Carol Barr held a deep blue, semitranslucent glass up to her kitchen window to admire the spiraling lines from the inside. She poured cookies onto a delicate blue- and white-patterned ceramic serving dish.
Blue and white, she remarked, is definitely her color scheme. Her historic home on Francestown’s Main Street is white with blue shutters. The art on the walls has been carefully placed, the colors around the rooms curated to flow seamlessly together. She came from a family of artists, and art has shaped her life. The glass and dish were made by artisans who have shown their work during past Labor Days. Barr treasures them.
“When you have art from someone, you have a special connection,” she said.
Barr has been on the juried arts and crafts committee for more than 30 years. The committee puts on an art show during Francestown’s annual Labor Day celebration. It started out as a group of four including Carol Russell, Pat Swan and Elly Miles but now it’s just Barr. She has been chair for the last 18 years and running the show by herself for the past three or so. It’s a lot of work, but she has dedicated herself to making it happen year after year.
“I work very, very hard. Whatever project I undertake I give it more than 100 percent of myself,” Barr said.
From traveling to art shows around New England, to driving to the print shop in Manchester four days in a row as the postcards and posters were printed so she could make sure the colors were just right, to housing artists in her home the night before the show, Barr knows these efforts matter.
“I wanted to create a warm and welcoming show where artisans would truly be appreciated and accepted for their work,” she said. “It is not easy to find people to come to a small town for a one-day show. The fact that we have people returning for years says something about the community of Francestown.”
For Barr, this Labor Day is especially emotional. It will be her last year chairing the juried arts committee and running the show.
“It has been an incredible joy to bring artists and artisans to our community in such a positive way for so many years,” she said. “It truly has been a labor of love on Labor Day.”
Her wish is for the show to continue.
“My hope is that someone from Francestown would be inspired and want to continue juried arts and crafts,” she said. “Or, perhaps, be willing to work with another person or two to keep it going.”
She is so grateful for the supportive community.
“People opened their homes and welcomed the artisans here in Francestown,” she said.
And she is thankful for the artisans she has met over the years and the opportunity to be surrounded by art.
“My heart is full,” she said. “For me it has always been about helping artisans. It’s not about me, it’s about being a voice for the arts.”
New artists share excitement
This year, 29 artisans will participate in the art show on Labor Day. They will be set up in 10- by 10-foot tents on Main Street in front of the town offices and Francestown Improvement and Historical Society (FIHS) park. There will be returning artisans and some new faces.
Barr is enthusiastic about every artist she invites, and she often spends hours meeting new artisans and jurying their work.
“I went to her [Barr’s] house – we just couldn’t stop talking,” said Cathy Provoda, a new artisan at the juried arts show this year. “She loves promoting artists and has such an appreciation for what artists do. I found her to be a really lovely person.”
Provoda is a watercolor painter. Her art is nature-inspired: wildlife, landscapes, her line of chicken cards. She has found inspiration on hikes and her family’s small farm. She’s looking forward to participating in the art show this year.
Sandy Bibace will be another new artisan this Labor Day. She creates linen items. She laid out colorful tea towels, aprons, bags, coasters and throws on her porch table in Peterborough.
“I’m perfectly happy to have people call me up and ask to come see my stuff,” she said, “I’d really love it if people would feel comfortable calling me up and doing that.”
A career accountant, Bibace has fallen in love with working with linen in her retirement.
“I’m so lucky I have this passion that so far seams to have to end,” she said.
Bibace has had fun experimenting with new designs, linen colors and textures, and she enjoys creating special orders and custom sizes. She reached out to Barr about being an artisan earlier this year, but at that point Barr said it was unfortunately too late. She had finalized the setup and completed her list of artists. Still, she invited Bibace over and asked her to bring her work.
“She was so enthused about it she squeezed me in,” said Bibace, “I’m just so grateful to her.”
For both Provoda and Bibace, there’s something special about selling their art in person.
“For me the joy of selling is watching people see my stuff. I like to meet my customers,” said Bibace.
Provoda frequented indoor farmers’ markets before COVID.
“It’s incredibly wonderful to see people’s reactions,” she said. “I still sell wholesale but I miss seeing people’s reactions.”
Provoda said she loves it when a customer really connects to one of her chicken cards or a wildlife print; she aims to share joy and humor through her paintings.
Provoda’s art can be found on her website, blueberrycovecreations.com, and she sells cards and prints in various locations around New England. She has illustrated two books which are available in The Toadstool Bookshop in Peterborough.
Bibace’s website is fiberassets.bigcartel.com. She hopes to show her art three to four times a year and is always happy to have people over to view her linen products.
This year’s artists
Gene Matras, Pittsfield – Pen and ink drawings
Fred Lankhorst, Langdon – Silver jewelry
Laurel Rogers, Northampton, Mass,. Passionato Books– Unique hand-sewn journals and more
Johanna Richardson, Keene, Purple Hummingbird Woolens – Handmade woolens
Allison Randall, Temple, Friendly Goods – Cloth toys for children and adults
David and Laurette Carroll, Warner, Carroll Art Gallery – Books, prints, T-shirts and notecards
Claudia Teachman, Brattleboro, Vt., Brown Bunny Pottery – Handcrafted stoneware and porcelain pottery with an animal motif
Mary W. DeCaprio, Pepperell, Mass., Brick Pond Handworks – Dedham-style pottery ornaments, pins and more
Karen Steur, Lyndeborough, Hemlock Springs Soaps – Nourishing and natural artisan skincare
Katie Pugliese, Mason, Greenwood Designs – Needle-felted wool characters
Scott Jenkins, Francestown, S.M. Jenkins Woodwright – Wooden utensils, bowls, boxes, clocks and furniture
Bruce Iverson, Portsmouth – Original Chinese brush paintings, prints, silk scarves, Zen lights and cards
Sandy Bibace, Peterborough, Fiber Assets – Natural linen aprons, dishtowels, shawls, origami bags and more
Vivian Jache, Weare, The Stone Gourd – Whimsical and decorative creations made from gourds
Saya Cullinan, Portland, Maine, Saya Studio Design – Handbags and totes
Cathy Provoda, Peterborough, Blueberry Cove Creations – Assorted and boxed watercolor note cards, matted prints and more
Deb Keiner, Henniker, New Boston Quilter – Quilts and related items
Sharon Scelza, Irasburg, Vt., Sharon Scelza Designs – Sterling silver, 14-karat gold-filled, bronze and copper jewelry
Rosemary Conroy, Francestown, Studio B/Rosemary Conroy Fine Art – Contemporary wildlife art paintings and reproductions
Ann Dillon, Hancock, Ann Dillon, Designer – Polymer clay and beaded jewelry
Alicia Drakiotes, Marlborough, Alicia Drakiotes Studio – Original oil paintings, paintings on wooden pallets and painted gift boxes
Alex Kalish, Antrim, Alex Kalish Glass Design – Hand-blown functional art glass
Katherine Martin, West Dover, Vt., The Sheep Shed – Handmade collectible teddy bears and more
Nina Zotcavage, Merrimack, – Silver jewelry
Peter and Patricia Guilday, Walpole, Mass., Guilday Glass – Stained glass
Erin Moran, Portsmouth, Erin Moran Designs – Hand-built colorful pottery, cups, bowls, plates, pitchers and more
Julie Schroeppel, Contoocook – Fused-glass jewelry, plates and bowls
Conrad and Ellen Dumas, Greenfield, Ten Talents – Naturally processed fine yarns and more
VinnyAnfuzo, Milford, The Green field Forge/Pine Valley Mill – Blacksmith