Library exhibit highlights local artists, famous Christmas carol
Dec. 8—The spirit of Christmas fills the Cleburne Public Library courtesy of two exhibits and a scheduled reception to highlight local artists.
"I think it's exciting and fun to see the variety and originality on display here," library assistant Amy Graham of the 12 canvases set out in the library. "It's also a great partnership to celebrate a Christmas carol everyone knows and loves."
Each of the 12 painted canvases represents a given day from the classic Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
The free exhibit, which runs through Dec. 24, represents a collaboration between the library, Johnson County Art Guild, JN Long Cultural Arts Center and Cleburne Friends of the Cultural Arts.
"[Cleburne Library volunteer Bettye Cook] called the JN Long Center with the idea," Johnson County Art Guild President Charlotte Lawson said. "Brittany Lewis, the executive director of the arts center, sent word out to all the membership. So, while most of the people who did the paintings are art guild members, several are not."
Local artists interested contributing to the project signed up with several choosing to work together on a single painting.
Of the 12 days represented, Mary Parvin tackled the partridge in a pear tree while Sandy Baker took on the two turtle doves. Lewis and Barbara Lane saw to the three French hens and Emma Harvey created her take on the four calling birds.
"Emma is one of our junior members and very talented," Lawson said. "She's just 12 or 13 but I was very impressed with her painting and the work she's done so far."
For the rest, Nerissa McKee signed on for five gold rings, Darla Peugh for six geese a laying, Lawson for eight maids a milking, Erica Lopez for nine ladies dancing, Shirley Sloane for ten lords a leaping and Dorothy Walkin for eleven pipers piping. Lane, Lawson, Lewis and Pat McHale joined forces in creation of the final panel, the twelve drummers drumming.
"It was a lot of fun and, as far as I know, the first time we've done something like this for the library," Lawson said. "Each artist was told to do their own style on whichever day they got. Several of them were saying, 'Oh gosh! What am I going to do?' But I think they turned out great and love the variety of it all and different painting styles."
Lawson found inspiration for her take on milking maids from her past.
"I remembered an activity book I still have from 50 years ago when I used to teach," Lawson said. "It has renditions of the 12 days so I took my cue from that then added my own freehand background to it."
The English Christmas carol, the first known publication of which appeared in the 1780 illustrated children's book "Mirth Without Mischief," relays gifts given throughout each of the 12 days of Christmas, those including Christmas day through Epiphany on Jan. 5.
"We're delighted to be able to share the creative vision of several of our talented local artists," Cook said. "I just love the different styles of them. Some are realistic, some a collage effect. One reminds me of Christmas card art.
"Two others remind me of [French impressionist Edgar Degas and modernist Marc Chagall]. Another I thought was surrealism, but it's a nod to Rene Magritte's "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" with the bird and the pipe and all.
Joining the 12 canvases are a set of 12 Days of Christmas plates lent to the library from Kristen Tofflemeyer.
The artists will be on hand from 2-3:30 p.m. at the library to meet with patrons and discuss their paintings. Christmas music will round out the reception.
"Speaking of donations, we want to remind visitors to stop by the display case at the entrance of the library," Cook said. "Harold and Connie Darling, they're the current co-presidents of the Friends of the Cleburne Public Library, lent us their collection of nativity sets from around the world and they're very cool to see."
The display features nativity sets from Israel, Poland, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico and one crafted by Native Americans.
For extra Christmas spirit, Cook suggests checking out James Patterson's "The Twelve Topsy-Turvy Very Merry Days of Christmas," in which a widowed father's children list him on a dating website from which chaos, romance and the true meaning of Christmas follow.
"It's a silly but fun, lighthearted read that goes along beautifully with our exhibit," Cook said.
