Not long ago, out of curiosity, I stopped at the Williamsburg General Store on Route 9 in Williamsburg, Massachusetts. What caught my eye in that riot of scented soaps, ice cream, gewgaws, old-fashioned candy, and New England crafts (some actually from New England) was an orange can behind the glass door of the refrigerator case: a can of Moxie.

I hadn’t tasted, or seen, that soda in a decade. Moxie is a drink I associate with my grandfather, Dr. William Shavelson, who practiced medicine in Revere, Massachusetts from the mid-1920s until the mid-’70s. He is the only person I remember who drank Moxie regularly and voluntarily. Was it because he was a doctor, or because I couldn’t stand the bitter stuff as a child, that I assumed it must have medicinal roots?

I call Merrill Lewis, a retired Carrier air-conditioner engineer from Manchester, New Hampshire, who is president of the New England Moxie Congress, a fan club with 250 to 300 members. The drink did have medicinal roots, Lewis confirms, and gentian root is its distinctive ingredient. “Moxie was invented in 1885 by Dr. Augustin Thompson of Union, Maine,” he says. “It is the nation’s oldest bottled soft drink and it is still sort of, kind of, going strong.”

Moxie was originally produced in Lowell, Massachusetts, and then from the twenties until the forties, in Moxieland, a former brewery complex in Boston’s Roxbury section. Today the brand is owned by the Moxie Beverage Company of Bedford, New Hampshire, a division of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Northern New England.

Lewis pointed me to a nineteenth-century Moxie bottle label on which the drink was called “nerve food,” promised to strengthen and invigorate users, and even help with “loss of manhood, imbecility, and helplessness.” At its peak in the 1920s, Moxie was said to outsell Coca-Cola, though that’s hard to verify. Certainly, its success had something to do with its oddball promotion: there was the mechanical Moxie horse on an auto chassis, the giant Moxie bottle with the vendor inside, the Moxie Boy logo, and later endorsements from movie stars and Ted Williams. In August 1923, after Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office in Plymouth, Vermont upon the death of President Harding, he steadied himself with a glass of Moxie.

While Moxie has suffered near-death experiences for generations, its admirers and renown seem to be growing. The Moxie Congress, established in 1991, was instrumental in the 2009 creation of the Moxie wing of the Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage in Union, Maine. (Moxie is Maine’s official soft drink.) “The centerpiece,” says Lewis, “is a thirty-three–foot Moxie bottle, which used to be a refreshment stand.” Naturally, the Congress plays a big role in Lisbon, Maine’s annual Moxie Festival, which will be held this year from July 7-9.

I ask Lewis if there’s something that makes Moxie a particularly New England beverage. “New Englanders are a hearty bunch,” he says, “and they show no signs of pain. It takes a lot of moxie to drink it.”

Moxie – Bottled Soda
Bedford, New Hampshire
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The post Distinctively Different appeared first on Take Magazine.

Since Instagram’s inception over six years ago, the photo sharing app has operated as a unique digital space for artists to connect with followers and share their work with a new audience. Tattooers in general, and New England tattooers in particular, can cultivate an entire career via a sizable Instagram following. A casual Instagram search of the hashtag “blackworker” yields nearly one million photo results, and that’s just one style. For a long time, Instagram was one of the few digital spaces where you could hear the familiar buzz of the tattoo gun in a 15-second video, then immediately see the shiny, sometimes bloody, always high-def result.

New England is home to many tattoo artists inking in all styles across the region. With so many artists and shop accounts featuring a wide range of styles and varying levels of quality, it can be very hard to navigate this world of Insta-tattooers. So we decided to do the work for you. We’re sure you already follow Noel’le Longhaul on Instagram. Here are a few other accounts of people doing similar work, spookier pieces and other tats that are just way out there.

Massachusetts Tattoo Artists

Hannah Medeiros
Brilliance Tattoo
Boston, Massachusetts

Met a fellow Buffy and My Favorite Murder fan today, thanks again Rachel! #bostontattoo #brilliancetattoo #darkartists #ladytattooers #blackwork #blackworker #blackworktattoo #blackworkers_tattoo #btattooing #blacktattooart #blackclawneedle

A post shared by Hannah Medeiros (@hannah_brilliance) on Mar 31, 2017 at 10:02am PDT

For someone who claims to be a “first year tattoo maker,” Medeiros has an exceedingly detailed and diverse set of tattoos in her feed, featuring all sorts of styles and subjects. In addition, she’s posted nearly 1,300 times (mostly tattoos) and has earned over 3,700 followers. Like a lot of artists on this list, her tats are mostly comprised of black linework and shading, though some pieces on her feed feature a skillful dash of color.

Ryan & Matthew Murray
Black Veil Tattoo
Salem, Massachusetts

come and visit the three of us @mattwmurray @ryanmrray @thaholygoat while we are here during the @bostontattoocon ??

A post shared by Ryan & Matthew Murray (@blackveiltattoo) on Mar 24, 2017 at 1:49pm PDT

Certainly the spookiest accounts on the list, identical twins Ryan and Matthew Murray’s tattoo aesthetic truly reflects the haunting history of the town they call home. The brothers’ similar styles range from photorealistic to neo-traditional, with tattoos that include everything from a horrifyingly detailed portrait of Stephen King’s “It” clown, to three-eyed, dot-worked cat heads adorning broomsticks.

Emi Lynn Holler
Charon Art Visionary Tattoo
Turners Falls, Massachusetts

Overgrown New England Swamp for Sarah. Thanks! While working, I listened to Going By, by @toldslant_lili_lifestyle and thought of summer. . . . . . . . #landscapetattoo #swamptattoo #qttr #blacktattoomag #blxkink #emilynnholler #qttr #btattooing #mountaintattoo

A post shared by Emi Lynn Holler (@emi.lynn.holler) on Nov 27, 2016 at 5:43pm PST

Working with their pal Noel’le Longhaul, Holler offers clients blackwork flash tats and one-of-a-kind pieces that are usually the product of a collaborative process. Holler works closely with clients to dream up a design based on extensive conversation, naturalistic images and other motifs from their portfolio. Head to Holler for one of her unique disembodied hands or your own version of an overgrown New England swamp.

