Russell Library lists exhibits for August

MIDDLETOWN >> The Russell Library, Broad Street, Middletown, announces its exhibits for the month of August.

• Middletown High School Mural Project: Throughout August, in the Lobby. Beginning in 2009, senior class art students have embarked each year on a long term group project: producing a mural for the new school’s corridors that would serve as a legacy to their graduating class. The Class of 2016 mural will be shown in the library’s main lobby through the end of August, when it will be installed permanently at MHS. Also on view will be the recently completed Class of 2014 mural. Both were completed under the guidance of art teacher Patrick Shugrue.

• Backyard Bugs: Photos by Sandra Bellock Listorti. Throughout August. The library’s walls will be crawling with the close-up photographs taken by Sandra Bellock Listorti. Everyday, Sandra takes macrophotographs of insects, showcasing them in her blog, The Bugs in the Backyard (http://thebackyardbugs.blogspot.com/). Her mission is to highlight the beauty of the tiny creatures that share our world, and convince people to look at insects and say, “Ooh.” instead of, “Ew.” Her backyard in Norwich is a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

• Metal, Fiber, and Clay: Four Artists: Throughout August, in the Lobby Case. Featured are works by four ceramics artists, two of whom also work in metal. Members of the Wesleyan Potters Guild, the artists exhibiting are: Marcia Eager, Marcy LaBella, Cheryl Tuttle, and Art Tuttle.

• Missing U and Other Abstract Paintings by Catherine Filloramo Thrall: Catherine Filloramo Thrall graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art. She creates paintings, drawings, collage and artists books, often using the strong influence of letter forms. Her featured piece, Missing U, is an abstract alphabet.

• Natural Inspiration: Paintings by Ellen Dougan. Connecticut born artist Ellen Murphy Dougan grew up in a world of gardens. Surrounded by farmland and woods growing up, nature has remained a strong element of the artist’s life and work. She has taught painting at the Litchfield County Art Association, and for the continuing education programs at both the local high school and community college.

• Exercise Your Mind: The library’s Summer Reading Program continues through Aug. 19.

• It’s never too late to register for the Adult Summer Reading Program at the Circulation Desk with your library card. Downtown Middletown gift cards will be awarded weekly. All participants have a chance at the Grand Finale Prize of a Kindle Fire 6HD at the conclusion of the program in August. The rules are simple: write a brief book review (limit of 2 reviews per week) for our “Dive Into Reading” and to enter the drawing. Book reviews may be occasionally posted to our Facebook page. Check us out on Facebook and get clues as to what “Russell” – our library Flamingo—is reading.