Just when you think there is nothing more spectacular than art in the libraries you see an art series where libraries are in the art! The Rock Springs Library would like to invite the entire community to come and celebrate their recently acquired art series “Bent Covers” at a reception honoring the artist and librarian, or shall I say “artistarian”, Ellen Newell. The reception will take place on July 14th at 6 p.m. Stop by and look at this wonderful art series and talk to Ellen Newell in person about where she found inspiration.

The recent acquisition of this charming and characteristic series was made possible by a collaboration between the City of Rock Springs and Ellen Newell. Newell generously donated the artwork, as well as her framing skills, and the City of Rock Springs, in honor of the Rock Springs Library’s centennial, provided special funds for the frames. This is the second “Bent Covers” donation Newell has made to the Sweetwater County Library System; she donated a complete series to the Sweetwater County Library in Green River last January.

The nine prints in “Bent Covers” are a combination of woodcut and acrylic paint and are approximately 16” x 24”. Newell says the finished product reminds her of comic books which she hadn’t planned, but she likes how it came out. She said, “Some of them remind me of stained glass, especially “Death of the Avid Reader” “.

Newell says about her donation…”I’ve known for several years that I would make a series of woodcut prints that had the library and/or librarians as its theme. I did not know at the beginning that it would take the form of book covers. At the library, I am surrounded by various types and styles of artwork, whether in the way of book covers, posters, signs, or DVD and CD covers. It was a natural thing for me to create a set of prints that reflect the inspiration I receive from seeing these items daily, and since the library is the source of my ideas, the next step was to donate my ”Bent Covers” series to the library, thereby placing the series in its proper setting.”

She said “My job at Sweetwater County Library has afforded me many opportunities to showcase my artwork and to have it publicized throughout the county. My donations are an opportunity to give back, to return the favor, as it were, and to provide the Sweetwater County Library System with something special that they would not otherwise be able to acquire.”

Janice Grover-Roosa, PR and Adult Programming Librarian at the Sweetwater County Library System, said ““Bent Covers” has added a vivacious and meaningful air to our Library System. Only a librarian could capture the quirky subtleties that exist between people, libraries, and fiction; Ellen captures it all in this fanciful series.” Cindy Moore, Head of Circulation and Reference at the Rock Springs library added that “Bent Covers” adds substance to the Sweetwater County Library System because of the work that went into it, and because of all of the joy it will bring to the public. She noted the Library System is lucky to have such a talented artist on staff.

The reception honoring Newell is sponsored by the Sweetwater County Library System. For more information on other library services and events, stop into your local library, or visit the Library System’s Web site, www.sweetwaterlibraries.com.