MANCHESTER, NH – The New Hampshire Institute of Art (NHIA) is pleased to present the Emma Blood French Hall 100th Anniversary Exhibition, curated by Betsy Holmes, Gary Samson and Sam Trioli. The exhibition will take place in both the Emma B. French Gallery and the Roger Williams Gallery on our Manchester campus, and be on view from November 4 – December 17, 2016 with an opening reception held on November 4, 5-7pm. This exhibition is free and open to the public.
In the early 1900’s as Manchester became an industrial powerhouse, one element was missing: an institution where residents of Manchester could further their education and exposure to the wider world, a world that included painting, sculpture, music, botany, ornithology, and numerous other subjects.
This was the inspired vision of Emma Blood French: to bring culture to Manchester through direct instruction and lectures in the fine arts, music, literature, and the sciences. She underwrote and built a permanent educational institution in the center of the city, The Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences, and upon the building’s completion, gifted it to the organization and its members for the betterment of the community. Now there would be a place for lectures, concerts, art exhibits, film presentations and most importantly, learning at affordable cost to virtually anyone who wanted to take advantage of the school’s offerings.
In 1997, the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences became the New Hampshire Institute of Art. Today the college owns or leases a total of ten buildings in downtown Manchester, none more important than Emma Blood French Hall, which remains to this day the heart and soul of our campus.
The Exhibitions
The Emma B. French Gallery will feature a survey of historical photographs, architectural renderings and a collection of NHIA artifacts from its long and rich history. Library Director, Betsy Holmes and Photography Chair Gary Samson have meticulously curated works that span the entire history of the school since it’s start as the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences in 1898. The exhibition includes photographs of the construction of Emma B. French Hall and its evolution over the course of the following 100 years, observing history and change around it as the institution and marvelous building stood tall.
In the Roger Williams Gallery, Gallery Director Sam Trioli has curated a survey of work from NHIA Faculty past and present. Featuring artists James Aponovich, Elizabeth Johansson and Alison Williams as well long time faculty members Patrick McCay, Mike Ariel, Marcus Greene and many others. It is with great pleasure that NHIA showcases and honors the faculty that have sustained and built this institution that still thrives to this very day.
The exhibition runs November 4 – December 17, 2016. Opening reception for both locations is November 4, from 5-7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
The Emma Blood French Gallery is located at 148 Concord Street in Manchester.