Maine Tattoo Artists

Watsun Atkinsun
Portland, Maine

A post shared by (aka) SKRY (@watsunatkinsun) on Mar 24, 2017 at 11:20am PDT

Abandoning a stationary position at a tattoo shop for “an organic new era of guest spots, traveling, conventions, and private events,” Watsun Atkinsun creates blackwork pieces featuring mystical geometric patterns, cuneiform, and the occasional animal/insect illustration. Follow Atkinsun’s feed for world travel updates and only contact him for a tattoo appointment if you’re truly “in need of an illuminated transformation.”

Vermont Tattoo Artists

Hilary Glass
Aartistic Inc.
Montpelier, Vermont

Dreamy tattoo project with Shaun tan artwork from his book the red tree. thanks so much @bruin_trouble <3!! #vermonttattooers #lineworktattoos #qttr

A post shared by Hilary Glass (@hilaryannlovetattoos) on Feb 7, 2017 at 7:18pm PST

Instagram provides followers the unique opportunity to track an artist as they move from up-and-coming, to fully established. Glass is a great example of that phenomena in motion. Though she has the smallest number of posts on the list, she touts a strong feed full of detailed animal portraits, linework renderings of natural forms, and amazing doggo portraits. You’ll want to follow her now and book while you can!

Rhode Island Tattoo Artists

Ron Wells
The Torchbearer
Providence, Rhode Island

Weirdy spider head haunter from last week. I won't be tattooing for about the next month while I'm recovering from the surgery, so I'm taking appointments into October. If you'd like to get a tattoo please send an email to RHWellstattoo@gmail.com thanks for looking. #spinalfusion #physicaltherapyisbrutal #blackclaw #waverlycolorco #thetorchbearer #vicodin #ronwells #ronwellstattoo

A post shared by Ron Henry Wells (@the_hyena) on Sep 8, 2016 at 4:40pm PDT

This self-proclaimed “regret applicator” (personally, I only regret three of my tattoos) is the most Insta Famous of the group and rightfully so: his style is wily and varied while still remaining precise and clean. Sad skulls, neo-traditional wolf heads, ominous medieval weaponry, and familiar pop culture icons like Darth Vader litter his feed and truly showcase the artist’s range and depth.

Amanda Kryla
Black Heart Mysticism Tattoo
Coventry, Rhode Island

How brutal tattoos look in the halfway phase ? #traditional #bobsburgers #lindabelcher #roses #tattoos #tattooartist #rhodeisland #cartoon #girlswithink #inked #oldschool #rotary

A post shared by Amanda Kryla (@amanda_black_heart) on Apr 24, 2016 at 5:49am PDT

Krya is another artist on the list whose feed showcases a broad range of styles and subjects; Megaman done in 16-bit style, a realistic portrait of Severus Snape, and a simple depiction of a palm tree are just a few examples of her breadth.

New Hampshire Tattoo Artists

TJ Schunemann
Underworld Tattoo Co.
Salem, New Hampshire

Beetlejuice! Thanks @billy_the__kidd you're the man! @underworldtattoocompany #underworldtattoocompany

A post shared by TJ Schunemann (@thomasj_ink) on Mar 11, 2017 at 4:43pm PST

Schunemann has the most consistently realistic style of the bunch and comes in with the second-most followers on the list (25,600 followers ain’t so bad, right?). If photo-perfect flowers and deep woods scenescapes aren’t inspiration enough, Schunemann also posts pictures of his gorgeous hairless & Persian kitties.

Lauren Sleeper
Five Sirens Tattoo and Gallery
Dover, New Hampshire

Such a rad tattoo today on my last Sunday! Thanks jim! ! #pelican #pelicantattoo #chesttattoo #chestpiece #tattooartist #femaletattooartist #tattoo #finelinetattoo #stippletattoo #etchingtattoo #vintagetattoo #illustration #illustrator #art #artist #instaart #laurensleeper #sleeperhollow #fivesirens #blackworktattoo #blackworkerssubmission #btattooing #ladytattooers #kingpintattoosupply

A post shared by www.five-sirens.com (@lauren_sleeper) on Feb 26, 2017 at 5:24pm PST

This Rhode Island School of Design grad-turned-New Hampshire tattooer and gallerist crafts some of the tiniest and most colorful pieces of all the artists on this list. She will tattoo everything from a Jason Mask to a tea cup.

Connecticut Tattoo Artists

Brandon Stolicny
Flying Tiger Tattoos
New Britain, Connecticut

Drank that Jesus juice today #religioustattoo #jesus #jesustattoo ##traditionalworkers #traditionaltattoo #boldwillhold #tattoo #tattoolife #tattooartist #tradworkers_tattoo #blacktattoo #spitshade #jesuschrist #jesusjuice

A post shared by Brandon Stolicny (@itallwentblack) on Mar 11, 2016 at 4:00pm PST

Stolicny rounds out our list as the straight-up trad tattooer. Need a rose with a dagger through it? How about a scowling panther or a perched Bald Eagle? Stolicny feed will satisfy your craving for those traditional deep reds and other dark tones.

Top photo –  tattoos by Ryan Murray (left), TJ Schunemann (right) | Photos courtesy the artists’ Instagram

The post 10 New England Tattooers You Need to Follow on Instagram appeared first on Take Magazine.

If you think live professional music only occurs in official music halls and venues, Sofar Sounds has a message for you. A worldwide organization, Sofar Sounds is dedicated to subverting the norms of booking, attending, and curating live music performances.

Want to host a musical soiree in your living room? That could happen. On a rooftop? Absolutely. With networks of volunteers and artists programming shows in Providence, Worcester, Boston, and New Haven (just to name a few), Sofar Sounds is quickly establishing itself as the go-to resource for New England artists looking for a paid gig in an unusual space, as well as a place for music lovers ready to experience live music in a different space.

Here’s how it works.

A band or individual artist applies to perform at a Sofar Sounds show. Sofar volunteers choose three acts from the pool of applicants, and secure a space for the performance that isn’t a conventional venue. Once the show is booked, Sofar Sounds’ members near the show’s location get a notification stating the date of the show and the neighborhood where the show is located. Typically hundreds of people sign up, so only a subset of people get an invite to the show. Once invited, show-goers learn where the performance will be and what bands are booked.

