'Dreamscapes' exhibit now on display at Community Center

For several years, Hannah focused on painting her son while he slept, capturing him cocooned in white blankets and bathed in soft morning light. (Courtesy image)

ROCHESTER - "Dreamscapes," an exhibition featuring a series of works by Hannah Cole Dahar, will be on display in the Bernier Room at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center.

Hannah Cole Dahar 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 re-create 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.

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 is open until Nov. 1, with a reception planned for Oct. 5 from 1-3 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. The James W. Foley Memorial Community Center is located at 150 Wakefield St., Rochester, NH 03867. Visit www.coledahar.com and www.rochestermfa.org to learn more.