Live Free or Grisaille
When I first visited Boston for work, some of the Bostonians would sarcastically remark that people from New Hampshire were bumpkins and mock their slogan "Live Free or Die". When I heard this, I immediately felt a warm connection with the Granite State since I'm from the country and have a strong independent streak. This was connection was validated during two wonderful visits to Manchester this this year. NH is a beautiful place and has a tremendous amount of pride in its role in the American Revolution. The day after Christmas, I painted at Stark Park (pronounced locally as 'stahk pahk') in Manchester. It is named after Revolutionary hero General John Stark. General Stark coined the state motto when he wrote a letter to a group of veterans of the Battle of Bennington and closed it with "Live Free or Die. Death is not the worst of evils". So in addition to the great scenery, New Hampshire has a a strong culture and rich history that really makes it an exceptional place for painting. 
Submitted by donthacker on Wed, 2008-12-31 23:10
Journal RSS
