Arts and Photography, Murals and Sculptures

Arrowhead Library System provided local patrons with Arts and Photography experiences at public libraries and other public venues. The Murals and Sculptures program provides public artworks in community libraries. These artworks celebrate one or more community-specific, artistic, cultural and/or historical attribute(s) of the community where the artwork is located. They are placed in high-traffic locations either inside or outside each of the libraries for all to enjoy.  Two public libraries submitted a request for qualifications: Two Harbors Public Library and Silver Bay Public Library.  Two artists were contracted to create an 8' x 8.5' oil painting with mosaic work called Girl Reading on Train. An artist was contracted to create a series of four nature paintings for the Silver Bay Public Library reflecting the nature and wildlife in the region. The Duluth Art Institute brought an interactive and accessible art project to the region -- participants learned how to transform fluffy, colorful sheep's wool into a fun, felted butterfly. Photographer Doug Ohman traveled the region to give presentations on historic sites and structures in Minnesota and 26 libraries hosted one of seven different programs available. A Regional Artist Tour took place in the Arrowhead Region. Professional photographer Cal Rice presented programs at ten local libraries called Bhutan - A View from the Top of the World. Cal spent two weeks in the Himalayas and documented his journey with photographs. Mark McCarty presented a program called Create Slide Shows from your Photos at multiple libraries in the ALS region. He taught basic computer skills and how to create musical slide shows using photos in order to preserve those photos normally stowed in shoe boxes under beds.