Hope is to Create Community, Potentially a Show in the Spring
Artists and artisans: Julie Becker knows you’re out there and she’d like you to raise your hand.
Becker is a psychotherapist by trade, but she’s also an artist, currently focusing on basket-making, and she’s hoping to bring together a community of like-minded fellow union members and potentially set up a show in the spring.
“I’ve been with the state for about nine years, and throughout my time here, I’ve been floored by the talent,” she said. “I thought, how cool would it be to foster a community to recognize the art all of us are creating.”
Becker said she envisions the community being open to union members and their families, and she wouldn’t place limits on what people could bring to the table.
“Everything from farm-grown produce to culinary things to arts and crafts,” said Becker, who belongs to the League of NH Craftsmen. “My hope would be to eventually create a sort of manual that people could look at when they want to order a cake or buy a basket or some leatherwork.”
Creating a community would provide moral support “because our jobs can be kind of tough,” but it would also provide an outlet for artisans to sell their products.
“I found out the hard way when I joined the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, that to get my baskets in their shops, they take a percentage,” she said.
Becker — who’s a member of Chapter 24 and serves as a steward — said she’s been thinking about the idea to reach out to her fellow union members for a while.
“I’d like to know if there is interest, and if there is, I’d like to put together a group of people to put together a show in the spring,” she said.
With all the talent she’s seen among her fellow union members, Becker said what she’s hoping will emerge is a sort of artists’ colony within the union to provide both an outlet and a venue.
“My hope is to build a support network,” Becker said. “It’s my stress reduction, my coping mechanism. There have to be other artists out there.”
If you’re an artist or artisan and are interested in getting involved, you can contact Laurie Gordon at 271-3411, ext. 100 or email@example.com.