Mark Schafer, an ambassador at Sofar Sounds in Boston, says his team works hard to program the right kind of shows and select a diverse group of performers. “We’re very careful to make sure that we curate shows based on quality and diversity,” he says. “We want to make sure we represent all the voices in the music community.”

A recent show in Boston, for instance, featured a pop singer, a stripped down punk band, and a folk duo in the same night. “We intentionally do that kind of thing when we can,” says Schafer. “The hope is you’ll love everything, but if you see something you don’t like, all you have to do is wait a little bit for the next act, which is going to be something totally different.”

The band Aria Lanelle, Sofar Sounds, Myles Tan photography

Sofar’s subversion of music industry norms doesn’t stop there. The group almost exclusively works with local musicians and selects spaces that are not conventional venues for live music performance, essentially any space that isn’t a bar or venue.

Using unconventional performances spaces keeps Sofar Sounds bookings hyperlocal. “We’re able to tap into the local music scene much easier than a traditional venue can,” says Rachel McCandlish, another Sofar Sounds volunteer. “It’s great to be able to help those smaller bands and guarantee them an audience.”

“We pretty intentionally go for people who are either completely unknown and haven’t even put out a record yet, or artists that are on their way up,” says Schafer.

In addition to exposure to a guaranteed number of dedicated music lovers, bands who play a Sofar Sounds show get compensated for their time and performance. Artists either get paid, receive some form of hospitality, and/or are featured in a professionally shot and edited video of the live performance.

As the organization grows and adds new networks across New England, Sofar Sounds wants to become the platform for up-and-coming performers in their networked cities and bands as they pass through New England towns. “We want to make it so everyone who comes through Boston on their way up plays a Sofar show, because it’s consistently the best show featuring emerging artists,” says Schafer.

“We don’t want to get bigger and bigger bands,” adds Schafer. “We want to make sure we get the best bands and intentionally continue to get artists that many of the people in the audience have not heard before.”

Mark Schafer and Rachel McCandlish, Sofar Sounds
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Images courtesy of Myles Tan Photography

The post Rooftop Rock from Sofar Sounds appeared first on Take Magazine.

In a former lifetime in which the person inhabiting the Oval Office had an actual vision based on facts, the arts were recognized as an integral measure of our society. President John F. Kennedy, for instance, said this about the arts: “We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda. It is a form of truth.”

Truth, of course, has taken a hit since 45 took office. That whole “alternative facts” bit. But numbers, or so the saying goes, don’t lie. So with that in mind, we took a quick look at the potential math implications of 45’s federal budget.

First the overview:

• Number of programs and agencies due for elimination: 62
• Number of programs within the Environmental Protection Agency alone: 50

Other programs due for funding cuts—or outright elimination—focus on everything from literacy to low-income home energy improvements to investigating chemical accidents. The enormous breadth and scope of impact on those least able to manage without these programs is breathtaking.

But since we’re an arts and culture magazine, we’re going to focus our hyperventilation on the potential impact of these devastating cuts to art and culture in New England. The proposed budget calls for eliminating all funding for the National Endowment for the Arts ($152 million) and the National Endowment for the Humanities ($155 million).

What NEA funding means to New England:

For fiscal year 2017, New England states received $2.591 million in NEA grants overall, according to the NEA website. Here’s who got what:

• Connecticut: 15 organizations, $310,000
• Massachusetts: 62 organizations, $1,672,000
• Maine: 11 organizations, $242,000
• New Hampshire: 6 organizations, $120,000
• Rhode Island: 9 organizations, $152,500
• Vermont: 4 organizations, $95,000

But the math adds up even less when you look beyond straight grants. Ann Wicks, communications manager for the New England Foundation on the Arts (NEFA)—one of six regional arts organizations funded by the NEA and private donations—explains. Arts organizations can potentially receive NEA dollars in three ways:

• an outright allocation of a grant the organization applies for itself
• an allocation from NEFA through NEA dollars provided to NEFA
• from NEA dollars given to state arts organizations, such as the Massachusetts Cultural Council

Wicks says about 15 percent of NEFA’s annual budget comes from NEA dollars. Beyond grants, NEFA uses those dollars to support artists in other, less direct ways, Wicks says. The Creative Ground Directory, for instance, is a free resource that lists artists and other creators around New England so that it’s easier to find appropriate collaborators for projects. In FY2016, NEFA made a total of 462 grants equaling $3.4 million. New England states received $829,947 of those NEFA grants.

In other words, the loss of funding to New England arts and humanities organizations could be even larger. “NEA support is very important to New England and the creative sector,” she says.

It’s a point that is echoed nationally. The National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), a national nonprofit that assists state arts agencies, offers this math about how NEA dollars improve the economy at large:

• The arts return $22.3 billion in tax revenue to federal, state, county, and municipal governments.
• Rural areas, low-income communities, and schools would feel the effects of this funding loss disproportionately from reductions. State arts agencies (using state and federal funds) award more than 25% of their grants to rural areas, 54% to low-income communities, and 45% to arts education projects.
• Every NEA dollar leverages more than $9 in matching funds, meaning that the impact of the NEA loss is just the beginning of the potential financial loss for arts organizations.

Cutting the NEA and NEH seem especially confusing given this math offered by NASAA: The NEA receives 0.004% of the total Federal budget, which is less than ½ of one hundredth of a percent.

That math also doesn’t add up when you consider the numbers presented by The Guardian. The British paper reports the following expenses incurred by taxpayers less than 50 days into 45’s residency:

• $56.6 million (or a cool $500,000 a day) to protect Trump Tower. That was through March 1. Assuming that Mrs. 45 stays until June for Mini-45 to finish school, that dollar amount could add another $46 million, bringing the total to $102 million.
• $3+million estimated cost for EACH weekend jaunt to golf work at his Mar-a-Lago Resort (a place where he doubled entry fees from $100,000 to $200,000 the day after he was elected).
• $97,380 for hotels for Secret Service to protect Eric Trump (that would be his son on those business interests 45 still hasn’t divested himself of) while he visited a condominium development in Uruguay. This is just one trip.

