Our Current Exhibit

2025 Holiday Exhibit: Christmas Movies

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center invites you to step into the magic of the season with our annual Holiday Décor Exhibit. Each December, the Hayner is transformed into a festive wonderland by talented local designers, florists, and artists who adopt rooms of the historic Hayner mansion and re-imagine them with fresh creativity.

This year’s theme, “Christmas Movies,” celebrates beloved classics and holiday favorites, filling every corner of the house with sparkle, nostalgia, and joy. From twinkling lights and elegant garlands to whimsical displays inspired by the silver screen, the exhibit is a feast for the eyes and a true community tradition.

Featured Designers & Contributors

Each room of the Hayner mansion has been adopted and lovingly transformed by members of our community:

• Mary Nilsen & Crew – Courtyard, East Room, Lower Hall & Staircase
• David Fair on the Square – The Study
• Logan Eshelman, Towne Valley Gifts – The Solarium
• StoryPoint Troy – Upper Staircase & Window Seat
• Kelly Rank & Ginger Godfrey – The Art Gallery
• Your Personal Florist – The Parlor
• Sheila Fulks & James Novotny – The Conference Room
• Georgia Bayman – The Boardroom & West Room
• Hayner Exhibit Committee – Exhibit Areas
• Zoe Darner (Hayner Staff) – The Ballroom
• Dana Leonard – The Art Studio

Exhibit Hours

The Holiday Exhibit will remain on view throughout the season during regular Hayner hours:

• Monday–Thursday: 9 am – 9 pm
• Friday & Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
• Sunday: 1 pm – 5 pm

Admission is free and open to the public.

First Floor Case Exhibit

Stoneware Pottery

by

Pamela J. Ridenour

(1948 - 2024)

Our Next Exhibit

Artist Reception - Paula Decker Benfer

Friday, January 16

5:00 - 6:45 pm

Acclaimed Artist and Former Troy Educator Paula Decker Benfer Returns to Troy-Hayner Cultural Center with Solo Exhibit: Collage. Ink. Print.

The Troy-Hayner Cultural Center is proud to welcome back a familiar face this winter. Collage. Ink. Print., a solo exhibition by acclaimed artist and retired Troy City Schools art teacher Paula Decker Benfer, will be on display from January 16 through February 15, 2026. There will be an artist reception on Friday, January 16 from 5:00 pm – 6:45 pm. The reception is a great opportunity to meet the artist. It is free to attend.

The exhibit features Collagraphs. Creating collagraphs is a physically demanding printmaking process where the artist builds a plate out of scavenged textures—like lace, hardware, and even fabric scraps—before hand-inking and running it through an etching press. The result is a unique, embossed artwork that invites the viewer to appreciate the intricate details of texture and story.

“I find collagraphs perfect to communicate stories of place, people, history, and social justice,” says Benfer. “It is heartwarming and an honor to be once again at home at the Troy Cultural Center. My images tell stories of my regional heritage—ideas pile up like laundry!”

Benfer’s 36-year career as an art educator in Troy deeply influenced her studio practice. Since retiring, her work has been shown in seven states and juried by leaders from the Rhode Island School of Design and the Minneapolis Museum of Art. This exhibition represents a significant "homecoming" for the artist, blending her professional accolades with her deep roots in the Troy community.



The exhibit is free and open to the public during regular Hayner hours.