Portraits by Susan Lirakis, From Our Hearts, Sharing Our Stories, will be on display in New Hampton School’s Galletly Gallery from February 7 – March 8, 2019. The public is cordially invited to a reception for the artist on Thursday, February 7, from 5:30 – 6:30 pm. The reception will also feature members of The Silver Lake Singers who will join us at 6pm for a short a capella performance aimed at touching your heart and healing your spirit.
The Show
From Our Hearts, Sharing Our Stories is a collection of portraits of people living life in accordance with certain beliefs they hold or experiences they have had. Stories accompany each of the portraits exhibited in the gallery, both in written and in audio form, the latter available through QR codes. While creating environmental portraits of her subjects Lirakis also interviewed each person. These narratives are available to the public as well as the photographic image.
From the Artist
In her artist statement for this body of work, Lirakis writes “I am continually amazed with and appreciative of our stories, of how we have come to be where we are, of how we can sustain ourselves physically and spiritually in our world. What feeds us? Where do our dreams come from? How did we come to listen? When we examine these dreams, they often have roots in a vision, event, or feeling from long ago. It may have been a small seed planted unnoticed until much later. It could have grown quite organically and unfolded in a natural manner. Or it may lie dormant until some catastrophic event forces us to make different choices. Whatever it may be, I am here to enjoy and record these people and their dreams, to listen and learn, and to grow. This work allows me not only to witness soul stories and how they are being lived, but also to be in the presence of my own soul through the act of photographing.”
New Hampshire lakes region artist Susan Lirakis has been honored with awards and fellowships for advancement of her work through the NH State Council of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, the Clowes Foundation, and the McLaughlin Residency Fellowship.
Reception Entertainment
The Silver Lake Singers, based in Silver Lake (Madison), NH is a community chorus made up of women and men from various backgrounds who share a love of singing and the desire for service through the gift of song. The group sings for people who find themselves dwelling in the thin places of this life – awaiting birth or death, marriages and other life passages from here to there.
Galletly Gallery
The exhibit is free and open to the public. The Galletly Gallery is located on the second floor of New Hampton School’s Moore Center. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and on Saturdays from 9 am to noon.
