Library's Tiny Art Show is big on expression
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Given that Putnam is a budding art hub, it shouldn’t be surprising that even the smallest art exhibit is bursting with talent.
In its second year the Putnam Public Library’s Tiny Art Show is on display for the month of February.
Nicole Nichols, Adult Services librarian, said nearly 60 artists, from age 14 to adults, created all types of art on a tiny canvas.
“I can’t believe how talented people are in this area. I can’t believe how much creativity people have. I love how different all the pieces are. Some people have said that they love that. That some of them have titles. And all different types of art,” Nichols said.
The exhibit is double the size of last year’s, the first year. It was well received last year and this year the exhibit “exceeded my expectations.”
Nichols said that the Tiny Art exhibit was a collaborative idea with library Director Priscilla Colwell. They saw the idea in a shared library database and thought it would be perfect for Putnam. By making the art effort open to those 14 and older, that makes it open to all skill levels, she said. Artists are free to create. “We didn’t want people to feel it was competitive.”
Some canvases were submitted anonymously. Some have signatures and some have titles. “The purpose is to let your creativity flow,” she added.
She and Colwell thought dreary January/February is the perfect time creating art and for the exhibit. Nichols said: “People are shut in their house through the month of January. We can’t really plan a lot of programming here because of the weather. If you’ve got someone traveling from the other side of the state … So this was a perfect do-it-yourself project.”
The fringe benefits of the program are patrons, old and new, are coming into the library. Some discover that their library card in another town is good at the Putnam library. More foot traffic. Some sign up for library cards. There are more signups, she said. Some patrons discover everything the library offers — all the programs and more.
Just outside the doors of the library is the Municipal Complex’s Corridor Gallery with its rotating art exhibits. Patrons enjoy that as well. She said, “This (Tiny Art Show) kind of helps us to connect with that desire to come here and see art.”
Yes, Putnam is an art mecca.
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The Putnam Public Library's Tiny Art Show runs through the month of February. Expanded photo array on Wed. night on our FB page: Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger. Linda Lemmon photos.
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