Opening Gallery Hours: The Color of Familiar Places by Harold Dumas

Come view artist Harold Dumas’ oil paintings of sights around Western Mass.

A vibrant exhibit is making its way to Wistariahurst’s Great Hall. Artist Harold Dumas’ The Color of Familiar Places will feature his oil paintings of locations across Western Massachusetts. These pieces focus on creating emotional atmospheres, often highlighting overlooked places. Dumas says he wishes to offer viewers “a moment of recognition, a sense of presence that invites people to pause, breathe, and see their surroundings with fresh eyes.”
About his artistic process, Dumas says, “My work begins with a fleeting moment, a shift of light across a familiar street, the quiet presence of an industrial building, the atmosphere that lingers long after the scene has passed. Painting these moments allows me to honor the character of Western Massachusetts, a place whose beauty often reveals itself in subtle, unexpected ways.”
The exhibit will be on view through July 28th,  2026, during open gallery hours, Mondays, 10:00 am-2:00 pm, and Tuesdays, 4:30-6:30 pm.
About the Artist:
Harold Dumas was born and raised in western Mass and resides in Holyoke, where he paints out of his residence, creating original photorealistic oil paintings. He is a self‐taught visual artist whose work is deeply rooted in the landscapes, architecture, and undercurrents of Western Massachusetts. Drawing on a lifelong fascination with light, atmosphere, and memory, Dumas creates paintings that blend realism with a quiet, poetic mystery. His process bridges traditional study with contemporary tools, shaping images that invite viewers into intimate, regionally grounded narratives. Through both studio practice and public engagement, Dumas aims to foster moments of connection, where a place, a story, or a fleeting feeling becomes shared.
This program is funded in part by a grant from the Holyoke Local Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.