Special Projects
From the Great Falls to the Hilltops: The Mabel Hallaway Collection of Early 20th Century Photographs / Archival photo prints from glass slides, 2024
In March and April of 2024, the David M. Hunt Library in Falls Village (CT) hosted an exhibition of local vintage photography from the early twentieth century, “From the Great Falls to the Hilltops.” A joint project of the library and the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society, the show focused on portraits, including many in recognizable places, most spectacularly at the Great Falls in Falls Village, Connecticut.
The source of the photographs are glass slide and silver nitrate film negatives from the historical society’s Mabel Hallaway Collection. Mabel Dean Hallaway (1893-1991) was a native villager and a member of the Dean family. In a Lakeville Journal profile of Mabel in the July 4, 1990 edition, Andrew Shaffer wrote, “Mrs. Hallaway has recorded family events, local happenings, and people in a personal collection of journals and photo albums that date from the first decade of this century to the present. One of her favorite pasttimes (sic) is taking photographs.”
Exhibition team — Sergei and Zoe Fedorjaczenko, Garth Kobal, Rika Laser, Sara Laser and Megan Sher. All slides scanned and printed on archival luster photography paper by Rika Laser.
Falls Village Art Crosswalk / Mural, traffic paint on asphalt, 2023
This project included the design and implement the painting of a walkway inspired by LGBTQ+ rainbow crosswalks. The Crosswalk explored themes of identity, equality, and inclusion through color, design and process. It also incorporated Falls Village’s unique history in the imagery and the importance of nurturing a welcoming community that respects the humanity and background of all our neighbors and visitors alike. The local community participated in the painting of the Crosswalk in June of 2023.
Falls Village Workbook / Interactive pamphlet book, digitally printed, 2023
The Falls Village Workbook is a research survey book designed and printed by Rika Laser. The book was made in preparation for the painting of the Falls Village Art Crosswalk to coalesce resident ideas and suggestions in order to identify the distinct character of Falls Village. The Workbook contextualized community-voiced ideas and guided the implementation of the Crosswalk.
The results of the Workbook were compiled into the design of the crosswalk to celebrate positive initiatives and the town’s many cultural assets. The design will also explore challenges faced by the community and working to resolve those challenges. This research laid the foundation for a successful collaborative crosswalk design.
Designed and printed by Rika Laser in Falls Village, Connecticut.
