Join us for First Friday; our gallery and studio spaces will be open to the public!

This is a multi-media senior thesis art exhibition by Seana Marie Lanias. It includes quilts, paintings, and 3D objects that will hang on the walls. There will be a short live performance during the reception.

Hoʻomaha, meaning to rest, focuses on the act of resting. We are all able to rest physically, but how do we rest mentally and emotionally? As a mixed-race Native Hawaiian woman, my artistic practice aims to explore the aspects of my identity that have influenced my experiences with the world. I discuss how I cope with the present challenges that Native Hawaiians face since the US occupation, how I've managed my life away from Hawai'i, and how I navigate generational trauma, mental health, and my idea of femininity. I look to the last Queen of Hawaiʻi, Liliʻuoklani, who was imprisoned in her own palace during the overthrow where she created a quilt to cope with the events that were taking place. She would embroider her lineage, images from outside her window, and anything that made her feel at peace. As I dive deeper into what rest means to me, I am discovering that repetition, meditation, reflection, and journaling help soothe my mind. In this exhibition, I aim to channel these actions into each piece in order to provide a window into my experience.

First Friday is a monthly citywide gallery night that encourages collaboration between art venues in Rochester, NY. This initiative showcases area artists and smaller arts institutions by promoting the First Friday evening of each month from 6-9pm as a community night for experiencing art. First Friday ensures a healthy art scene and a healthy city through regular exchange between venues, artists and patrons.