Burlington Public Library to Showcase Art Made by Community Members During the Pandemic

BURLINGTON– Library Director Michael Wick is pleased to announce that the Burlington Public Library will be hosting a virtual exhibit that features art work created by community members during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtual art exhibit, Quarantine Community Art Project, was developed by Donna Manoogian, Head of Reference at the Burlington Public Library.

Manoogian was inspired to launch the community art project in Burlington after seeing other public libraries — specifically the libraries in Waltham and Williamsburg, Virginia — creating  art exhibits as a way to showcase community members’ reflections and experiences while staying home to stop the spread of the virus.

The Quarantine Community Art Project is currently accepting art submissions from community members. Since beginning this project at the end of 2020, the library has collected a variety of submissions from the Burlington community such as needlework, photographs, drawings, paintings, origami, a poem and an original song. 

“The artists that have been sending in their work seem excited to be able to share what they’ve been doing over the past few months,” Manoogian said. “I hope that it will be a positive thing to come out of the prolonged period of quarantine we’ve all been going through. A sharing of art may be a good antidote to the gloom and doom of the pandemic.”

The Quarantine Community Art Project will be accessible to the public starting in February, when the art will begin being displayed virtually on the Burlington Public Library’s website, which can be found by clicking here. After the community and artists’ excitement from this year’s art project, Manoogian plans on continuing to provide local artists with a virtual platform to share their creative endeavors. 

“One of the most challenging aspects of the pandemic has been the inability to connect with loved ones, friends and neighbors,” Library Director Wick said. “This exhibition will help to alleviate that in a small way, by allowing patrons and members of the community to see the tremendous projects their fellow residents have been working on throughout this difficult time.”

The Burlington Public Library is still collecting art work submissions for the exhibition until Jan. 31. The exhibit is collecting submissions from people of all ages and abilities and is encouraging them to share pictures and videos of their creations with the Burlington Public Library. To submit any artwork please email a picture or video of the art piece to dmanoogian@burlingtonpl.org by Jan. 31.

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