The Jaffrey Civic Center is pleased to announce the opening of the exhibition Hospital of the Innocent: A Mixed-Media Reflection on the Threshold of Adolescence by April Claggett. The show will run in the Civic Center’s Display Cases from June 20 until August 2. There will be an opening reception on Friday, June 27 from 5 – 7 pm, with light refreshments. Please join us at the opening reception to observe Claggett’s work and gain insight into her creativity and process!
“Hospital of the Innocent” invites viewers to reflect on the paradox of adolescence—a stage defined by beauty, uncertainty, and emotional complexity. Through its juxtaposition of delicate forms and haunting motifs, the work captures the vulnerability and resilience found in this transitional moment. It is an exploration of the fragile and transformative period of adolescence.
The assemblages bring together paintings both large and small, ceramics, found objects, text, and design elements to form intimate environments. Each case serves as a window into the liminal space where innocence meets its inevitable loss. The work is inspired by the poetic visions of William Blake, the Renaissance clarity of Della Robbia’s majolica medallions, and the artist’s own version of disruptive realism.
April Claggett is an local multi-disciplinary artist, art historian, musician and creative placemaker from Dublin NH. She currently serves as Professor of Foundations at Savannah College of Art and Design and keeps a studio in Wilton, NH.
