The following article was submitted by the Lester Public Library.
If you’ve visited the library lately, you might have noticed a recent influx of art books, from children’s picture books to “how-to” painting guides to a biography of 17th century female Italian painter Artemisia Gentileschi. All were purchased with funds from a memorial endowment created by Grace Koprowski Meyer.
Grace was a long time Two Rivers resident and avid library supporter. She was creative, vibrant and curious–and passionate about art and culture. She read and traveled widely, and delighted in the lively discussion of books and ideas (making her a wonderful part of our library book club for many years). She was a great advocate for youth and teens, and education in general. Her endowment reflects all these passions, providing funds for international films and programming and materials for young people as well as the new art books.
When it comes to art books, they tend to be full-color, oversized, and contain heavier weight, high-gloss paper to better capture images. All qualities that make them more expensive, which limits what most public libraries can add to their collections. This year, money from Grace’s foundation was earmarked specifically for art books, with special emphasis on minority and lesser-known artists, and books about art creation for all. Thanks to this wonderful gift, the Two Rivers community can access some amazing resources typically available only in large or academic libraries.
Stop in and browse the impressive acquisitions, including Vitamin T: Threads & Textiles in Contemporary Art; Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas; Creating their Own Image: The History of African-American Women Artists; Flower: Exploring the World in Bloom; and Get Messy Art: The No-rules, No-judgment, No-pressure Approach to Making Art.
