VOLUME 37, NUMBER 27 MAY 16, 2013 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY Artistic Journeys Benjamin Champney, ‘Dean’ of the White Mountain school Page 2 Valley Feature Behind the scenes at Riverstones Bake Shop Page 3 On the Links “New Boys” take the lead at Wentworth Page 19 A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH Artistic Journeys By Cynthia Melendy, Ph.D. State Museum. For those who remark, “Who needs another “A great portion of my art museum?” the answer lies life has been spent in North here, once the artists’ umbrel- Conway and my thoughts la mind is opened. turn pleasantly to that place,” Then, it is always worth- wrote Benjamin Champney in while returning to former his memoirs of his life in Eu- haunts close to home to see rope, North Conway, and the how artists and their friends woods. He is considered the have grown over the seasons. ‘Dean’ of the White Mountain There is always a fresh sur- School of Art, and takes his prise and a welcome regenera- place as the leader of artists in tion when it comes to art. Just the last 150 years of art in the wait a while. Mount Washington Valley. One case in point is the No doubt Champney is a Mount Washington Valley hero to many, and the morn- Arts Association, which is ing the rains came this week, collaborating with the Met to I spent some time in the warm display members’ work in the bluebird skies tracing the Downstairs Gallery as well as march of Spring across the the Upstairs Gallery of the Valley and the Mountains. I Met. I found familiar work of followed the progress of color friends as well as new arrivals from brown, gray, pink, pur- of artists I had not encoun- ple, bright green, and finally tered. Whether you think Courtesy dark green as the deciduous you are familiar with the ‘art Benjamin Champney trees fully leafed out across the scene’ in the Valley, you will mountains and valleys. There find something new and excit- is, my opinion, no more lovely ing. I know I did. I went home transition of color, including with a brown paper wrapped the bright colors of autumn. package. What one finds there Since Champney and his is delicious on all counts. wife first bought their cottage A recap of my jaunts is not with the intent of establishing complete without including an artists’ salon there, hun- the wonderful exhibit at Tin dreds of artists, both obscure Mountain Conservation Cen- and world famous, have estab- ter, which is about to close lished the Mount Washington (unfortunately—wish it went Valley as their artistic home. longer!) a fantastic smaller Some stay the winter, others gallery in the front hall ti- return to urban studios, still tled “Art Celebrates Place.” others migrate to Florida and Sometimes it seems as though the west coast. the best shows are those that When I set out on my foray are ephemeral and inspired by I aimed to witness this years’ a body of mind, spirit, and ar- new crop of studios, galleries, tistic talent. But let’s not for- and gems of small galleries. I get the reason. Courtesy was not disappointed. As Benjamin Champney has Winslow Homer’s rendition of Artists’ Brook. There are new galleries in taught us, art is very much all nity in all its faults and plea- famous as Barbizon and the 1853 and 1854 the meadows Jackson (last fall) and a mu- about place. Our artists and sures, like a good friendship, Forest of Fontainebleau after and the banks of the Saco were seum (Jackson Museum of nature lovers present their come to appreciate and love Millet, Rousseau and Diaz dotted all about with white White Mountain Art) since unique viewpoints in their the place we live. Nature, in had set the fashion. Doz- umbrellas in great numbers.” many headed indoors or away work. I have my favorites and my opinion, creates great art. ens of umbrellas were dotted (71) for the winter. Visit Gallery made some notes as I studied Champney recorded this about under which sat artists Winslow Homer illustrated Eight at the north end of the the wonderful work. If you are phenomenon years ago. “It is from all sections of the coun- this scene, and we re-enact village, or Nancy White Cas- a collector and have a favorite never over, and continues yet, try.” Indeed, “…Thus every this marriage of art and place sisy’s studio near the Snowflake artist, do not leave this annual North Conway and the neigh- year brought fresh visitors to year after year in our celebrat- Inn. Often there are demon- exhibit off your calendar. It is borhood of Artists’ Brook at North Conway as the news of ed home. I can’t wait to see strations at the Wentworth always worthwhile. one time became almost as its attractions