Artwork displayed at Mars library
Local artwork adorns the walls at the Mars Area Public Library through a new collaboration with the Cranberry Artists Network.
“Project Art in the Library” features works of art created by members of the art network, a group that promotes artistic appreciation in Cranberry and the surrounding area through connecting artists and their skills with the community. The art will be displayed on the walls inside the Mars Area Public Library building, and will rotate every six months.
Library director Caitlyn Boland said the program came out of a connection with one of the library’s former board members, a current member of the Friends of the Library group, Marcy Bogdanich, who is also a member of the art network.
“The timing was right as well, since a couple years ago during COVID, when our library needed to be closed, we took that opportunity to do a lot of the renovations. We had painted and reorganized at the time, so after doing that, our walls were pretty bare,” Boland said. “This is a great project and a great way for us to fill the empty space on our walls.”
The project so far includes around 17 artists, according to Bogdanich.
“In the Cranberry Artists Network, everybody is always painting. They have tons of stuff,” Bogdanich said. “This was a great opportunity for several artists to get some work out. I just put the notice out in the CAN newsletter, and I think we ended up with about 17 or 18 artists. It’s really for local artists to have more places to show their work, because there are some really good ones.”
Visitors also are able to purchase artwork they especially enjoy, with 30% of the proceeds going to benefit the library and the rest going directly to the artist.
“A lot of Mars area residents are in the Cranberry Artists Network," Boland said. “Part of the point is here we are, a library, and part of our point is being a community hub and connecting our community members with resources in every capacity we’re able to. What a cool thing that the art that’s on our wall is made by local artists! We’re just helping make that connection, and it’s a really cool thing all the way around.”
Visitors can see the art at the library, 107 Grand Ave, Mars, which is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
