A Spot on the Porch: July 2017

Sunday, July 30, 2017

News Release: King's Images on Exhibit at Byron Merrill Library Rumney

News Release:
Date: July 27, 2017
For immediate Release
For more information: 603-515-6001 or 603-786-9378

Wayne King's Images on Exhibit at Byron Merrill Library Rumney Aug 2-30, 2017

Celebration of Rumney's 250th Anniversary includes New Book

"A Spot on the Porch" is the title of an exhibit of images by Rumney-based artists Wayne and Alice King.

The exhibit is part of the town's ongoing celebrations of its 250th Anniversary. Wayne's images will be exhibited at the Byron Merrill Library and Alice's Gemstone Bead work will be exhibited at the Rumney Post office from August 2 - 30 2017.

As a part of the exhibit Wayne King has produced a book of the same title. A Spot on the Porch is available from Amazon.com in paperback and hard cover editions. There is also a card, calendar and poster and postage stamp coming soon.

Wayne D. Kings images are a celebration of life, blending the real and the surreal to achieve a sense of place or time that reaches beyond the moment into what he calls "a dreamlike quintessentialism" designed to spark an emotional response. Using digital enhancement, handcrafting, painting, and sometimes even straight photography, King seeks to take the viewer to a place that is beyond simple truth to where truth meets passion, hope and dreams.

Alice calls her work Gemstone Finery and Frippery, which turns out to be a near-perfect way to describe the nexus of both beauty and fun that weave throughout her work.

To learn more about the book and other products. visit our website: http://bit.ly/Rumney250

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Introduction

Introduction

In 1980 I moved to Rumney where it was just close enough to family that I would still be a part of it, but far enough away that they would have to call before visiting. I fell in love with the town almost from the first week. I rented a sweet little house from Joe and Nancy Kolb, who were the most gracious of landlords, living right next to Pic Jaquith who shared flowers with me from the first day they bloomed in spring until the end of summer asters had died away. Pic maintained the showplace flower garden of Rumney until his death, after which Betty-Jo and Bill Taffe have given even old Pic a run for his money.

In 1984 Alice joined me, living in the big old farmhouse that I had, by then, purchased from Faith Moulton. It was a big rambling 17 room house and piece by piece we turned it into apartments, living in one as we finished it, renting it and then moving on to the next unfinished space.Today that building has been turned into the Common Cafe and Tavern by Brian and Dianna Paquette, to whom the entire town is indebted not only for providing great food but for converting the building back to a commercial enterprise.

On December 21, 1985 Alice and I were married beside the Stinson Brook on a piece of land that we had purchased from Doug and Erin Way. We had by then decided that Rumney would be our home. Alice called it her "Spot on the Porch" and I couldn't have agreed more. Two years later we built the house that we have lived in ever since. In that same year, having served three terms in the NH House of Representatives, I announced for the Senate and somehow managed to eek out a win, the first Democrat to serve in that seat since the Civil War. I couldn't have done it without great people like Doris Tunnel, who introduced me when I announced; Betty Jo Taffe who quietly helped a fellow from the other side of the aisle and Bill who didn't need to hide his support; Kevin and Debbie Maes who were our eyes and ears throughout the county; Colonel Joe and Ann Kent and their daughter Jennifer who were, by then, icons of Rumney and noted conservationists - having established the Quincy Bog Natural area; Cindy and Norrie Parr; Joan and Paul Turley; Keith and Andrea Sutherland; Brad and Lori Eaton; Betsy Bennett, Pat, Paul and Peggy Hannigan - consecutive proprietors of the Rumney Village Store - all volunteered countless hours and made sure that my lawn signs would dominate the village, just in case the Union Leader came snooping.

So, here we are in 2017. the 250th anniversary of the founding of Rumney and I still love this place as much as I ever have. This little town that has space for people of all kinds. This book is a celebration of our collective "Spot on the Porch". It is dedicated to the people of Rumney, those with us and those passed but still in our hearts. Here's to 250 more!