Libraries aren't just places to store books anymore. Beyond print books, they're not even restricted to downloads of e-books, music or movies. They are places to make connections with people as well as materials. A patron phoned us recently and asked if there was anything happening during the day at the Library because she really needed to get out of the house to be with people.
This is what we told her:
On Mondays you could join Chair Fitness - Yoga from 9:30 to 11 with Amelia McKenney, On Tuesdays, there's Drawing Together from 9:15 to 11, and Mah-Jongg from 12:30 to 2:30. On Wednesdays, don't forget our Movie Matinee at 1 PM with FREE popcorn, candy and drink! And Thursdays you'll find Knitting with Mary by the fireplace at 10 AM, and Mah-Jongg again from 12:30 to 2:30. And that's not including our active evening programming schedule, or our kid's, teen's and infant offerings!
In this article, I'd like to share my own experience with Drawing Together one of the Library's weekly offerings on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 to 11:00am. Drawing Together with others is not only great fun, but a place to connect with people! There are some of us who are new to drawing and others who used to draw but forgot how much they enjoyed it. We are at all different levels, but benefit from connecting and learning from each other.
Merren Garland, who originally conceived the Drawing Together program, was our first art "encourager" (the term she preferred over teacher, or otherwise). Merren coined the Drawing Together name to describe both the simple act of drawing in a group, as well as the function of bringing individuals together through drawing. She began with connecting us to the five basic elements of shape and then continued with lots of duplication exercises until we realized that's all there is to it - practice, practice practice! Her philosophy: Everyone can draw. Everyone should draw. Drawing is good for your brain.
Merren has since left the East coast for better proximity to family in Oregon, but the strength of the group she established has carried on through this transition. Even when a facilitator wasn't available, we would show up and draw! More recently, we've had wonderfully encouraging input from retired art teachers Claire Russo and Dorine Gross, and retired landscape architect Patti Betti.
When I asked the class what they have learned from Drawing Together, these are just some of the responses I received : it gives me inspiration; it gives me a reason to get up and out on Tuesday mornings; it puts me in with like minded people; it gives me feedback from others on my drawing; and it makes me want to draw every day.
For me personally, drawing has changed my perspective on people. This is something I learned from an edges and contours class last year. People have edges and contours, too. Sometimes we have to close one eye and look again to realize why a person is behaving the way they do - looking at someone from a different perspective or edge can make all the difference in the world. Learning about life through drawing really is inspirational!
Please, come join us for the fun! And connect with us and our Drawing Together Newsletter which can be found on the RPL webpage where the connections are endless.