"Garden Girl" to speak at Boston Public Library

Don't miss Patti Moreno, Roxbury's "Garden Girl", speaking about urban gardening and sustainability on December 16, 6:00 pm at the Boston Public Library's Rabb Hall as part of the Boston Society of Architects Exploring Design free lecture series. 

Patti can be found on GardenGirlTV.com and in her ezine Urban Sustainable Living promoting back-to-basics sustainable gardening, farming, and homemaking practices for the city and suburbs.  For me, to be a house enthusiast is to be a garden enthusiast.  Each contributes to the other, much as my mother's in-town house and garden do.  If you haven't the time or opportunity to attend the Boston Public Library event, check out Patti's online offerings.  You'll find plenty of food for thought.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

2009 Salem Open Studios

KHS Photography is happy to be part of the Salem Open Studios tour this year.  The event is Saturday, December 12 from 10:00 am-6:00 pm and features 26 artists at 17 locations.  Print out the event map and explore the work and spaces of Salem's creative community.  I'll have framed and matted prints plus note cards available for purchase, a fire in the hearth, and the door to my loft studio in the c. 1768 Captain Edward Allen house open.  Tell a friend and drop by.

Drawing Toward Home: Designs for Domestic Architecture from Historic New England

Alexander Esty, Unidentified house, c. 1855, Courtesy of Historic New EnglandFor those of us who grew up here, the older homes of New England typically have the first and greatest architectural influence on us.  Those who move to New England later in life often quickly come to appreciate the unique language the houses of New England speak.  It’s a language worthy of study and appreciation which is exemplified in Drawing Toward Home, Designs for Domestic Architecture from Historic New England now on show at the Boston University Art Gallery.

Since I mostly draft by hand, as all architects did prior to the advent of computer-aided drafting, it was with great delight that I perused the architectural drawings from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries on display at B.U.  Most are presentation drawings while some are study drawings meant primarily for the architects’ review.

Well known and little-known architects are represented in the 100 exhibited drawings culled from Historic New England’s collection which contains the work of more than 400 architects.  I found myself drawn to three striking drawings which collectively reflect three areas of interest to architects: constructed elements relative to landscape; the house: its plan, exterior elevations, sections and representation in perspective; and its interior.

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KHS Photography at the Cinema Salem gallery

Click on this photo to see it in the KHS photo note cards/prints gallery.Cinema Salem is hosting a Salem Arts Association show November 6 - 30, 2009.  Drop by to see some of my fine art photography and the work of five other new SAA artist members.  My limited edition photos are printed with archival ink on archival rag paper which has a deckled edge.  If you’re in town on Saturday, Nov. 14, join me at the artists’ reception from 4-7 pm.  Then grab a movie at Salem’s inspired independent movie house.  For art and film buffs, it’s win-win.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast

Crane Estate Art Show & Sale

Click on this photo to see it in the KHS photo note cards/prints gallery.If you haven’t recently (or ever) visited Castle Hill on the Crane Estate in Ipswich, this is the weekend to do so.  The weather outlook is good, and there’s an Art Show & Sale in the Great House.  Visit this stunning Trustees of Reservations property to view more than 150 pieces of art which celebrate exquisite North Shore landscapes and landmarks.  Attend the Artists’ Reception on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 from 5-7 pm or take in the show on Nov. 7 & 8 from 10 am–4 pm.  Click here for an earlier post I wrote singing the Crane Estate’s praises.

by Katie Hutchison for House Enthusiast