Portrait painter Abbott Handerson Thayer, familiar with the area from his boyhood in Keene, came to Dublin in 1888 and started the Dublin art colony. Thayer had originally been brought to the area by Mary Amory Greene, a wealthy patron of the arts. Thayer had an established reputation as a portrait painter and a wide network of friends in the art world. It was through him that George deForest Brush and Frank Benson came to summer in Dublin, while Barry Faulkner, Alexander James, Rockwell Kent, and Richard Meryman came specifically to Dublin to study with him. They established a love of and commitment to celebrating and encouraging the arts that continues in Dublin today.

 

New Hampshire Humanities has awarded a grant to the Dublin Community Center for a project celebrating the history of this picturesque town and the legacy of its art colony. The Community Center is partnering with the Dublin Historical Society to educate and engage area residents in its rich heritage in the arts and humanities.

 

Discovering Dublin began on July 7 with an illustrated talk on the History of Dublin by Lisa Foote, archivist at the Dublin Historical Society.

 

On Thursday, August 4 the Dublin Historical Society Museum will host a tour of its historical museum that will feature hands-on activities for children, including a treasure hunt. 

 

A film showing on the Dublin art colony will take place at the Dublin Community Center on Thursday, August 25 at 7 p.m. The film was created by Paul Tuller, a Dublin woodworker and juried member of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. Tuller’s film examines the art colony that sprang up in Dublin. Tuller will lead a post-film discussion and examples of his work and the work of other Dublin-area craftspeople will be displayed.

 

The project will conclude with a walking tour exploring the town’s history on Saturday, September 10 at 2 p.m. from the Dublin Community Center led by Bridget McFall, Director of the Dublin Community Center. Sites featured on the tour include the Levi Leonard House, the Yankee House, the Dublin Public Library, and the Wait-Mason House. A discussion of the tour and refreshments will follow at the Community Center. The raindate for the walking tour is Saturday, September 17.

 

Learn more and find the latest details at www.dublincommunitycenter.org.