Dublin Community Center brings paint, sounds and smartphones together

Chris Reid’s “Outside My Door” from her grounds in Jaffrey on display at the DubHub.

Chris Reid’s “Outside My Door” from her grounds in Jaffrey on display at the DubHub. —STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID ALLEN

Interim DubHub Art Director Rachel Thorne Germond and others judge entries in the Smartphone Photo Contest. 

Interim DubHub Art Director Rachel Thorne Germond and others judge entries in the Smartphone Photo Contest.  —STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID ALLEN

Jaffrey artist Chris Reid with triptychs created in her garden. 

Jaffrey artist Chris Reid with triptychs created in her garden.  STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID ALLEN

Jaffrey artist Chris Reid discusses her work at the DubHub Friday.

Jaffrey artist Chris Reid discusses her work at the DubHub Friday. —STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID ALLEN

Reception guests at the DubHub consider entries in the Smartphone Photo Contest. 

Reception guests at the DubHub consider entries in the Smartphone Photo Contest.  —STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID ALLEN

Chris Reid, left and Leah Reid by Chris’ painting “Before the Summer Storm,” which is paired with Leah’s composition “Cloud Burst” at the Dublin Community Center. 

Chris Reid, left and Leah Reid by Chris’ painting “Before the Summer Storm,” which is paired with Leah’s composition “Cloud Burst” at the Dublin Community Center.  —PHOTO COURTESY OF  LEAH REID

Leah Reid diffusing sound for her composition “Sk(etch.)”

Leah Reid diffusing sound for her composition “Sk(etch.)” —Photo courtesy of LEAH REID

By DAVID ALLEN

Monadnock Ledger Transcript

Published: 01-15-2025 12:05 PM

Three different art forms were at the Dublin Community Center Friday, including the work of a Guggenheim fellow who is a native of the region.

The DubHub is hosting the work of Jaffrey painter Chris Reid, who has collaborated with her daughter Leah Reid, a composer and sound artist, on the exhibition. The senior Reid’s paintings are vistas that are both broad and up close, but all of this region, from “Dublin Wetlands” on one wall to the triptychs of nature scenes in the backyard. Accompanying these works are her daughter’s sound compositions, which complement the imagery for the effect of being oudoors, not at an indoor exhibit. 

“Our senses are so influenced by sound,” said Leah from Virginia on Saturday, where she is an assistant professor of composition at the University of Virginia. “I like exploring the color of sound,” noting that timbre is “the specific tone of music and sound.”

To complement the pastels in her mother’s paintings of nature, the younger Reid made recordings over an extended period to produce “Sounding Landscapes—Bee Conservancy.”

“This was weeks and weeks of recordings, and I’ve collapsed them into 20 minutes,” she said. “The bees were all around my mother as she was painting. The light and time were changing as we were working in her garden.” 

The time eventually became dusk, as was apparent when the sounds of crickets began to fill the DubHub as January’s darkness settled outside.

The sound suddenly makes you feel a bit warmer,” said interim DubHub Art Director Rachel Thorne Germond as the buzzing took over the room.

Leah’s piece “Sk(etch)” captures the gestures, textures and timbres of creating work via sketching, drawing and composing, and won first prize in a recent Tesselat Electronic Music Competition. A Guggenheim Fellowship in 2022 allowed for her to work on these projects. With their roots in a mining fortune from the 1800s, the fellowships are offered “to exceptional individuals in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form,” according to the website gf.org. Only 175 of them are granted each year. 

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A recent project of Leah’s involves noise in an unexpected place.

“Water carries sound much farther than air, and noise pollution underwater is having an effect on marine life,” she said. “I hope to shed light on this - a soundscape without motor boats.” 

Chris Reid’s work has earned her no shortage of awards, including Best in Show from the National Northeast Pastel Exhibition. Her approach of painting outdoors plays into her daughter’s artistry.

“I don’t like working with photos. I pick up on sound,” said Chris.

Her works are framed with non-reflective glass -- courtesy of husband Ron -- such that their detail is not obscured by interior lighting. The exhibit will be ongoing until February.

Asked for advice from a Guggenheim fellow for aspiring artists, Leah Reid didn't mince her words.

“Quality work doesn’t happen overnight,” she said. “Accept criticism, but keep at it. Believe in yourself.” 

The DubHub also hosted its Smartphone Photo Contest, and entries in four categories filled walls elsewhere in the building.  Michael McCarthy of North Swanzey  had a few entries, but voted for Carolyn Edwards’ “Summer’s End” in the Peoples’ Choice competition. Jim McCann of Harrisville was at the DubHub for the first time, and entered his photo just before the deadline.

“Who ever thought all this could be done with a phone? " said McCann, taking in the works of others.

"Summer Personified," by Amy McGregor-Radin won for the best photo of people. "Quiet Reflection," by Katherine Rollins won for places. "A Stained Glass Sunroof," by Ruth Thompson  won for details, and "Curious," by Nancy Jackson won for best creatures.

The People's Choice Award for overall best smartphone photo will be announced at the end of January.