The Ledyard Gallery is the Howe Library’s space for exhibiting work by artists of the Upper Valley. In addition to exhibits by individual artists, we host annual group exhibits such as the Elden Murray contest, the Hanover High Art Show, and the 55+ Art Show.
To inquire about showing your work in the Ledyard Gallery, email Sam Milnes at sam.milnes@thehowe.org.
Current Exhibit
The Power of Nature
by Tammi DeFelice
on display through
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Opening Reception:
Saturday, March 1 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Artist Statement
In the fall of 2021, I found myself in a difficult place and a little bit lost. One morning, I picked up some 30 year old paint brushes and oil paints, that had been set aside after a rather discouraging Introduction to Oils class, and started painting the first of what is now many paintings.
My art is like my brain. It starts loose, chaotic, and unorganized, but, like my brain when it’s allowed the time to organize all its busy thoughts, my oil paintings move into a hyper focused detail that brings my mind and body to a calm place. The only other time
I feel this sort of calm is in nature, secluded from the noisy world that is now the norm.
As a mother and teacher, I have noticed the immense impact that nature has on me and the children who have explored nature at my side. Through my art, I have set out trying to capture nature at its best and children and animals at their best, in nature.
The paintings you see today are parts of a series designed to bring us back to nature. You will see a partial set of pollinators and flowers, specifically busy bees, as we are all just doing what we feel we must to survive. You will see children with their beautiful childlike qualities, qualities that the adult world can sometimes steal from us as we just try to survive. You will see children becoming their best self while their bare feet are grounded by the earth. I have attempted to capture them as the loving, industrial,
eager, thoughtful, friendly, and, most importantly, magical beings that they are. When we are struggling to recognize these qualities in ourselves, we will most easily find that part of ourselves by stepping into nature.
As an artist, I haven’t found my sole subject, yet, but my soul purpose is to capture the souls of all beings, animal, plant, or something else entirely. I love to capture relationships between beings; whether it be bees and flowers, children and animals, or
anything in between. I love capturing eyes, hands, and ears. I love souls. So, that is what I paint. When I paint, my ADHD, intense empathy, and need for nature isn’t overwhelming, but instead; it is my super power.
I paint to celebrate
Individuals
Community
Nature
Love
and Myself
Up Next: Florabundance – A collection of drawings and paintings of flowers and objects from my surroundings, by Carolyn Umpleby