spread, until in what this season produces. Hotel, where Eric Koeppel Champney wrote, “A truly holds classes and programs. American school of art there- It will be a hive of artistic ac- fore is not possible so long CASAREGION — Wouldseeking you the courtvolunteers system. The kids inBelow the is a link Valley to a brief vid- tivity there just as it was 100 as we can not translate our like to put your experiences you will work with have been eo that depicts what an actual years ago. One can often also nature for ourselves…” (60) and skills to really good use in abused and / or neglected. You CASA does observe visiting artists at the Some ask about the Mount a meaningful way where you would meet with them once a https://www.youtube.com/ falls above the village. Washington Valley, “why art, could genuinely make a differ- month (more if you’d like) and watch?feature=player_embed- This is not to overlook what here?” Why not move (to the ence? then represent their best inter- ded&v=nkhoZ5MEvzo one finds West of Washington city, the south, the west, to Court Appointed Special ests to the courts. There is a To apply or for more infor- at the new Museum of White Europe). Those of us who ex- Advocates (CASA) volunteers desperate need in the greater mation, please call Jen Buteau Mountain Art at the Plymouth perience our natural commu- are trained to advocate for a Mount Washington Valley area at 752-9790 or email atjbu- child that they get to know in for more CASA volunteers. [email protected]. On the Cover Inside Index ENJOYING THE MARKET Valley Folks & Focus ........................Pages 7-8 Adam & Mary Spencer of Center Ossipee and their The Healing Garden Out & About ........................................Page 19 adopted Yorkshire Terriers, Sasha & Deladis, attended Foraging for wild edibles Valley Business ................................Pages 9-11 the opening Saturday of the Tamworth Farmer’s Market - Page 14 located in the parking lot of the Unitarian Church in Valley Education .............................. Page 3-14 Tamworth Village on May 11. The Market will be open As the Wheel Turns Valley News .......................................... Pages 5 Saturdays through late October. Cycling the old course of Rockpile ................................................Page 15 Photo by Dennis Coughlin the Saco - Page 20 Calendar .........................................Pages 24-25 Page 2 | The Mountain Ear | Thursday, May 16, 2013 Valley Feature Riverstones Bakeshop and Pleasant Street Arts, a candied spot in Fryeburg By Rachael Brown That is exactly what they dollars sending out Christ- Wolf Gonier has a sweet fol- did. The barn was renovat- mas yule logs. Every one went lowing. So sweet that custom- ed to bakery style, the heavy home with a yule log. I really ers of Gonier’s Riverstones equipment- oven and all- was like to make pastries and say; Bakeshop have followed Goni- hoisted through the huge side ‘Oh how am I not going to eat er to a barn circa 1810, located picture window. this,’” grins Gonier. off the center of town in Frye- It is here that Gonier crafts Gonier gets ideas from burg, to enjoy delectable pas- strawberry cakes, chocolate gourmet magazines, pastry tries created by Gonier, baker/ cake layered with chocolate arts, and always looking at owner of the pastry shop. mouse, topped with straw- books. Many may remember River- berries, croustadas, roulades, “Wolf has a European, stones’ location in the bright custards, eclairs, cheese cakes French, Austrian influence,” blue building in Conway on and lots of chocolate. Gonier adds Vazquez. White Mountain Highway, af- makes all the basics, adding Baking is basic five ingredi- ter a brief hiatus they are back seasonal changes with ingre- ents, she adds. “But upgraded ingredients. in western Maine, full steam dients like, pumpkin, eggnog Courtesy ahead. and ginger. Bakery is open Wolf Gonier, owner of Riverstones Bakeshop has 20 years plus experi- Julia Child would be proud,” “I was the baker in the back Thursday through Sunday, ence as a baker and is offering sumptuous sweets at their new location says Vazquez. of the building [former loca- noon to 6 p.m. When the bak- in Fryeburg. “We try to do things people tion]; you didn’t see me much. ery is closed, not to worry, you like, strawberry cakes, choco- After we closed, I had been can find Riverstones baked late cakes and we like think we in Portland, some custom- goods in Fryeburg at Jockey do it yummier,” says Gonier, ers followed me to Portland Cap Store, Sherman Farms, adding that working in good and now that have found us 302 West Smokehouse and Boston area bakeries added to in Fryeburg.