Library staffer Chantay Howard walks past the “Novel Destinations” art exhibit at the Cartersville library. The exhibit will continue at the library until July 31.
SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News
"What we've done is we've contacted [Bartow County] artists about exhibiting artwork that would fit with the theme of travel," said system circulation coordinator Christina J. Jedziniak.
The exhibit, located at the Cartersville Public Library, 429 W Main St., will run until July 31 and features photographs by Linda Arnold; paintings by Martha Choate, Kate Dougherty, Walt Floyd, Betty Gilbert, Nancy S. Hall, Sue Jackson and Faith Tatum; decorative journals by Gail Matherne; a quilt by Beverley Raptis; and a glass piece by Muriel Leith Malcolm Pittaluga. The exhibit also includes items such as Bedouin jewelry and Gawa pots acquired by Gilbert during her travels in the Middle East during the 1970s.
Jedziniak said the artwork featured in the exhibit encompasses a variety of mediums and styles and will appeal to people of different ages and backgrounds.
"We tried to select works that, again, represent travel, that kind of take our patrons away to a novel destination, maybe somewhere that they haven't been," Jedziniak said.
However, not all the work in the exhibit represents destinations outside of Bartow County.
"We have one work up that is actually our local covered bridge in Euharlee," Jedziniak said.
Along with this summer's new theme, the library system is introducing the "Novel Destinations" exhibit as their first juried art show.
"We haven't done [a juried art show] before, but we've had a number of different artists exhibit in the gallery -- we're fortunate to have a number of talented artists in the county," Jedziniak said, "but [the exhibit] was a way for us to bring together some of those various mediums that they're working with to put on a thematic show and also to help us promote our summer reading program."
Adults participating in the adult reading program that read three books and complete one of the library's adult programs can be entered into a drawing for a Nook e-reader.
Also through July 31, Bartow County libraries will be participating with libraries across the state in the Destination College Savings Sweepstakes, a contest that will award one teen summer reading program participant $5,529 toward a Path2College 529 Plan college savings account. The local public library of the winner also will receive $1,529 to be used for its children and teen department.
Registration for summer reading programs can be completed online at www.bartowlibraryonline.org, or in person at one of the library branches. The main branch in Cartersville can be reached at 770-382-4203.