The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts is pleased to announce “Dreamscapes”, an exhibition featuring a series of works by Hannah Cole Dahar, in the Bernier Room, at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center.
Hannah is a multi-disciplinary artist and teacher based in New Hampshire. Her work is deeply influenced by her early experiences with her father at his monument shop and in cemeteries throughout northern New England. Growing up in two haunted houses and immersing herself in books of myths and fairy tales sparked her overactive imagination and morbid sense of humor, which continue to inform her art today.
Hannah’s artwork is a rich tapestry woven from history, mythology, and the mystical and magical aspects of life. She is deeply enamored with the mysterious, strange, and beautiful. Each morning, she collects little marvels of nature during her walks and incorporates them into her artwork and ritual practice, believing that everything done with intent holds power.
Her artistic journey has led her to explore various mediums and themes. For several years, Hannah focused on painting her son while he slept, capturing him cocooned in white blankets and bathed in soft morning light. She described these moments as perfect and lovely, seeking to preserve and recreate the peaceful, safe moments of stillness. Hannah meticulously documented these snapshots with her phone, ensuring that the light, the position of his body, and the arrangement of the blankets and toys were authentic, not engineered figments of imagination.
Hannah Cole Dahar’s work is a testament to her belief in the power of intention and the magic found in everyday life. Her art invites viewers to explore the depths of history and mythology while appreciating the beauty in the mysterious and the strange.
The exhibition will be on view from September 9, 2024, until November 1, 2024, with a reception planned for October 5, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The public is encouraged to attend. The James W. Foley Memorial Community Center is located at 150 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH 03867. Visit www.coledahar.com and www.rochestermfa.org to learn more.
The museum is sponsored by the City of Rochester, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Creative Guts Podcast, and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.
