Calling All Artists: Ferndale Library Seeks Work for New Exhibit

Interested in having your artwork on display at one of the community's most popular locations?

The is calling local artists and photographers to submit their works by Aug. 18 for possible inclusion in the library's first-ever group exhibition.

The exhibit will run Sept. 10 to Oct. 5. Selected artists will have their works displayed in the library's community meeting room - home to many programs, concerts, lectures and study groups - or the glass, two-story atrium at the library's west entrance.

Patrick Dengate, vice president of the library's board of trustees and chair of the arts committee, said he and many others at the library and in the community saw the library as an "ideal place to show artwork" ever since the new building was in the works.

"The library offers a lot of things and we thought art should be another one of those things," he said, noting that art fixtures were put in place as the building was designed. "We knew that at some point it was a goal that we wanted to see happen."

The library aims to eventually plan exhibits focusing on particular themes or the work of one single artist or a small collaboration of artists, or featuring the work of local students.

"This first show is just a general call for anyone in the area to submit something for us to consider including," Dengate said. "We're hoping to get a lot of different entries."

Plans for a small opening reception are in the works.

The committee will not charge a commission and will not be involved in the sale of any artwork beyond providing interested buyers with the artist's provided contact information. Artists who sell work from the exhibit are encouraged to make a modest donation to the library.

How to submit your art

All the information needed to submit art for the inaugural exhibition can be found on the art page of the library's website. For more information, email FPLArts@ferndalepubliclibrary.org or find out more about art in the library on Facebook.

Entries must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 18. Artists will receive notification of their submission status (accepted or declined) by Aug. 25.

The art committee will also accept proposals for future solo or collaborative shows in the library's separate corridor gallery, which occupies one of the former windows of the original library facade. There are eight acrylic panels for the display of works on paper. Submissions should follow the same instructions found here.

"It may be that someone wishes to exhibit their work on a solo basis at some point after this show and that's fine, we encourage people to send in those things too," Dengate said.