The valley may be experiencing a little bit more winter, but don’t be fooled— spring is surely on the way. To celebrate, the artists of the Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association have decked out the North Conway gallery with blossoming flowers and reawakening landscapes.
The spring show highlights works exploring themes of metamorphosis and new growth through a variety of mediums, from painting and photography to mixed media and textiles. The exhibit will be on view for three months — from Thursday, April 3 to Sunday, June 29 with a special “Meet the Artists” celebration on Saturday, April 12 from 12–4 p.m.
Resident Sarah Eastman says she has a particular affinity for florals. “Painting flowers is a constant source of inspiration for my art— both watercolors and pastels. I often think of Georgia O’Keefe’s quote about most people just walking by flowers and rarely seeing their endless beauty. That’s why she painted close-ups of them. I hope my flower paintings will teach people to really see them as well.”
“When winter loses its grip on the White Mountains, I am ready for the color to reemerge. The buds begin to redden the tree canopies in the notches and early bright greens appear in woods and the gardens. The streams and the waterfalls are full of roaring energy and life. Rebirth of spring is an energizing time for me as a person and an artist. I am able to get back outside with my easel and breathe it all in and splash that joy onto my canvas,” said resident artist Lori Stearns about her plein-air painting practice.
The Mt. Washington Valley Arts Association has been promoting the arts in our community since the 1960s through events, classes, and the annual Art in the Park fine art festival. The association’s gallery is open year-round at 16 Norcross Circle (behind the new Cheese Louise), Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 53rd Annual Art in the Park will be October 11 & 12, 2025 in Schouler Park.