And finally this statistic: 45’s proposed military spending increase in his federal budget? $54 billion.

Something definitely doesn’t add up.

Does this irritate you as much as it does us? Here are a few links if you want to #TakeAction. See you on the streets.

Pen.org
artsactionfund.org
Change.org
The Official White House Petition to Save Arts Funding
Contact Your Representative
Arts Advocacy Day – Washington, DC
#SaveTheNEA

Top image courtesy Royal Talens

The post #TakeAction: Doing the NEA Defunding Math appeared first on Take Magazine.

Created on the Bay of Fundy in the tiny town of Eastport, Maine, the Tides Institute and Museum of Art (TIMA) established a wet-foot dry-foot policy early in its inception. All artists would be welcome to show their work and do residencies whether they came from the U.S., from over the border in Canada, from across the mile-wide strait from New Brunswick, or from across the Atlantic Ocean.

That was 15 years ago. Today TIMA and the town of Eastport—population 1,200—are riding high on art and innovation due to the imperative of their locale.

“We developed a Maine and New Brunswick [Canada] task force in 2010 so cultural leaders on both sides of the border could talk and meet. It’s the reason we started the institute,” says Executive Director Hugh French, who is one of TIMA’s founders. “There is too much of a tendency of stopping at the border in the U.S. and Canada while artists are crossing the border. It’s silly not to follow them.”

Interior of TIMA’s 1819 Free Will North Church Project Space with large-scale installation, “Undertow,” by artist, Anna Hepler. Project space has 23-foot high vaulted ceiling and exceptional acoustics. | Photo by Allison Osberg.

Eastport is located on Moose Island and connected to the mainland by a causeway. It sits at the entrance of Passamaquoddy Bay on the border of Canada and is at the most eastern part of the US. It’s a place you might expect to be a little sleepy, at least when it comes to the arts and innovation. But you’d be wrong.

TIMA, whose studio, museum and housing for artist residencies overlook the U.S./Canada boundary, is a beehive of artistic activity. Community renewal, an active residency program, and an aggressively diverse permanent collection are just a few of the parts that make up the institute’s game plan. That diversity is also one reason funding and artists are drawn to the space, French says.

“Early on we felt we had to operate on different interests. Architecture and history, for example,” says French. “Our collection includes painting, photography, architectural elements, a historical collection and a strong interest in contemporary work. We foster new work. That is the reason for our residency program—so contemporary work can be created here.”

Tides Institute and Museum of Art| Image courtesy TIMA

Last year’s TIMA’s residency program had nine artists—six from the U.S. and three from abroad. This year the program will host 10-12 artists. This summer a two-year collaboration between Portland, Maine photographer Shoshannah White and Halifax interdisciplinary artist Charley Young will have its premiere in an exhibition in the 1819 church now known as the Free Will North Church Project Space.

TIMA’s main building was the organization’s first regional revitalization effort, a strategy of cross disciplines that began 15 years ago when the organization began. “The long-term effort started with tackling a threatened crippled building in the center of downtown,” says French. “We put $1.2 million to bring the building back. Now we have six buildings.”

Tides Institute and Museum of Art New Year’s Eve sardine drop | Image courtesy TIMA

Although Eastport is physically isolated, TIMA and the community are not. The populace comes together every year for “Artsipelago,” an event that includes galleries, chefs, and ferries. To celebrate yet another year of tides, TIMA annually organizes the New Year’s Eve Maple Leaf and Sardine Drop. During that popular event, a giant red maple leaf is lowered at midnight Atlantic time (11pm EST) to commemorate the Canadian new year while a brass band plays “O Canada.” An hour later, when the New Year reaches the States, an 8-foot sardine is lowered as the band plays “Auld Lang Syne.”

Tides Institute and Museum of Art – museum
Eastport, Maine
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Top image: View from the top of TIMA’s main building with a view of Eastport’s downtown and waterfront – all of the islands in the distance are in Canada. | Image courtesy TIMA

The post Building Bridges, Crossing Borders Through Art appeared first on Take Magazine.

Looking at the building that houses Wingate Studio’s impressive collection of meticulously maintained vintage printing equipment, it’s hard to imagine the business could exist anywhere but New England. Inhabiting a converted barn on a 55-acre family farm that practically straddles three states from its location at the convergence of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, the 31-year-old print studio could double as a stage set for The Crucible.

Wingate Farms

Wingate Studio founder Peter Pettengill’s family has occupied the land for generations. His parents still live in the old farmhouse and his daughter, Olivia (along with partner Susie Parke-Sutherland), has revived the land back into a working farm that grows spinach, flowers, and summer greens, and is home to 900 egg-producing chickens and 8 pigs. A dog named Busy keeps things in order.

For a seven-year spell, however, Pettengill lived in San Francisco, where he attained the title of master printer at the city’s distinguished Crown Point Press and met his wife Deborra before returning back east to found his Hinsdale, New Hampshire studio. It was also where he met many of the influential artists he’s worked with over the years, including Sol LeWitt, Joan Jonas, Wayne Thiebaud, Ed Ruscha, and Elaine DeKooning.

“In the early days I was doing mostly contract printing for other publishers, especially the Limited Editions Club in New York,” Pettengill says. “My very first project here was printing Robert Mapplethorpe photogravures for them.”

Pettengill began publishing independently in the 1990s, producing work that was featured prominently in a 2015 30-year retrospective curated by Boston University, including prints by Xylor Jane, Chuck Webster, and Sebastian Black. Jane, a Greenfield, Massachusetts-based artist whose process he describes as “translating notions of time, meaning and pure mathematics into her own visual language,” is a mainstay with whom he still works with some frequency.

Wingate publishes printed editions of work it creates with both established and emerging artists who are invited to print at the studio. While specializing in intaglio etching, Wingate sometimes works beyond the usual bounds of this process according to the needs of the artist. The artist guides the project; the studio facilitates. The resulting prints are then promoted and marketed by Wingate both to private clients and institutions, including the Whitney, MoMA, and the Library of Congress.

