Featuring more than two-dozen original Shaker buildings and nearly 700 acres of nature, Canterbury Shaker Village has always welcomed artists, a legacy renewed this summer and fall through Artist-in-Residency (AIR).

Developed in 2018, the program brings together contemporary artists to live at the Village while they produce works inspired by the landscape and Shaker culture. “The program reflects the spirit of the Shakers, who were known for their appreciation of art and their skilled craftsmanship,” said Executive Director Leslie Nolan.

On October 1 through October 8, 2023 AIR will welcome back visual artist Ellen Friedlander. A resident of Silver Lake, Los Angeles, Friedlander said she is “acknowledging she is “intrigued” by Shaker history, Friedlander said she is especially enthused that she can return this fall, October 1 – 8. “I am excited to experience and capture the changing seasons,” she added.

Citing an organic process, Friedlander said she knows, however, she wants to experiment with her pinhole lens and a new neutral density filter that will allow her to photograph with long exposure in bright sun. “In addition to photographing the Village itself, I plan to work on sequencing a book that I have been working on for about a year,” she added.

Elaborating on her artistic process, Friedlander described it as one of simultaneous observation and reflection, while also integrated with elements of disruption. “Using a variety of in-camera and post processing techniques of layering, cutting and assemblage of new visual narratives, I reveal the unpredictable, idiosyncratic, inscrutable nature of the human condition,” she said.

According to Nolan, there may be no better place to explore, or reflect upon, the human condition than at the Village. “There is a sense of peace and tranquility here that is truly serene,” she said. “We can be inspired by the Shakers’ communal life and learn from it…We kindly welcome Ellen back to the Village.”

In addition to guided tours, Canterbury Shaker Village interprets Shaker life through exhibits, buildings, gardens, and programs. “Like any true village, there is so much to do and explore here at Canterbury Shaker Village,” said Nolan. “We hope Ellen’s time here will encourage people to come and explore the Village, too.”

The Village offers tours daily at varying times throughout the summer. To learn more about the Village, or purchase tour tickets, visit shakers.org.

Canterbury Shaker Village is a member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.