Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Gagne.
Eric, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2008, I, along with Mary Goldthwaite-Gagne and Ryan Wilson, began curating a multi-day celebration of music and art called The Thing in the spring. What began as an obsession with the posters and lineups of the Fillmore became a very real manifestation of what we wanted our small town to look like. Ryan eventually moved to China, but Mary and I worked with a number of friends to found the Glass Museum as a 501c3, and have grown The Thing into five days of concerts, films, readings, art events, and more, featuring renown performers and artists from all over the country, and in some cases, the world. We seek to present these celebrations as affordably and accessibly as possible.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Every year we learn new things and figure out ways to streamline the weekend. We have had the pleasure of working with an amazing board of directors, great sponsors, crew, volunteers, and performers, so it has all gone relatively smoothly. The hardest part is when you are drawing programming from all known undergrounds, it can be difficult to ensure the audience a performer deserves, being in such a tertiary market. We’ve also found that it is difficult to try to stretch beyond our annual programming, so we are in a nice sweet spot of being able to spend the year building up to the one huge event.
The Glass Museum – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Glass Museum curates The Thing in the spring: an annual five day celebration of music and arts here in downtown Peterborough NH. Since 2008, we have featured intimate performances by world renown artists, such as: Iris Dement, Bonnie Prince Billy, Joe McPhee, Peter Broetzmann, Milford Graves, Susie Ibarra, the Weather Station, Mark Kozelek, Steve Gunn, Michael Hurley, Chicago Underground Duo, Woods, Nina Nastasia, William Parker, Diane Cluck, Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore, J Mascis, Papa M, Marisa Anderson, Meg Baird, Death Vessel, the Low Anthem, Josephine Foster, Mirah, Jeff Parker, Palehound, Magik Markers, and so many more.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think of success as being able to physically manifest the ideas that I have. I spend a lot of time dreaming up perfect combinations of bands, experiential installations of concerts, hatching a variety of schemes that will set apart each new edition. When I’m able to take one of those ideas and then see it actually unfold in real time, and see folks interact, engage, and see the value in it that is when I feel like I have succeeded.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thethinginthespring.com
- Instagram: @thethinginthespring
- Facebook: facebook.com/thethinginthespring
- Twitter: @TheThing_NH
Image Credit:
Elisabeth Fuchsia
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