When pressed, Pettengill singles out avant-garde legend John Cage as a favorite collaborator, who he recalls as “one of the most inspiring people I ever met, a very disciplined artist in spite of his famed reliance on chance operations.

“His approach was to imitate nature in her manner of operation,” Pettengill continues. “So he set up systems that would use chance to create strikingly beautiful visual work. He didn’t separate art and life, but continually showed how they were one and the same. His joy and pleasure in the ordinary aspects of life were absolutely contagious.”

Inside wall of Wingate Studios

Wingate is a place where artists can come to focus intently on a particular creative goal, living on the farm or in nearby lodging while immersed in a weeks-long project. The property isn’t impossibly far from New York City, however, so the studio does also attract the odd commuter, like painter Walton Ford, who might be up two days a week to keep a project rolling.

Known for his life-size watercolors of birds and animals in the style of 19th-century natural history painters like Audubon, Ford’s work is, according to Pettengill, “visually stunning and appealing,” but also bears “a large element of the grotesque.”

“His paintings and prints create complex narratives, often based on historical events or people, and function as critiques of the general human enterprise, exploring themes of colonialism, industrialism, the environment, extinct species and crackpot explorers and adventurers. It functions on many different levels, but it invariably draws viewers in before they have a chance to comprehend the breadth of it.”

Despite the somewhat arcane nature of the craft and (by today’s standards) an antiquated pace of distribution, Pettengill believes that print has a bright future thanks to interest from younger generations of artists. His son James and James’ wife Alyssa, who function as studio co-directors, have also brought a more modern edge to the business.

“They keep up with and are connected to today’s emerging artists, and they’ve really pushed Wingate forward in terms of our publishing program,” he says. “We have been working with a lot of younger artists over the last couple of years.”

In fact, he believes the art is flourishing, both through traditional outlets and via workshops affiliated with colleges and universities.

“We’re also in a moment where artists are working across media more than ever, not limiting themselves strictly to a painting practice or even material media. They’re interested in doing their work in many different forms, and, of course, there are so many new technologies that are carrying printmaking into the digital age.”

Peter Pettengill at Wingate Studios

Peter Pettengill, Found Wingate Studios
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Top photo portrait of Peter Pettengill working with his Inking Plate | All photos by Paul Teeling

The post Meet the Press appeared first on Take Magazine.

This article originally ran in our October 2015 print edition.

Texans have a name for expats from Massachusetts, and it ain’t Masshole. If you make the pilgrimage from New England to the Lone Star State, you’re a carpetbagger the second you cross the border, and you’ll remain one until you leave for greener pastures. Trust me, I’ve been lugging this baggage around for the past 15 years.

When my wife (then lady friend) and I migrated, I had ideas about Texas. I’d read all of Cormac McCarthy. I listened, drank, and wept to Springsteen’s Ghost of Tom Joad religiously. I once passed the flaming husk of an 18-wheeler on I-10 near Sonora at 3:00 a.m. on the return leg of a 20-day, cross-country drive.

In short, I thought I understood Texas. So we jumped into Crusher, my rusty blue ’88 Chevy Blazer; popped a Friends of Dean Martinez cassette into the deck; and headed southwest, stopping in Memphis to sleep through Y2K eve and TCB at Graceland.

Once in Austin, I looked for adventures. My expat buddy Tim and I attended a rattlesnake rustling competition, an event that yielded a great koozie and a glimpse into the socioeconomic drivers that spur folks to hook big ol’ snakes into a burlap sack for pennies. Really, we were outsiders pretending to be outlaws.

Later, my lady friend and I drove to Palestine (Pal-uhs-TEEN) to watch Robbie Knievel jump a steam train. Because Crusher had out-of-state plates and I was speeding, a trooper pulled us over in Jewett. As he swaggered toward us with his campaign hat, mirrored shades, and mouthful of chaw, we began to sweat bullets.

Obliging the slow twirls of his index finger, I rolled down my window.

“What’re you doin’ so far from Massatoosits, boy?”

“Taking my lady friend to see Robbie Knievel jump a steam train, sir.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so? Just slow it down, and tell ol’ Robbie I said hi.”

Then he drove away.

It was THE BEST.

We made it to Palestine in time to trek across fields and over barbed wire, alongside families with strollers, toward the locomotive pyre where Evel’s son made history as “Detroit Rock City” reverberated over the swale.

As the thrill of living in Texas began to fade, we settled into life in Austin. Sure, the nice self-mutilating tenants at our apartment complex occasionally dangled by their nipples from the mimosa tree in the courtyard. But the novelty wore off quickly; so we went about the tasks of making friends, establishing routines, and finishing our undergraduate degrees.

Here’s a fun fact I learned in my studies: Texas has had eight constitutions. The eighth went into effect during the Reconstruction to protect the state from carpetbaggers (I’m paraphrasing my professor here). Texas is determined to stay true to its maverick identity, even if much of that identity was stolen from Mexico. I suppose that’s a big part of what makes Texas so quintessentially American.

That said, Texas confounds me; despite its many flaws, it’s hard to resist its wily charms. I never thought we’d plant roots, but we’re still here because it feels like home. We’ve earned degrees here. We’ve made our fair share of lifelong friends here. Our family, careers, home. . . they’re all here. But while our little girl is a native Texan and Austinite, it’s likely we won’t raise her here. This state is just too damn red for us. Even so, thanks to the pilgrimage we made at the turn of the century, she’ll always have a place in Texas to unpack her bags and hang her hat.

Top illustration by Rob Kimmel.

The post Notes From An Expat: Pack Your Bags, Son appeared first on Take Magazine.

An orange sociopath was elected president, David Bowie AND Prince passed away, and Kimmy K may or may not have staged her own assault and robbery to stay relevant. Grab some hand warmers and booze, we’re closing the book on this collapsing star of a year and never looking back.

First Night Hartford, CT
2:00 PM – 12:00AM
Wristband: Adults: $12.00, Kids (3-5): $3
Downtown Hartford

This year will mark the 28th anniversary of First Night Hartford, and, as always, it’s promised to be a multicultural celebration with not one, but TWO fireworks displays—one slated for 6pm for you early birds out there. There will be a vintage 1914 carousel in Bushnell Park, with 48 hand-carved horses and two lovers chariots to revolve you and your boo into the new year. Enjoy ice skating, an Irish sing-along, and visit Butler McCook House to make your very own mask for the crowd-sourced Grand Procession.

