Main Gallery Exhibition: Lotte Jacobi Open Juried Exhibition
Featuring 63 artworks by 45 artists

PORTSMOUTH—The Lotte Jacobi Open Juried Exhibition pays tribute to esteemed former New Hampshire Art Association (NHAA) member Lotte Jacobi, who was considered a premier photographer of the 20th century. Known for her striking portraits, Jacobi captured iconic images of cultural and intellectual figures such as Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Robert Frost.

Beyond her artistic contributions, Jacobi played a pivotal role in advocating for photography as a fine art medium within the NHAA during the 1940s. NHAA aims to keep her legacy alive by inviting photographers from all over New England to submit their best work. The result is a stunning display of diverse perspectives and techniques within the photographic arts.

Juror Gary Samson, who worked closely with Lotte Jacobi took his job seriously and welcomed the challenge to jury an exhibition in her name.

“Lotte was a mentor to young artists, she believed passing her knowledge down was essential to fostering the next group of creatives” Samson says. “I was so intimidated by her at first but I quickly felt welcomed by her willingness to help me in my career as a photographer.”

The Lotte Jacobi Open Juried Exhibition is a must see for photographers and art enthusiasts alike.  

Artist Curated Solo Exhibitions 

New England Stories by Ana Smyth

New England Stories is Smyth’s homage to the region she now calls home, brought to life through a lens of unexpected brilliance. With joyous color and energetic brushwork, she captures scenes of snow, ocean, forest, and historical structures, each infused with a rhythmic quality. “Painting is like creating a symphony,” she says. “My brushstrokes are instruments playing in harmony, inspired by the music I listen to while I work.”

Aquaria by Cleo Huggins

Inspired by her frequent visits to the New England Aquarium Huggins brings her experience to the gallery. Rendered with the precision and sensitivity of an experienced oil painter, her underwater compositions challenge traditional plein air technique. Light diffuses and drops off suddenly. Shadows shimmer with unexpected color.

Subjects dart and hide. Turtles loom, larger than life. The distortion of aquarium glass adds another layer of surreal beauty. Huggins captures not just marine life but the emotional escape of immersion, where the viewer becomes part of the stillness, the spectacle, and the imagination.

Scenes from San Pedro—La Isla Bonita by Tom Cawthon

With a documentarian’s eye and a storyteller’s heart, Cawthon captures the kaleidoscopic culture of San Pedro, where Mestizo, Creole, Garifuna, and other heritages coexist in a dynamic blend of tradition, tourism, and local life.

This exhibition invites viewers to glimpse daily rituals, fleeting moments, and experience the warmth of a community known for its laid-back spirit. Framed by the island’s natural beauty and international influences, these photographs go beyond postcard images to tell a deeper, more human story.

Balance: Stone, Steel, and Wood by Marty Kelley

Using a hammer drill, salvaged spring steel rods, and his eye for the unexpected, Kelley creates formations where heavy stone seems to float or sway in delicate counterbalance. Abstract works highlight the raw beauty of fractured surfaces, while his figurative sculptures push against gravity and logic. With a combination of rugged materials and thoughtful intention, this exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their expectations of sculpture, movement, and permanence. Kelley’s work is a testament to imagination and the elegance found in even the heaviest materials.

All exhibitions will be showcased at the New Hampshire Art Association from July 31 to Sept. 1. Please join us for the opening reception on Friday, Aug. 1, from 5-8 pm. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. 

Artwork: Meeting House Vestibule, South Solon, ME by Robert Morin, photography