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MARVELS AT THE MUSEUM

Beauty Inspired by Nature:the Glass Paperweights

of Melissa Ayotte__________________________

Growing up in New Hampshire, Melissa Ayotte learned to appreciate thebeauty of nature and the discipline of fine craftsmanship. Naturesurrounded her, and she was particularly touched by the vibrant color anddelicate form of flowers during the state’s relatively short growing season.Craftsmanship was introduced to her by her father, celebrated glasspaperweight maker Rick Ayotte. Melissa wasn’t drawn to paperweightmaking herself, however, until working as an assistant to her father whilepursuing a Masters degree in counseling and clinical psychology.

We read on the Ayotte website, www.ayotteglassart.com, that “glassinitially served as a refuge from the day to day of her career, but as heraptitude developed into skill, Melissa started taking more and more glassand generalized art classes, soon realizing she had found her trueinterest. In the year 2000 she spent time assisting at Stankard Studio [inNew Jersey] and began full-time at Ayotte Glass Studio [in New Boston,New Hampshire], where she continues to create.

In taking to glasswork and learning to capture these small, still momentsof life, she is discovering the most human of motivations: to create whatwas not there before. Melissa aims to push the limits of the paperweight,creating novel pieces which reflect her sense of the Nature -- earthly,human, and divine. ‘I consider the limitations imposed by the spherical shape of thepaperweight to be very liberating in the sense that I am forced to reckonwith the boundaries of the glass and develop new ideas, techniques andcreative approaches for expanding those boundaries.’”

-- Kirk J. Nelson, Executive Director

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(Above)"Papaver"

Melissa AyotteNew Boston, NH; 2012

H: 2 3/4" x D: 3 1/4"NBMOG Collection

Gift of Richard SchimmelpfengAcc. 2016.552

(Above)Black Eyed Susans

Melissa AyotteNew Boston, NH; 2010H: 2 13/16" x D: 3 1/2"

NBMOG CollectionGift of Richard Schimmelpfeng

Acc. 2010.285.081

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To watch Melissa Ayotte create a paperweight,please follow the link below to the second half of Fear No ART

(November 2010 episode, beginning 3:45 into the video):

The Making of a Paperweighthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5VKIqa6BzM

(Above)"Pink Rose Spray"

Melissa AyotteNew Boston, NH; 2014

H: 2" x D: 2 15/16"NBMOG Collection

Gift of Richard SchimmelpfengAcc. 2010.285.081

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(Above)"Mini Sioux Basket"

Melissa AyotteNew Boston, NH; 2014

H: 2 1/8" x D: 2 3/8"NBMOG Collection

Gift of Richard SchimmelpfengAcc. 2017.090

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To read an in-depth interview of the artist published byNew Hampshire Home magazine in 2018,

please click the following link:

Melissa Ayotte Interviewhttps://www.nhhomemagazine.com/bouquets-in-glass/

(Above)"Summer in New England"

Melissa AyotteNew Boston, NH; 2011

H: 3" x D: 3 3/8"NBMOG Collection

Gift of Richard SchimmelpfengAcc. 2016.554

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New NBMOG website coming soon!We are busy "behind the scenes" preparing a new websiteincluding an online gift shop! Launch expected very soon!

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(Above)Standing Floral and Blueberry Wreath

Melissa AyotteNew Boston, NH; ca. 2014H: 4" x L: 4 1/2" x W: 2 1/4"

NBMOG CollectionGift of Richard Schimmelpfeng

Acc. 2017.089

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NBMOG Gallery Progress!We are almost there!!!

Re-opening to the public expected in October!

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Content includes: Sandwich glass and the rise of antiquing, the"Gingham" art glass jug, studio glass art pioneer Edris Eckhardt, vintagepostcard views of glass factories, a special art glass and fashionexhibition in honor of women's suffrage, drinking glasses old and newfeaturing Harrison Ford, a gravity-defying (apparently!) crystal tablefountain, a glimpse into the Crystal Kingdom that is NBMOG's glassanimal collection, the mystery behind a magnificent Pairpoint stag, KateGreenaway vases, Mt. Washington art glass, Sandwich glass, historicglassmaking photographs, Trevaise Ware, adorable antics of the residentmuseum cat, and even a tour of our new home, the spectacular JamesArnold Mansion!

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