Meredith Public Library displays ‘The Power of Remembrance’ exhibit

MEREDITH — To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the Meredith Public Library is displaying an exhibit titled "The Power of Remembrance," by artist Dayna Talbot, a former flight attendant for United Airlines who worked out of Boston's Logan Airport at the time of the attacks.

This exhibit is the final stage of "The Power of Remembrance" project. The project began in 2004 at Massachusetts College of Art while Talbot was on leave from the airline. She brought the project to completion in 2021, marking the 20th anniversary of the tragic event. Through the years she documented the stages of grief and with the 20th anniversary, she honored the victims with an exhibition at Colby-Sawyer College. Talbot is now honored to be showing it locally at the Meredith Public Library.

In Talbot’s installation, four totem-like columns stand for the two United and two American Airlines planes. Totems symbolize a spirit being, a natural symbol that serves as an emblem for a group of people. The columns are composed of 3,000 pieces of shredded and rewoven silk, each unique strand honoring one of the individuals who died in 9/11. 

"The 37 handmade felted vessels 'hold 37 souls,' one for each of the United and American Airlines pilots and employees who also died that day," said Talbot. "The installation memorializes them by recreating a unity of body and spirit. It provides the viewer with a place to reflect on this national catastrophe and to mourn in tranquility and peace."

The exhibit is located on the second floor of the library across from elevator. It will be available for viewing and personal reflection until the end of September.

For more information, visit meredithlibrary.org.