First Night Portsmouth, NH
2:00PM – 12:00AM
Buttons: Adults: $15 ahead of time, $25 night of, Kids: $2
Downtown Portsmouth

Be sure to mosey on over to North Church to check out the ice sculptures, which sculptors have been meticulously working on since one o’clock. Starting at 5:00PM, Portsmouth community radio will be providing tunes for you to dance your 2016 sorrows away ‘til the ball drops. But don’t forget to take a break to visit the NH Astronomical Society for some star gazing—2016 was confusing as hell and I think we all deserve answers from the universe.

First Night Boston, MA
10:00AM – 12:00AM
Free and open to the public
Copley Square

Boston is celebrating over 40 years of First Night, an alternative to the traditional booze driven raucous debauchery of NYE. This year, First Night Boston will continue to be an inclusive, family oriented, art-centered celebration to mark the passage of time. Is one night enough to celebrate the end of a consistently backwards year? Hell No. The party don’t stop at midnight—reconvene on “First Day” for even more fun. Whether it be ice skating, taking ballroom dance lessons, or joining the People’s Parade in Boston Common, you’re sure to have a good time in First Night’s birthplace.

First Night Northampton, MA
12:00PM – 12:00AM
Buttons: Adult $16 ahead of time, $20 day of, Seniors $10, Kids 2-10 $8

If you missed the A2Z yoyo team last year, you have another shot at seeing them do a little more than just walk the dog. Not your cup of hot chocolate? Join the folks from Mad Science at John M. Greene Hall and learn how to make potions that explode. Looking for a more sonic experience? Catch the Northamptones, a high school a cappella troupe. Northampton often likes to take the path less traveled. Oh no, they don’t dare let the ball drop, they would rather see it rise. This year gather around the Hotel Northampton for the ceremonial ascent. You might not be able to tell when the ball gets to the top, but hey, that’s what iPhones are for. Smooch.

Sardine Drop | Tides Institute & Museum of Art, Eastport Maine | Photograph by Hugh French

New Year’s Eve Sardine & Maple Leaf Drop, Eastport, ME
11:00PM – 12:00AM
Free and open to the public
Eastport

Who needs a First Night when you can have a Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop?! Eastport, Maine celebrates the coming of the new year with two “balls,” so to speak. On the third floor of Tides Institute & Museum of Art, a giant maple leaf will drop at 11PM (Midnight, Atlantic Time) to honor the Canadian new year. Following the first finale will be a second, appropriately with the descent of an 8-foot long sardine at midnight ET, as a nod to neighboring New Brunswick, home to a booming sardine industry.  A maple leaf and a sardine—an unlikely, but decidedly merry, love affair. Prior to the “droppings,” pop in to Studioworks to make paper party hats and hit the photo booth in style or stop at the Eastport Gallery for hot cider and cookies. Oh, and don’t forget to kiss the Sardine for good luck in 2017…we’re gonna need it.

Polar Bear Plunge Newport, RI
12:00PM Sharp
Donations to benefit A Wish Come True
Easton Beach

The people of this port city don’t retire their swim trunks when the temperature drops. In fact, on the first day of the year, it’s all these folks wear. This chilly tradition calls on adventurous locals to submerge into the freezing waves in the name of charity, and of course, a particularly *extra* year. If you have too much sense to charge into sub-40 degree water that will surely lead to your demise, pop on a funny hat and support the brave ones…and be sure to donate! Everyone is invited to the Atlantic Beach Club post plunge for an after party and—pun intended—a cold one.

First Night Burlington, VT

11:00AM – 12:00AM
Buttons: Adults: $18, day of $22, Child Button (ages 3 to 12): $5, Student Button (age 13+ with valid ID): $10, Family Pack: $42
Burlington

In 1983, Burlington hopped on the First Night bandwagon and become the fifth city to join the tradition. The main event of this family-friendly celebration is the Dancing Dragons parade, in which locals march down Church Street in traditional, Chinese-style parade dragons. In addition to the carnival rhythms, First Night Burlington offers a bountiful lineup of local artists, a screening of animated short films by Vermont International Film Festival, and an instrument petting zoo for people, especially children, to explore lesser known folk instruments from around the world.

Top image by Hugh French

The post First Night New England appeared first on Take Magazine.

Here’s our list of the movers and shakers, culture-makers that are documenting their artistic ploys and political rants on your fav social media platform. Take a look at New England through Instagram because on insta everyone’s a photographer.

@hotelonnorth

 

We are teaming up with Sonsini Animal Shelter for Kittens & Cocktails on North starting this Monday. Socialization is an important step in the adoption process. Purchase a beverage from the bar, join us in the Lounge, and pet a kitten from 5:30-6:30pm. #intheberkshires #pittsfield #kittens #cocktails #animalshelter #yournewbestfriend

A photo posted by Hotel On North (@hotelonnorth) on Nov 9, 2016 at 12:04pm PST

Hotel on North is arguably the most photogenic place to stay in the region. Made from two 19th century buildings in downtown Pittsfield this place is anything but the pits. Between the claw foot tubs and the keep-sake quality local trimmings and trappings in each unique room, this place is most definitely instagram-worthy.

@snowsculpt

Stalker and Gawker. #funwithfood It’s fall harvest time here in #westernmass and I couldn’t resist a little fun with this stalk of #brusselsprouts from my garden. #harvest #garden #veggies #vegetables #faces #googleyeyes #eyes #playwithfood #food #healthyfoods #shotwithshotbox

A photo posted by Dave Rothstein (@snowsculpt) on Oct 24, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

Dave Rothstein is a snow sculptor and famed donut photographer. He’s a renaissance man of the 21st century and his Instagram account—which includes vegetables dressed with googly eyes, Spock holding a donut hole, and close ups of nature that’ll make you take a closer look at the beauty in your own surroundings—stands testament to that.

@thewadsworth

Sam Wagstaff was a trailblazer & tastemaker in contemporary art—qualities he exhibited as a Wadsworth Atheneum curator in the 1960s. “Sam Wagstaff as Curator” explores his influence and impact, from the organization of innovative exhibitions to the acquisition of cutting-edge artworks. On view now!

