Art and the Library - A Creative Partnership

           

                A Marc Chagall exhibit is opening this week in our university art gallery featuring over 50 of his original hand water colored etchings on loan from Marquette University. Chagall created this series over a 25-year period and they depict scenes from Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, and many more Old Testament books. Exhibits such as this, whether local university or local museums, introduce viewers to works they may never have seen before but they also provide libraries with opportunities to reach their patrons in new and exciting ways.

Art, just like books, has the ability to move us, inspire us to dream, and allow our minds to be open to new or different realities. A display featuring titles that introduce art, artists, and techniques is great way to piggyback on a local museum’s exhibit as well as inspire creativity from preschool patrons to adults.

1. A Colour of His Own by Leo Lionni

2. The Bear Hunt by Anthony Browne

3. Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt

4.  Andrew Wyeth: A Secret Life by Richard Meryman

5. Starting Your Career as an Artist: A Guide for Painters, Sculptors, Photographers, and Other Visual Artists by Angie Wojak and Stacy Miller

6. Chagall by Jackie Wullschlager

7. The Print in the Western World: An Introductory History by Linda C. Hults

8. Add as many biographies of various authors, technique books, etc. as you have room for

However, don’t stop with just a book display…involve the community. The Amityville Public Library did just that by hosting a community art project; a non-juried show that brought the community together at the library. Local artists of all ages were supplied a 3 x 4 canvas and asked to create something of their choosing without an assigned theme. The results were amazing and the art was displayed along the walls for public viewing. Now I know not every library has space to host an art gallery but the concept is there for libraries to use and build upon to inspire the artist in us all. Many libraries are using makerspaces to host adults who love to color. What about a very large community coloring project where patrons are invited to help create art? What do you think? Has your library had a community art project? If so, what did you do?