Dublin's Library Hosts Traveling Art Exhibit Inspired by Poetry of Robert Frost

Many of the famous works by poet Robert Frost were inspired by the rural life he observed in the early 1900s while working a farm he inherited from his grandfather in Derry, New Hampshire. Due to the poet's local connection, it seemed fitting that he would come to mind when artists Ingeborg Seaboyer, Corinne Dodge and Judy Krassowski were contemplating an idea for an exhibit to support the grand reopening of the Derry Public Library back in 2011. The subsequent fine art exhibit that they co-created, called "The Road Not Taken," is a collection of their artwork in watercolor, acrylics, oils and pen and ink, all inspired by a selection of Frost's poems. Since that time, the exhibit of 30 pieces has traveled to locations across the state, only pausing for a hiatus during the pandemic. The artists are endeavoring to reach every city and town in New Hampshire and as of fall of 2024 it had visited 86 venues, including 76 libraries, according to Seaboyer's webpage for the exhibit. "The exhibit keeps evolving – it includes both new works inspired by the words of Robert Frost and older pieces that provide vivid and connective imagery for his anthology of poems. The exhibit has afforded us the chance to revisit Frost's poems – some of them as familiar as old friends, others unfamiliar and intriguing. Our hope is that the exhibit will inspire others to revisit Frost's work or discover it for the first time," Seaboyer writes. For the months of January and February, it will be on exhibit at the Dublin Public Library and the library's director, Karen Madigan, is excited to share it with members of the community. She said she jumped at the opportunity when the artists reached out about her interest in hosting back in the fall of 2024 as Frost is one of her favorite poets. "It suits us very well in this area with being home to so many artists and poets," Madigan said of the exhibit. "Especially for the cold days of winter. It's a good fit." The display includes the artwork as well as the poems they are inspired by, and it covers many areas of the library. Visitors can walk through at their own pace to view the pieces and read the accompanying poems. "We've also interspersed books of his poetry with the art display," Madigan added. Each piece is not meant to be a literal representation of the poem it accompanies, but rather the artist's personal interpretation of meaning through their own experiences. There are many intricacies and hidden details in the artwork as well, Madigan pointed out. The exhibit is available for viewing during the library's open hours. A price list for prints of the pieces that are available for purchase from the artists is available upon request. The library is also home to its own permanent art exhibit of 15 pieces displayed throughout the rooms, and visitors are welcome to take a self-guided tour of those pieces as well when they come for the Frost exhibit, Madigan said. Above all else, she wants members of the Dublin community and nearby towns to take advantage of the opportunity to see the exhibit while it's close to home. "We're honored to have it for two months and we hope that everyone will come see it," Madigan said. *** The Dublin Public Library is located at 1114 Main St. in Dublin and is open Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 2 to 7 pm.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn more about the Dublin Public Library at dplnh.org and follow its social media for updates. For more information about "The Road Not Taken" exhibit and to contact the artists about hosting, visit woodsongillustrations.com/the-road-not-taken-exhibit.