A photo posted by Wadsworth Atheneum (@thewadsworth) on Nov 1, 2016 at 8:37am PDT

The Wadsworth Atheneum is the oldest public museum of its kind in the country, founded in 1842, but it’s aging quite well.

@breakfastxlunchxdinner

#NEGUSpublication 10/26/16 @ 7PM EST 760 Chapel St. c/o @grieretelosbo

A video posted by BL&D (@breakfastxlunchxdinner) on Oct 21, 2016 at 3:11pm PDT

The tastemakers of Hartford, CT are on Instagram and it looks good. Follow this crew for event updates, artist profiles and all things contemporary and cool in Connecticut.

@sad13

honestly promoting this new record today feels like a misuse of time when there’s so much in my country to protest against and organize towards. but… to those of u telling me my record’s getting u through the hurt & disbelief of this week, i hear you & appreciate that more than u know. that said, THE SAD13 BAND starts its first U.S. tour tomorrow w/ some amazing bands. hope to see u there. this beautiful poster is by @cdirck. if you need help getting to the show safely or to get in touch in any way, you can always find me here or at sad13sadie@gmail.com excited to see all my friends throughout the country, excited to wear my new american flag-printed kicks & remind myself that this country at its best is about love & community, and not those other hateful things some bigots would have you believe tickets at sadthirteen.com

A photo posted by Sadie Dupuis (@sad13) on Nov 11, 2016 at 5:50pm PST

Sad13 is the fierce, feminist solo-project by “frontdemon” of Speedy Ortiz. She just released a new album “Slugger” and did a reddit AMA in a Sailor Moon wig (okay, YAS). Sad13 aka Sadie is the ultimate celeb crush and my forever #wcw. Visit her account for all things pro-love!

@loopvintageupcycle

Shop the LOOP #etsyshop for #mod #holiday #decor and #gifts Etsy.com/shop/LOOPWesternMA #etsy #gift #midcentury #midcenturymodern #etsyseller #retro #etsy

A photo posted by LOOP Vintage and Upcycled (@loopvintageupcycle) on Nov 10, 2016 at 9:54am PST

This Insta takes the retro cake in satisfying all your delightfully kitschy mid-century needs. We had a feeling you would ask, and the answer is yes, they have an Etsy shop: LINKY. The best part? You can invite your friends for a dinner party and brag that your 60-year-old Alvin and the Chipmunks themed glassware set is probably one of a kind.

@wildfolkstudio

I’m noticing I did less of my usual color palettes this wedding season. the dark + moody flowers are still the most alluring to me… but the many variations of an orange, muted yellow and peach palette I created is close behind. ????

A photo posted by caroline o’donnell (@wildfolkstudio) on Oct 26, 2016 at 2:24pm PDT

Somerville florist, Caroline O’Donnell Instagram will make you want to die and be reincarnated as a flower in one of her arrangements. There is literally nothing more perfect than her subdued purples and pinks and muted earth tones, and the filters don’t hurt either.

@mollyhatch

Wednesday seems like a good day for milk and ? Happy Wednesday friends! #mollyhatch #anthropologie #milk #cookies ? @anthro_germantown

A photo posted by Molly Hatch (@mollyhatch) on Oct 26, 2016 at 6:57am PDT

Molly Hatch is a designer, illustrator, drawer, author, creator-I could go on. Her Instagram is painfully cute and framed in pastels that upon scrolling through will make your stress melt away. Beware, her flawless composition and frequent enviable tea parties will probably make you resent your own Instagram.

@matthealeyphoto

I've been waiting to post a couple of these from an assignment for @worcestertelegram back in July. Great assignment and story. Maysam Alzuhairi (R) of Worcester and Awham Alkuheli (L) of Worcester wait their turn to be baptized at a Mandaean baptism ceremony prior to a wedding celebration on the banks of Lake Quinsigamond at Lake Park in Worcester, Massachusetts on July 10, 2016. #igersmass #worcester #massachusetts #nofilter #photojournalism #igersworcester #scenesofmassachusetts #scenesofnewengland #dslr #worcesterma

A photo posted by Matthew Healey (@matthealeyphoto) on Sep 27, 2016 at 8:30am PDT

As his handle suggests, Matt is a badass photog with a knack for portraits. His feed is littered with humans-in-action AKA ~athletes~ and as you can see, pretty priceless game faces.

@Narrangansett

The #OfficialBeerOfBrunch is back!!! #ASwallowWillTellYou

A photo posted by Narragansett Beer (@gansettbeer) on Nov 10, 2016 at 9:35am PST

It’s beer season! Well, it’s always beer season. ‘gansett’s vintage-inspired cans will take you back to the days of pick-up ice hockey on the local frozen pond. Plus, the outdoors-y Rhode Island imagery will give you the feels for Fall.

@bostonhassle

Here's that OFFICIAL POSTER for #hasslefest8 thanks the artist Jen McMahon @bigeyesquarehead for the twisted vision, #repromanreprographics2 for printing it and our incredible sponsors!! @wzbc @bellalunamilkywayjp @pavementcoffee @massculturalcouncil #massfestivals and #saferesponsiblemovers ! See you this weekend y'all!!!

A photo posted by Boston Hassle (@bostonhassle) on Nov 2, 2016 at 12:46pm PDT

Boston Hassle is your volunteer-run DIY info flow on everything underground and ~kewl~.

@shady.pines.sleddogs

Midweek motivation, on this day. #heroichearts

A video posted by Sally Manikian (@shady.pines.sleddogs) on Nov 9, 2016 at 4:17am PST

Post-election stress got you feeling some type of way? Look no further. These dogs aren’t just cute, they’re also smarter than your honor student. These puppers are Sally Manikan’s small to mid-distance racing team residing in the White Mountains of NH and they want to be your BFFs.

