Works On Paper, on The Square
Works On Paper, on The Square
in the village of Bellows Falls, is a studio that provides museum-quality conservation services for artwork, historical documents, photographs, maps, and memorabilia.
“We can treat almost anything made of paper,” owner and head conservator Carolyn Frisa explains. “A lot of what we deal with is artwork and documents that have been damaged by acidity, causing them to yellow and decay.” Often, objects arrive rolled, folded, or torn. They may have been damaged by floodwater, rats, insects, mold, and “sometimes even spilled coffee or food” is the culprit.
One client discovered, at a yard sale, a century old small watercolor painting entitled “Seaside Cottage” by the Nantucket artist Jane Reid. The painting was glued to a crumbling piece of cardboard and the paper was yellow and grimy. Worst of all, dark brown spots known as “foxing” had erupted all over the clear blue sky of the painting.
Carolyn’s experience —she received her master’s degree in paper conservation in 2001— and decade-plus of experience determined the steps to restore the painting. First she peeled away the decaying layers of cardboard, then gently washed the paper to remove the destructive acids. Only then was it safe to treat the stains. After these treatments, the sky above “Seaside Cottage” is once again clear.
While many Works On Paper clients are individual collectors, others are institutions. Last spring a burst pipe at the nearby Rockingham Public Library soaked dozens of photographs, documents, and maps in the library’s Local History Room. Fortunately, Frisa and her assistant, Raven Mueller, were able to quickly and carefully dry these objects before mold could set in. From a conservator’s point of view, mold poses a particularly difficult challenge: it not only causes permanent stains, but the fungus actually feeds on and digests the paper, making it weak and spongy. “You only have about 48 hours to act after a water exposure” before permanent damage occurs, Frisa explains.
“After Tropical Storm Irene we were contacted by a museum in upstate New York with a collection of Civil War letters and military documents that were soaked in the flood. They couldn’t get the work to us right away but managed to get the documents into a freezer the following day. Mold can’t grow at low temperatures, so that bought us some time.”
On any given day, you can find Frisa and Mueller working on something interesting — an original painting by Alexander Calder or a treasured piece of family history. Years of damage and neglect are carefully lifted away and the object is preserved to last. “We literally breathe new life into some pretty fabulous things,” says Frisa. “It’s what makes our work so satisfying.”
To schedule a free half-hour consultation, please call 802-460-1149. website: works-on-paper.net
email: carolyn@works-on-paper.net
The Walpole Creamery is growing!
The locally-owned maker of all-natural, super premium ice cream has been busy expanding into new stores throughout New Hampshire and Vermont this past year. You can now find Walpole Creamery ice cream in pints (half-gallons and single-serving dessert cups coming soon) at over 200 stores year-round, including many Shaw’s and Hannaford’s supermarkets.
“There is a tremendous opportunity for the Creamery to expand, create good-paying jobs and continue to help support the dairy farmers in our community”, says Co-Owner/President, Jack Franks. “Our commitment to using quality, all-natural, locally-grown ingredients to create the best ice cream in the world has really hit home with customers in New Hampshire, Vermont and beyond.”
While most ice cream makers buy their base mix from large commercial producers, Walpole Creamery makes theirs truly from scratch, daily, using only local, hormone-free milk and high-quality, all-natural ingredients. With over 30 flavors, ranging from classics like Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Maple Walnut, to their signature flavors such as Ginger, Cinnamon and Very Cherry Chip, and seasonal treats like Peach, Blueberry, Pumpkin Spice and Eggnog- Walpole Creamery has something for everyone. Visit their scoop shop on Rt. 12 in Walpole, N.H, Web site: walpolecreamery.com — also find them on facebook for updates on contests, free ice cream sampling events and coupons.
Free Is Art
Free Is Art is an arts education program in Brattleboro offering music lessons, visual art workshops, and special events for low-income residents of Windham County— free of charge. The program is completely funded by generous donors and charitable foundations.
Free Is Art provides an entry point for new artists, musicians, and instructors — a program for those hungry for knowledge. Their first year engaged nearly 150 participants, 20 volunteers, and employed 9 instructors.
Students are offered a safe, nurturing environment. On the surface, they are making better music, or finer art. At the core, they have overcome fears, expanded their language, made new friends, honed their motor skills, and quickened their processing speed.
Free Is Art is in collaboration with KidsPLAYce and the Arts Council of Windham County. To learn more, visit: freeisart.weebly.com, call 650-799-5379 or emailfreeisart.windham@gmail.com.
