Jackson, NH – The art of cross-country skiing is getting a whole lot more, well…”artsy,” thanks to a one-day installation of abstract art displayed along some of Jackson Ski Touring Center’s network of 56 wooded trails.
Two abstract painters, Rebecca Klementovich of nearby Bartlett, N.H., and Kristen Pobatschnig of Conway, N.H., will display art with nature on February 11. Instead of a white-walled gallery, in its place are walls made from snow, hemlocks, and birches, all places for paintings to hang from.
Viewing hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $5 on foot, or a $21 trail pass for those on skis or snowshoes, or less for seniors and children.
The artists hope to develop a new language by using radically different color palettes to represent local places, landmarks and the weather of New England. Many of the canvasses are non-representational, measuring four feet by three feet with high contrast colors to express abstract landscapes in the area.
Klementovich and Pobatsching are a painting duo who call themselves the “Femme Fatales of the North.” They are working to bring more attention to female painters in northern New Hampshire, especially abstract artists.
“The raw power of the landscape in northern New Hampshire is an extraordinary source of inspiration,” says Pobatschnig, who believes that the snowy Nordic trails will be a perfect place to host their work.
Despite only 900 residents, the art scene in Jackson is emerging as a small gem with four galleries and one museum. The two artists believe Jackson waterfalls, the red covered bridge, the Great Gatsby-like Wentworth’s Inn, and the Nordic skiing center are genuine manifestations of the New England spirit.