“History of Immigration in New Hampshire” is the name of the photo exhibit at the Mason Library. The photographs on the display are by photographer Becky Field. The photograph exhibit shows the long history of people coming from other countries to find a new home in the Granite State. The photos were taken as part of her ongoing project “Different Roots, Common Dreams.” Field is a New Hampshire photographer who captures the lives of NH immigrants and refugees. Through February and March, the Redfern Arts Center, Mason Library and the Cheshire Medical Center are displaying photographs by Field.
Assistant Director of Redfern Arts Center Sharon Fantl reached out to Field and invited her. They have been working with the concept and display of this exhibit ever since, according to Fantl. The idea of the display came to Fantl when she was looking for something to complement and extend the impact of Sandglass Theater’s presentation of “Babylon” on March 12. “Babylon” is a piece that explores the stories of refugees using table-top puppets, moving panoramic scrolls and original four-part choral songs with the aim to foster dialogue around the issues of immigration and resettlement, according to the statement at Mason Library.
Other activities around the display include presentations by local author Sandra Neil Wallace of her book “First Generation” in local elementary schools and a Refugee Journey workshop facilitated by Sandglass Theater. According to Fantl, “Simulated people take on different roles within a refugee camp and they explore the bureaucracy and the randomness that goes along with all the specifics of that situation in the workshop.”
Puja Thapa can be contacted at PThapa@kscequinox.com
