species migrates to habitats beyond the forest boundaries, wintering on the island of Hispaniola, where its habitat is being deforested. Researchers are focused on the effects of acid rain and the deposition of mercury at the top of WMNF mountains as possible causes for dwindling species populations.

Climbing Mount Israel & Legacy Trail Soundscapes

Two new pieces by composer Juan Carlos Espinosa will be featured at the event. WMNF Legacy Trail is a series of sound collages created by combining recordings taken at various sites on the Legacy Trail with music inspired by Espinosa’s experience at the location giving title to the piece. He will be presenting excerpts from what is still a work-in-progress.

The second piece is called Climbing Mount Israel, a work for trumpets and trombones. In two sections, the first part documents the climb up the Wentworth Trail, the sound of water, birds, insects and the rhythmic breathing of the composer as he went up the mountain. The second part is the sound of the summit, not just the wind, but Espinosa’s own experience and the music of other composers he associates with mountains and New England, such as Charles Ives and Carl Ruggles.

About the Gallery:
Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery (http://www.patricialaddcarega.com) exhibits art in all media by leading contemporary artists. The gallery shows an eclectic collection of figurative and abstract work that focuses on originality and innovation.

Directions to the gallery:

FROM I-93 SOUTH

Exit 24 to Route 3 to Holderness: Turn left onto Route 113 to Center Sandwich. In center of town continue on Route 113 which turns left at Corner House. Gallery in on right.

FROM I-93 NORTH

Exit 23 to Route 104 East: At end of Route 104, turn left onto Route 3 and 25 East to Meredith. In Meredith turn right onto Route 25 East to Moultonboro. In Moultonboro turn left onto Route 109 to Center Sandwich. At Corner House turn right onto Route 113. Patricia Ladd Carega Gallery is on right.

FROM MAINE AND POINTS EAST

Route 25 West to Moultonboro: Turn right onto Route 109 into Center Sandwich. Turn right at Corner House onto Route 113. Gallery in on right.

PHONE NUMBER; FAX NUMBER:

1-603-284-7728; 1-603-284-6692

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2012 White Mountain National Forest Artists-in-Residence

Artist Xavier Cortada and composer Juan Carlos Espinosa are currently serving as Artists-in-Residence at White Mountain National Forest.   The residency is presented in collaboration with the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire (www.aannh.org).

They have worked together on numerous projects over the last few years, most of them have been related to their shared environmental concerns. Their eco-art practice is defined by interdisciplinary collaboration and participatory practices that involve artists, scientists, communities with the goal of public awareness and bioremediation.

During July 2012, the artists will work with White Mountain National Forest foresters, scientists and trail builders and the local community to develop ideas for their work. Inspired by and responding to the forest, the artists will create site-specific works and temporary installations. Read residency blog at: www.whitemountaintrailmix.wordpress.com

For more information about the residency contact Frumie Selchen, Executive Director,Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire (Frumie@aannh.org) or see http://whitemountaintrailmix.wordpress.com/2012/07/19/talk-exhibit-performance-at-patricia-ladd-carega-gallery/