@laughingloone

Thank you Hannah! . . . #loone #laughingloone #brighthollowtattooing #queerartist #noellelonghaul #queerwitch #darkart #darkartists #blxckink #btattooing #qttr #transartist #blackworkerssubmission #inkstinctsubmission #blacktattoomag #blacktattoo #tattooersubmission #tattooistartmagazine #tattrx #tattrxartist #charonarttattoo #bishoprotary #inkstinctsubmission #tttism #txttoo #charonarttattoo #bishoprotary #inkstinctsubmission #tttism #txttoo #charonarttattoo #bishoprotary #inkstinctsubmission #tttism

A photo posted by Noel'le Longhaul (@laughingloone) on Nov 13, 2016 at 3:28pm PST

Laughing Loone is the pseudonym of Noel’le Longhaul’s online tattoo persona. Her Instagram is home to dark, ethereal masterpieces on fleshy canvas. She’s also in three bands. In short, there is no one cooler than Noel’le.

@pizzablonde

I've got my @dominos, I've got my ?? rosé, and I'm ready to go. #electionnight

A photo posted by Pizza Blonde ??? (@pizzablonde) on Nov 8, 2016 at 3:39pm PST

This is proof—blondes do in fact have more fun. Pizzablonde is essentially living out everyone’s dreams- ya’ll dream about cheese too, right? Right?! By acquainting her tastebuds—and in turn, our insta feeds—with every form pizza can morph into, (i.e. sandwich, spaghetti, and smore) the world can finally see all that pizza can truly be.

@shanelavalette

#agnesmartin @guggenheim

A photo posted by Shane Lavalette (@shanelavalette) on Nov 5, 2016 at 8:03pm PDT

Shane, hailing from Burlington, VT is #instaporn for black and white photography enthusiasts. The way he plays with the duality of shadows in his pictures will give you a chill and leave you feeling confused in a good way.

Top photo courtesy Wild Folk Studio Instagram page

The post #Nofilter New England appeared first on Take Magazine.

“How many people wanted to work in a brewery in 1979?” asks Jacob Long during our discussion about fashion. Long’s American Woolen Company (AWC) is one of only two luxury worsted and woolen mills in the US. “It’s about craftsmanship applied to all – look at the beer industry,” he explained. “American brewers have been able to establish for themselves a proprietary taste in craft beers.”

Long makes a compelling case. As with American breweries, American fabric manufacturers can bring new, luxe products that are created with skillful artistry with New England especially primed to provide a home-base for these new luxury industries. The proprietary product of American Woolen Company, located in Stafford Springs CT, is unabashedly unique, but its potential to become a massive cultural movement and economic powerhouse comes from our history.

“No one wanted to work in a brewery then,” Long finishes, “Now? Kids are dying to get an interview and start a career at breweries.”

The prêt-à-porter and couture fashion seasons begin with fabric manufacturers about two years ahead of when the clothes will be sent down runways. Fashion designers work with these luxury mills to establish colors, textures, source material, and numerous other details. As the only mill in America that produces fabrics in alpaca, noble fibers, and cashmere, American Woolen Company fills a vacuum in the indulgent fabric market. As a result they’ve become a huge hit with younger designers who want to domestically source their material.

Red Color Story Fall/Winter 2017 |
Photo courtesy of American Woolen Company

Color, says Long, is what really ties the product to New England. “Europeans, by and large, think of American-style as either southern California or old New England,” Long explains. “Much of what we do is try to define the New England color aesthetic.” Each season’s color story comes from a different geographical region. Hudson, NY is influencing the AWC Fall/Winter 2017 scheme, with the town’s whaling industry past bringing bone white into the collection.

Long’s design model revolves around the idea that an American luxury aesthetic must begin with culturally-sourced colors and palettes. American fashion has long embraced buying extravagant fabric and materials from overseas, which brings the color trends of the Italian and French designers to American department stores – often resulting in higher sale prices. The clothing might embrace American design, but if the colors were American inspired, they tended towards stereotypical California beach tones or the hues of an autumnal New England meadow.

“It is a New England cut? An American cut?” Long extrapolates, “Sure, but it terms of the fabric there’s a lot of variables to be explored. The emphasis [by the fabric production industry] wasn’t on the advancement of an American fashion aesthetic all its own. Anyone can sell you fabric, but only we can sell you American woolen fabric.”

Successfully marketing a proprietary product is proving easy for American Woolen Company. Within their first year of opening, domestic fashion brands reached out to the company. “We are present at New York Fashion week…every brand we’ve been working with has an American capsule collection on the market, on the drawing board, or in the works.” Long says ninety-nine percent of their advertising is word of mouth with much of their clientele of young designers providing copious helpful publicity through their social media engagement.

Photo courtesy of American Woolen Company

Long seems thankful but unsurprised by AWC’s immediate popularity as fashion brands embrace several different types of American cultural looks. Although, Long still feels that, “[Americans] have fashion brands but we don’t have iconic luxury manufacturing. We don’t have them because we don’t have production in America.”

Indeed, in his search for livestock to get wool from, Long ran into a quantity problem. American sheep that are bred for woolen knits have extremely high-quality wool but there simply aren’t enough of them. Sheep farmers can make more money raising them for food. And yet, “Made in America, Made in New England – has tremendous export potential,” Long said, “People want to know what farm their food comes from, and want to apply that to clothes”.

Manufacturing, according to Long, is the key and revitalizing the industry in this country. Long was shocked to discover that New England, in spite of a lengthy and historic relationship with the fashion production world, has minimal textile production infrastructure. “If I can’t get workers at a machine, I can’t get anything,” Long explains, “but can you imagine if our consumer tastes shifted to Made in America, how many jobs we could create?” Rebranding textile manufacturing to be an appealing and lucrative career path might seem like a fruitless venture, but Long points, once again, to American breweries and their renewed cultural and economic prominence.

Jacob Long | Photo courtesy of American Woolen Company

Although Long’s past is in the business industry, his reverence for the fashion world is evident, “First, get the fashion right.” Craftsmanship takes priority overall, as it is with a great number of artistic industries in New England, but Long’s vision is to make the northeast the center of an American artistic revolution. In today’s political and economic climate, it is refreshing to hear an optimistic voice. Even more uplifting still, is to observe a company like American Woolen Company skyrocket to early success.

The post Seriously Fashionable, Made in America, Textiles appeared first on Take Magazine.