Upper Connecticut River Valley

FREE PAINTED WALLS LECTURE

 

September 29, 2021  

Lecture: "Upper Connecticut River Valley Painted Walls" hosted by the Lisbon Area Historical Society

Did you know that early 1800s scenic wall murals are in Littleton, Bath, North Haverhill, and Orford and once existed in Lisbon and Thornton? Linda Lefko will be sharing her expertise about early 1800s painted plaster walls and folk art murals in the Upper Connecticut River Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, the White Mountains, and nearby Maine towns.

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August 17, 2021

Lecture: "Period Painted Wall Decoration: Freehand Brushwork, Stenciling and Murals of the Early 19th Century" presented to the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance's Expo on the Road

Linda Lefko introduces the various types of early painted wall decoration in New England homes and share research and documentation efforts from the past thirty years, revealing some never-before-seen examples. Watch the presentation in this video:

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Summer 2021

Online Exhibit and Spoken Presentation: Rufus Porter Murals

Born in West Boxford, Massachusetts to a farm family, itinerant painter Rufus Porter painted landscape murals that earned him wide attention. From 1824 to 1845, he completed more than 150 murals, a combination of freehand and stencils. Placed over mantles and entire walls, his murals were especially appreciated because he did natural settings of local views instead of the traditional elaborate classical or historical scenes with enhanced decoration. In this presentation, Linda Lefko explored Porter’s murals found only at the Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village.

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October 26-28, 2020

Symposium: “Conserving Our Painted Past," online

The first event of its kind, this Symposium brought together practitioners in the care and conservation of painted walls to share case studies and discuss best practices. 

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October 20, 2019

Lecture: “The Painted Walls of Jonathan Poor: his contribution to decorative wall painting," Groton, MA

Linda Lefko, President of the Center for Painted Wall Preservation, spoke at the dedication of the Prescott House walls. Watch the presentation in the following video:

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August 4, 2019

Annual Fundraiser Talk & Tour, Deerfield, NH

Special opportunity to tour private homes and view spectacular examples of paint-decorated plaster walls in Southern New Hampshire. Tour began with a talk at Deerfield, NH, Town Hall, by CPWP Board members Linda Lefko and David Ottinger. 

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March 30-31, 2019

Greater Portland Landmarks Old House Trade Show, Portland, ME 

CPWP had a booth and presented a lecture on Saturday afternoon at the show. 

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August 2018 

House Tour in Townsend, MA

Lecture by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko followed by tours of four muraled houses in Townsend, Pepperell & Groton, MA.

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March 2018

Old House & Barn Expo presented by the NH Preservation Alliance, NH 

CPWP Booth and Lecture by CPWP Board members David Ottinger and Linda Lefko entitled "Painted Walls in Jeopardy.”

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October 2017 

Trustees & Advisors Lunch at Old Sturbridge Village, MA

Lecture and tour on Porter murals by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko.

 

Summer 2017

Programs at the Old Stonehouse Museum, Brownington, VT

Lecture by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko entitled, "Murals in Jeopardy" and presentation by CPWP Board member David Ottinger entitled, "Moving Walls." More information on these programs available here.

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April 2017

Bedford Historical Society Guest Speaker, Bedford, MA

Lecture by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko entitled, "Rufus Porter Murals in Massachusetts." More information on this lecture can be found here.

 

February 2016

68th Annual Antiques Forum at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, VA

Lecture by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko entitled, “Porter’s Paintbrush.” More on this conference can be found here.

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Summer 2016 

Founding of the Center for Painted Wall Preservation, Inc. 

 

October 2015

5th Annual Point Shore House Tour in Amesbury, MA

House tour featuring a home with original, untouched Rufus Porter murals. Lecture by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko, co-author of Folk Art Murals of the Rufus Porter School, regarding the importance of the Amesbury Porter walls to American folk art and historic painted plaster. 

 

August 2015

The New Orleans Antiques Forum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, LA

Lecture by CPWP Board member Linda Lefko entitled, “A Rose by Any Other Name”: The Art of Theorem Painting.”