Art Exhibit Space

The library’s gallery space offers patrons the chance to view and appreciate the work of local artists.

Each month, the library offers a new art exhibit for patrons to browse, in our hallway and on the east and west walls of our Meeting Room. Drop in any time during opening hours to see the work of artists in our community. If you are a local artist wishing to exhibit, please see the guidelines below:

This Month in the Gallery:

  • Marge Casey

    December 2nd – December 30th in the Hallway Gallery

    Marge Casey is a Guilford artist who has been painting in oils for over 20 years. She began her art instruction in high school, attending the NY High School of Art and Design and earned a degree in fashion design from Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC.

    Marge graduated from Southern Connecticut State College with a major in early childhood education and a minor in art. In her earlier years, she concentrated her interest in the arts by focusing on handmade crafts, dolls, quilting, and clothing. As an early childhood teacher, she brought her creativity into the classroom, always encouraging her young students to develop their artistic expression.

    Marge is an elected artist of the Madison Art Society, Clinton Art Society and Guilford Art Leagure. She served as vice president and president of the Madison Art Society. Her subject matter is diverse, ranging from local land and seascapes, to portraits, flowers, and still life subjects. She loves to explore the unique opportunities offered through en plein air painting, especially capturing the very beautiful scenes in the shoreline,
    countryside, and farmlands of Connecticut. Marge’s artwork will be on display at the Guilford Free Library during the month of December. Artwork is on display during Library hours. Contact information is available at the library.

  • Mimi Griffin Dudley

    December 2nd – December 30th in the Meeting Room Gallery

    photo of a section of a quilt by Mimi Dudley

    Mimi Griffin Dudley has had a passion for embroidery since she was a child. Her mother, Mary Keefe Griffin, an artist and home economics teacher taught her how to do many kinds of stitches. Mimi is a member of Embroiderers Guild of America. She exhibited her embroidery at the Acton Library in Old Saybrook. Mimi has her degrees in music education and is now a retired music teacher. She has a minor in art and has worked at the Hillstead Museum, the Hyland House Museum and the Griswold House with the Guilford Keeping Society. She is a storyteller at the Guilford free Library using her flute, guitar andembroidered felt boards once a month. Her distinct embroidery pieces are hand drawn, traced on to fabric and then hand embroidered. She uses a variety of colors in her embroidery flosses. Mimi is grateful and thrilled to do this exhibit in December.

    Mimi’s exhibit includes quilts, felt story boards and smaller seasonal pieces in wooden hoops. Her most recent quilt is the Nutcracker Suite quilt. She has created a Paris quilt, a Mother Goose quilt, a blue and white tea cup quilt and a nautical quilt. Her largest quilt, the Vermont quilt has scenes from our vacations at Cabot, Vermont. The Sun Bonnet Sue quilt features 12 months of Sun Bonnet Sue. The smaller pieces with wooden hoops were created for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Snowmen, days, Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and patriotic days. Thank you to all the people who supported me-my husband Stephen and Amanda Merrill who helped me hang these pieces.

    Who taught me how?

    A poem by Mimi Griffin Dudley

    Who taught me how to sew? My mother taught me how to make the needle flow.
    Who taught me how to stitch? My mother taught me how to enjoy this special niche.
    Who taught me how to design? My mother taught me how to use patterns like square nin
    Who taught me how to make stitches so fine? My mother taught me how to do this-divine.
    Who taught me how to move the needle up and down? My mother taught me how to use this skill all around.
    Who taught me how to sketch and draw? My mother, an artist, did and I am still in awe.
    Who taught me how to create? My mother taught me how- it was great.
    Who taught me how to seam? My mother taught me to sew and dream.
    Who taught me how to develop a theme? My mother taught me and we were a team.
    Who taught me how to use blocks that repeat? My mother taught me in a heartbeat.
    Who taught me how to sew and care? My mother taught me how to make each block square.
    Who taught me how to use fabric green? My mother taught me how to use this color like an Irish queen.
    Who taught me how to sue fabric so blue? My mother taught me how to use this color and pursue.
    Who taught me how to use this art form to inspire? My mother taught me this and I still admire.
    Who taught me how to quilt? My mother taught me how to do this craft with purpose built.
    Who taught me this wonderful art? My mother taught me with all her heart.

Artist wishing to exhibit?

Artists interested in exhibiting their work are invited to submit a proposal. Prior to scheduling a show, we also ask exhibitors to sign a hold harmless and to submit some additional details about the exhibit so that we can post the information on our website. Priority will be given to local and Connecticut artists and we request that all exhibits be appropriate for family viewing.

Exhibitor checklist:

  1. Submit a proposal
  2. After a librarian confirms your exhibit date, complete and sign the hold harmless
  3. Upload a brief description of your exhibit and a representative photo. The hold harmless may be uploaded if you can scan the signed copy; otherwise you can drop it off at the reference desk in advance of your exhibit.

Visit

Guilford Free Library
67 Park Street, Guilford CT 06437
Phone: 203-453-8282 Fax: 203-453-8288


Hours:

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

1pm-4pm
9am-8pm
9am-8pm
9am-8pm
9am-8pm
9am-6pm
9am-5pm

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