Picturing America for Public Libraries

Our Library used the posters as inspiration for a month-long celebration of local and national art, history and education. Our events were held under the name "Picturing Spring" during the month of April. In collaboration with the Hampshire County Arts Council, we picked 12 of the posters which represented spring, either literally in the imagery or conceptually in themes like renewal or rejuvenation. We asked local artists to submit works inspired by these images. We then displayed the posters alongside the pieces inspired by the posters, and put up comment boards, allowing the public to comment on the artwork, the themes, or anything else about the display.
Our first program was inspired by our theme of Picturing Spring. We brought in a local news article writer and well known plant enthusiast to host a plant talk and swap. Our second event was a month long display with reception. The local high and middle school art classes submitted work for our downstairs display cases and upstairs display boards. The reception was held for family and friends to come and enjoy the displays together. Our third event featured a former art/art history teacher speaking about the posters on display, and what they meant for the nation at the time and what we can still learn from them today. Our forth event featured author John Michael Cummings and his new book " The Night I Freed John Brown." He spoke about his book and the history of his home town and life growing up in Harper's Ferry. Our fifth event brought in the local quilting group for a trunk show, where the quilts were displayed and the history of the local quilts, and the meanings of patterns and certain fabrics were discussed. Our sixth and final event included a local artist who spoke about the technical parts of painting, and what is involved in creating a work of art. Through all of these events, the posters were on display and mentioned as the inspiration for the month long event.

Submitted by Amanda Snyder