San Rafael, CA – Clear off your shelf; make a space on your wall. You can use your library card to borrow a work of art by a Marin artist at these Marin County Free Library branches: South Novato, Point Reyes Station, Inverness, Corte Madera, and Marin City. Each location will have six pieces of art to loan— just like a book.
This exciting new program called On the Wall is a collaboration between the Marin County Free Library and the Department of Cultural Services and is generously supported by the Marin County Library Foundation, the Tomales Bay Library Association, the Friends of the Marin City Library, and the Friends of the Novato Libraries.
Join us for celebrations at each branch to meet the artists and view their work. The community will be there and there will be time to snack and chat.
- Point Reyes Library: Thursday, April 4, 6-8 PM
- Marin City Library, Tuesday, April 9, 6-7:30 PM
- South Novato Library, Saturday, April 13, noon to 1 PM, followed by art making for children next door in The Shop, 1-3 PM
- Corte Madera Library, Wednesday, April 17, 6-7:30 PM
- Inverness Library, Saturday, April 27, 11 AM to 1 PM
These are the artists whose work comprise the On the Wall collection: Harvey Abernathey, Maalak Atkins, Richard Blair, Cathy Bowman, Molly Brown, Rick Budde, Miranda Chen, Steve Disenhof, Bob Hemstock, Jennifer Isaac, Jane, Toni Littlejohn, Barbara McLain, Susan McMudie, Victoria Mimiaga Mimiaga, Nancy Nichols, Anne Pelletier, Mary Pieper-Warren, Carlos Porrata, Meg Reilly, Noel Ryan, Wendy Schwartz, Tom Soltesz, Stephanie Thwaites, Amanda Tomlin, Tim Walker, Marnie Walters, Ayumi Kie Weissbuch, Kathryn Whitten, and Thomas Wood.
Here’s the backstory:
This program was created so that all Marin County residents would have access to original works of art to enjoy in their homes. What better place to house an art lending collection than the Marin County Free Library? Libraries are open to all, and they lend stuff, like books and magazines and vinyl and binoculars and … fruit pickers? Yes, fruit pickers, too.
Another goal of this project is to support local artists by purchasing and exhibiting their work. The arts are a historic cornerstone of Marin’s identity. This program supports both local artists and residents to ensure the continued support of and engagement with the arts, from all of Marin’s communities.
A call for art was sent out and the response was fantastic. Artists were able to submit up to three, two-dimensional pieces such as drawings, paintings, photography, prints, textiles, or mixed media. Thirty artworks were selected from over 400 submissions. Final selections were made by a committee of the Marin Cultural Association Board.
And now, they are available to borrow. Get some art!
